Pets Piranha

Believe it or not, there are people who actually keep piranhas as "pets". Piranhas aren't good pets in the traditional sense because you can't hold or pet them, and they aren't affectionate. Piranha owners still must be extremely careful of the fish's sharp teeth and aggressive nature. Keeping them well fed is probably the key to keeping them mellow.

People who fancy piranhas as pets may be more attracted to the grisly reputation and aggressive manner of these world-class predators, perhaps keeping them for their "entertainment" value. That's O.K. - it's human nature to be fascinated with morbid and gruesome creatures. But piranhas are also very beautiful fish. As long as anyone desires to take a creature out of the wild and bring into captivity they must take the responsibility of treating it with respect and good care. 

Piranha, like any fish, are aware that they are prey animals. In order to feel comfortable, they need to have lots of hiding places. Piranha do not seem to be too particular about their cover, however, you do want to make sure that you do not use any sharp or rough decorations that your fish may get hurt on, in case your fish dart into them when startled. Like most other fish, they are more comfortable and will come out more and be more active if you can provide them with 50-75% cover - this means you should make half to three fourths of your tank space hiding places. Remember, if you use live plants to decorate your Piranha tank, you may have fish grazing on the plants. Providing sufficient cover reduces stress and therefore improves your Piranha's immune system, reducing chance of disease.

Piranha have odd companionship requirements. As juveniles, Piranhas are schooling fish, and should be kept in groups. However, as they mature, many varieties of Piranhas become more solitary, and may attack others of the same species. Frequently, Piranhas can be kept with small, peaceful fish such as neon Tetras and guppies, provided that the piranha is large enough and has been kept on a high quality diet so as not to consider these fish as food. In a large enough tank, Piranhas can be kept with other larger fish, and the piranhas will occasionally take a bite of a fin, but should leave the other fish alone.


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