Minimum Tank Size: Large aquariums with ample swimming space Origin: South America, particularly in the Amazon River basinĬare Level: Challenging, requires experienced careĭiet: Carnivorous, feeds on fish, crustaceans, and aquatic prey The size record for a black piranha kept in captivity is just over 7 pounds - the fish are well over 16 inches at this weight. In both instances there was an enormous volume of water available for the fish. Black piranhas have been bred in captivity in the Duisberg Zoo Aquarium in Germany, and also in a zoo park in Florida. These fish can also be quite aggressive with each other - no lovey-dovey mother and father type activity with this piranha species. One problem is the size of the fish - such a large tank is needed to prevent other tank members, or indeed the parents, from eating the eggs that it is considered non-pragmatic. This species is quite difficult to breed in captivity. Click here for a great guide for Black Piranha Care. Some experts recommend keeping black piranhas as solitary fish in home aquariums, where other recommend keeping several specimens. They are less aggressive than red belly piranhas, but are still predominantly carnivores. Black piranhas grow up to 43cm long in captivity, and have been known to live up to 28 years - a pet for life!īlack piranhas do not have the red-orange belly of red belly piranhas, but do have a distinctive red ring around their eyes also known as red eyed piranha.

spilople.The scientific name for black piranhas is Serrasalmus rhombeus. A common local name is caribe ojo rojo the species is also known as caribe amarillo, not to be confused with the other 'yellow' piranhas S. Particularly light-colored populations are the White Piranhas of the aquarium trade, formerly believed to be the 'true' S. Other names include Rhombeus Piranha, for its striking shape. rhombeus have the brightest red eyes and grey coloration. Brazilian Black Piranhas are actually greyish in color and some have diamond-shaped scales. rhombeus are called jet black highbacks or Peruvian Black Piranhas. It varies widely across its range and whether it really is a single species is still unknown, though in some cases, the fish in question are certainly mere morphs. This fish was long known and traded as Serrasalmus niger. These piranhas live in very diverse habitats ranging from soft blackwater, to hard whitewater areas in the Amazon, and as such, are very tolerant of differing water chemistry. Serrasalmus rhombeus (Redeye Piranha, and see below), is a fish of the piranha family Serrasalmidae found in South America in the Amazon and Orinoco river basins, the north and eastern Guiana Shield rivers, and northeastern Brazilian coastal rivers. Redeye (Black) Piranha - Serrasalmus rhombeus Other prey eaten by this species has included frogs, water snakes, Nile monitors ( Varanus niloticus) and baby crocodiles. Preferred prey species have reportedly included marbled lungfish ( Protopterus aethiopicus) and Senegal bichir ( Polypterus senegalus) and various Tilapia species and catfish, the latter mainly in the genus Clarias. Shoebills are largely piscivorous but are assured predators of a considerable range of wetland vertebrates. A male will weigh on average around 5.6 kg (12 lb) and is larger than a typical female of 4.9 kg (11 lb). Weight has reportedly ranged from 4 to 7 kg (8.8 to 15.4 lb). Length from tail to beak can range from 100 to 140 cm (39 to 55 in) and wingspan is 230 to 260 cm (7 ft 7 in to 8 ft 6 in). The shoebill is a tall bird, with a typical height range of 110 to 140 cm (43 to 55 in) and some specimens reaching as much as 152 cm (60 in). It lives in tropical east Africa in large swamps from Sudan to Zambia. The adult is mainly grey while the juveniles are browner. However, genetic evidence places it with the Pelecaniformes. It has a somewhat stork-like overall form and has previously been classified with the storks in the order Ciconiiformes based on this morphology. It derives its name from its enormous shoe-shaped bill. The shoebill ( Balaeniceps rex) also known as whalehead, whale-headed stork, or shoe-billed stork, is a very large stork-like bird.