Where to buy piranhas online

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Piranha fish are members of the family Characidae in order Characiformes, an omnivorous freshwater fish that inhabits South American rivers. In Venezuela, they are known as caribes. Piranhas are known for their sharp teeth, powerful jaws, and voracious appetite for meat.

Piranhas are normally about 14 to 26 cm long (5.5 to over 10.5 in), although some specimens have been reported to be up to 43 cm (17.0 in) in length.

The Piranha genera Serrasalmus, Pristobrycon, Pygocentrus, and Pygopristis are most easily recognized by their unique dentition. All piranha fish have a single row of sharp teeth in both jaws; the teeth are tightly packed and interlocking (via small cusps) and are used for rapid puncture and shearing. Individual teeth are typically broadly triangular, pointed, and blade-like (flat in profile). The variation in the number of cusps is minor; in most species, the teeth are tricuspid with a larger middle cusp which makes the individual teeth appear markedly triangular. There is an exception with Pygopristis, which has pentacuspid teeth and a middle cusp usually only slightly larger than the other cusps.

Piranhas are indigenous to the Amazon basin, in the Orinoco, in rivers of the Guianas, in the Paraguay-Paranã, and the São Francisco River systems of Brazil.

Aquarium piranhas have been unsuccessfully introduced into parts of the United States mainly by aquarists releasing them into waterways. In many cases, however, reported captures of piranhas are misidentifications of pacu (e.g., red-bellied pacu Piaractus brachypomus is frequently misidentified as red-bellied piranha Pygocentrus nattereri). Piranhas have also been discovered in the Kaptai Lake in southeast Bangladesh India. Research is being carried out to establish how piranhas have moved to such distant corners of the world from their original habitat. Some rogue exotic fish traders are thought to have released them in the lake to avoid being caught by anti-poaching forces. Piranhas were also spotted in the Lijiang River in China.

Piranha teeth are most often used to make tools and weapons by the indigenous population. Piranhas are also popular as food, although if an individual piranha is caught on a hook and line, it may be attacked by others. These fish are often dried and preserved and sold as souvenirs.

Piranhas can be bought as pets in some states, but they are illegal in many parts of the United States as well. It is illegal to import piranhas into the Philippines and violators could face six months to four years in jail.

The most common aquarium piranha is Pygocentrus nattereri, the red-bellied piranha. Another very popular species of Piranha are the black piranha also known as the Serrasalmus rhombeus the Red eye Piranha. Piranhas can be bought fully grown or as young, often no larger than a thumbnail. It is important to keep Pygocentrus piranhas alone or in groups of four or more, not in pairs, since aggression among them is common, not allowing the weaker fish to survive, and is distributed more widely when kept in larger groups. When house in groups a large aquarium is required. It is not uncommon to find individual piranhas with one eye missing or damaged fins due to a previous attack from conspecific aggression.

Interesting posts on piranha fish and popular questions

Do Piranhas Bark? Separating Myth from Reality
Piranhas Unveiled: Are They Truly Cannibals?
Piranhas and Poultry: An Unusual Culinary Curiosity Will Piranhas Eat Chicken?
Piranhas in the United States: Separating Fact from Fiction
Piranhas on the Plate: Exploring the Edibility of These Feared Fish
Are Piranhas Man-Eaters? Examining Their Threat to Humans
Nocturnal Mysteries: Do Piranhas Truly Sleep?
Investigating Piranha Presence in Lakes
Do Piranhas Eat Snails? Unraveling the Feeding Habits
Croaks and Bites: A Closer Look at Piranhas eating Frogs
Sizing Up the Serpents: How Piranhas Attack and Eat Snakes
Are piranhas vertebrates or invertebrates?
How much does a piranha weigh?
Do piranhas swim in shoals or schools?
Do Red-bellied Piranhas Migrate?
Can piranhas see in the dark at night?
Are Piranhas Legal in Canada Today? The Legality of Piranhas in Canada
Are Piranhas Venomous to Humans? Debunking the Myth
Navigating the Waters of Misconception: Piranhas in the Ocean
Folklore about Roosevelt and the piranha a famous expedition in Brazil
Do Piranhas Live in Saltwater? Debunking the Myth

Hand feeding red belly piranhas