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| Red Bellied Piranha © Joshua Lang |
Yes, people in the world actually keep these world-class predators as pets!
As vicious as everyone thinks they are, you'd be surprised to know that they are pretty popular pets. Keeping a piranha is not allowed in regions around the world though, as it requires a lot of responsibility and knowledge to own such a fish.
The red bellied piranha seen above is the most common piranha of choice to keep in aquariums, even though they are the most infamous, posing danger to us humans.
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| Credit: Swimming with piranhas |
These fishes can reach a size of at least 8-10 inches. However the largest species can grow up to 2 feet! This is why piranhas have to be kept in large tanks. Their colours vary from silvery orange undersides to almost all black.
It is interesting to note that most species of piranhas are herbivorous. They do not only feed on meat and eat just about anything. Examples of food that they enjoy are beef, chicken, crayfish, earthworms and small insects.
Contrary to popular belief, piranhas are actually very shy fishes that panic easily, hence it is recommended that you keep them only for scientific purposes and not for watching how they tear up the flesh of live animals. Keeping a piranha is definitely not for beginners!
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| Credit: Swimming with piranhas |
Personally I wouldn't have the courage to have one as a pet. You can't hold and play with a piranha like you do with dogs or cats. These predators are much too frightening, just look at those teeth. Even a pet shop owner got bitten by one! You can read about it here: Pet owner's narrow escape
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12 comments:
This is definitely interesting because I never knew that a piranha would appeal to people as a pet. A great find :D
Yeah, agree. Did not thought that piranha will be kept as pet, and they are shy fishes too.
I used to keep some piraha in my aquariums, they are actually not that aggressive like what the TV protray them to be as blood thirsty man eater.
Sam Ong
I do not want a Piranha for a pet because I am really afraid of them eating up my whole hand when they are desperate for food. Besides eating flesh, do they settle for other kinds of food sources like planktons? Anyway good job here!
Didn't know that too! But I guess it's kinda scary to have a piranha as a pet for me -Jiaen.
Hey! Its certainly a really scary looking fish with those teeth! But does it really get attracted to blood like in the movie piranha?
always thought they were really fierce fishes ! This completely changed my perspective of them (:
@ShuQi(: Yup! Piranhas are attracted to blood, they have this sense just like sharks.
Most species of piranhas are herbivorous?!(",)However, I still do not have the courage to keep them as pets.
:)
Oo.. okay.. honestly, i didn't know piranas looked like that. i thought they were bigger and had larger mouths.. like the type that's larger than its body ..hehe
this is a great post! =) keep it up! do more about exotic animals! because that's more interesting!
oh! and the pet shop owner looks so happy with that huge cast! hahahaa!
Some myth-busting information on piranhas - a good post. I am wondering how to change water in the tank if one keeps a piranha. You may talk to Sam to get more firsthand details on keeping a piranha and keep us posted :-)
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