Pygocentrus nattereri is one of the most wide spread species of Piranha in nature and the most common in pet stores. When someone hears the word "Piranha" this is the fish that comes to mind.
Location-
This species is found in abundance in the rivers of central and southern South America east of the Andes and including the coastal rivers of the Guyana's, Surinam and Brazil. In the northeast region of Brazil, there have been introductions into the small human-made lakes common there.
Food:
Captive Redbellies can be taught to eat almost everything meaty, ranging from feeders (goldfish, rosy reds, minnows, tetras, basically anything small enough), frozen fish (smelt, cod, catfish, salmon, tuna fish etc.), shrimps, krill, mussels, squid, insects and even small mammals (pinkies, mice....), reptiles and amphibians. Some owners have 'learned' their piranha's to eat food items such as dog- and catfood, cheese, fish flakes and pellets, and even seeds vegetables (such as cucumber), and fruit. Other make their own food cubes by blending different ingredients, ranging from pellets and food supplements designed for aquarium fish, to vegetables and meat, mix it with gelatine, and freeze it.
Redbellies, like other Pygocentrus-species, catch living prey by active chase. They will charge a group of fish, snapping at anything they can get a hold of and will chase individual prey until caught. This can take quite some time, because they are fast swimmers, but can sustain high speeds for only short bursts.
They also sometimes practice the ambush method, but usually only get a fin or mouth full of scales rather than the whole fish.
All Categories
