Piranha will not attack you as they rarely attack large animals, since they fear you more. The only way that these fish would go after humans is because they feel threatened or they are especially hungry. Even the largest shoals only have about 20 fish in them. Aquarium owners must ensure that there are plants in the aquarium, where the fish can hide, and spawn. The word Piranha literary translates to ‘toothfish’ in local Brazilian language ‘Tupi’. Fact 8 – Their Bad Reputation is More of a Myth than a Reality, Fact 9 – Piranhas Are Scavengers Not Hunters, Fact 10 – Piranha are Found Naturally Only Around the Amazon Basin. When the fruits fall from trees, over the river Amazon they make a splashing noise.

In some parts of Brazil, Piranha is grilled and served on … Fruits and seeds make a large percentage of Piranha food, and the sound of a fallen fruit will excite a hungry Piranha fish. The fry lives for five years before they are considered an adult Piranha fish. Once they can protect themselves, Piranha fry will naturally cluster in schools that give them a sense of protection against any predator, Piranha schools form at a young age.

Through barks, Piranhas pass a message to fellow fish and other animals, when they feel threatened. ), The Piranha Ultimate Guide [Info | Facts | Pictures | Characteristics]. Piranhas range in color from yellow to steel-grey to bluish to partly red to almost black. The piranha (also known as the caribe) is a ferocious, schooling, fresh-water fish. They do not travel through waterways outside the optimal conditions for the fish. Piranha, in a rare turn of events, can bark. Piranhas have been introduced to other places, including Northern Brazil, Hawaii, and parts of Central and North America. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Piranhas are fish. Anyone who decides to keep Piranha fish in an aquarium, must ensure that the aquarium is has spacious capacity as the fish love their space. Piranhas swim in groups called shoals. Humans even hunt Piranhas for food. Please support Cool Kid Facts by emailing or sharing!

Preferring to remain in the same area all of their lives, Piranha do not migrate because of the very unique conditions of the Amazon basin. They are hatched in a nest made by the male when they are spawning. They make these noises by using their mouths or contacting and relaxing the muscles of the swim-bladder, that is filled with air. If an animal is cold-blooded, they are not able to control their body temperature and must rely on their environment to heat up or cool down. While some tribes that live in the Amazon think that it is a taboo to eat predatory fish like the Piranha, the fish is in fact a source of food to many.

There are many species of piranha; they belong to the genera Pygocentrus and Serrasalmus. A Site dedicated to the world of the Piranha. The Amazon is estimated to be about 70 and 88 degrees Fahrenheit along its 6400 km length. Piranha fish are fascinating creatures and there are many myths about them, Fact 1 – Piranhas Need Warm Water to Survive. They cannot survive naturally in the colder climates outside the Amazon basin.

Fact 16 – You May Need a License to Own Piranha, Fact 17 – They’ve Been in the Amazon Region for 9 Million Years, Fact 18 – They Are a Non Migratory Species, Fact 19 – Piranha Guard the Eggs Until They Hatch, Fact 20 – Piranha Teeth are Used by Humans, Fact 21 – Piranhas Replace Their Strong Teeth, Fact 22 – Piranhas Have a Very Strong Bite. Their diet mainly consists of fruit, crustaceans, plants, worms and insects. The Piranhas are more scavengers than anything else, and will eat anything in the wild, but mostly just fruit and plants. Their lifespan is around 15 years.eval(ez_write_tag([[468,60],'piranhaguide_com-box-4','ezslot_3',110,'0','0'])); When President Roosevelt saw Piranhas eat the meat of a dead cow, he thought and recorded that these fish were dangerous. Piranha live exclusively in the warm Amazon basin and surrounding lakes.

It is estimated that the survival rate for the young ones is estimated to be about 90 per cent as the older fish protect them until they can survive on their own. The US has laws to prohibit the misuse of Piranha and their accidental introduction into the natural world. They will also go after larger animals if the opportunity presents itself. This means that they are covered in scales, breathe with gills, and hatch from eggs. Piranhas are opportunistic carnivores (flesh-eaters). The oldest known piranhas in captivity lived to eight years old. Fact 14 – The Piranha is a Good Source of Omega-3 and Omega-6. Although it seems an impossibly long time, a study in 2007 found that their common ancestry goes that far back. The water that they live in is usually 75-85 degrees Fahrenheit, which is nice and warm. The Black Piranhas are the largest of the Piranhas and bites with a force equivalent to three times the weight of its body, estimated at a maximum force of 72 pounds. The fish dedicate all their energy towards protection of the young from predators, till they are old enough to protect themselves. Piranha can be 5.5-17 inches in length and weight about 7.7 pounds. While some tribes that live in the Amazon think that it is a taboo to eat predatory fish like the Piranha, the fish is in fact a source of food to many. There are usually around 20 piranhas in a shoal.

Piranhas have sharp teeth, that are arranged on both rows. As they grow, they learn to hide under river plants when they feel threatened. They have a distinct under-bite, which means the bottom row of teeth is … The teeth are very sharp and are triangular. Required fields are marked *. The aquarium must resemble their natural habitat in many areas including water temperature, foliage and a riverbed appearance. Fact 4 – The Number of Piranha Species is Not Certain, Fact 5 – The Piranha is a Medium Sized Fish, Fact 7 – Piranhas Live For Around 10 to 15 Years. The piranha is a relatively small fish with a round body, large head, and bulldog-like face. They are so tiny when they are hatched they need the protection of their parents, as their natural habitat has predators and natural occurrences like floods that will be harmful. They are omnivores, which means that they will eat meat and plants. There are lots of different kinds of piranhas, though the most common variety is known as the red-bellied piranhas, which is named because of its red belly. eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'piranhaguide_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_7',109,'0','0'])); According to fish experts ‘true piranhas’ are different from the herbivorous members. The male Piranha’s colors become brighter as it gets ready for the breeding season. In captivity, piranhas can live longer than they would in the wild. Fact 12 – Piranhas Stay in Schools For Security Rather than Hunting, Fact 14 – The Piranha is a Good Source of Omega-3 and Omega-6, Fact 15 – Piranhas Need an Aquarium that Resembles Their Natural Habitat. Piranhas are scavengers, who feed on river plants and small insects and worms. This helps them to tear meat away from their prey. They can grow to be between 8 to 15 inches in length.

It is doubtful many would survive the less than optimal temperatures and conditions outside Latin America anyway. The aquarium must resemble their natural habitat in many areas including water temperature, foliage and a riverbed appearance.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'piranhaguide_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_1',113,'0','0'])); Any ecosystem is a delicate balance that could be disrupted by the introduction of exotic breeds of animals or plant types. Piranha soup is said to be delicious, and is sustenance for thousands that live off the river. Aquarium owners must ensure that there are plants in the aquarium, where the fish can hide, and spawn. Their barks are just like those of the dogs, they are a means of communication. These fish are only found in freshwater streams and rivers. Newer Piranha fish species are being discovered making the exact count of species difficult. The exact number of Piranha species is not known. Piranha come in different colors, ranging from silver, orange, red, and  black. They also make noises when they are calling other fish to alert other fish of potential threats. Your email address will not be published. Anyone who decides to keep Piranha fish in an aquarium, must ensure that the aquarium is has spacious capacity as the fish love their space.