Black Piranha

[Vitaliy]

Piranha’s are overrated and all and mainly all you see is is Red Bellys. Now from the reading that I have done “Black Piranha” seems to be the most vicious one. Does anyone have one or have any experience with any of them?

From what I understand they get about 16” and are just nuts, or at least that is what all the text leads you to believe.

In the aquarium, S. niger will attack anything that moves. It's almost as if its one mission in life is the kill any other fish in its territory that doesn't belong there. Although these fish are sometimes available in the aquarium hobby, they can be difficult to maintain, even in a single-species tank, because of their aggressive nature. The Black Piranha is suspected of attacks on man.

And then you get other sources saying this fish simply does not exist.. whats up with this?

[piranha45]

That text you quoted: That is an Idiot speaking. Another blazing flaming idiot who is just furthering the stupid piranha rumors. Ignore it. Ignore ALL of it.


that's just more hype. Serrasalmus species are loners, *perhaps* a bit more aggressive than a lone pygocentrus (redbellied species that school), but they are NOT on a "one-stop mission to kill".

Also, there is no one specie of piranha that is any more aggressive than any other specie of piranha. It varies with individual. Some can be capable fish-killers, but a great many-- if not most-- are passive shy fish. And no piranha owner runs the risk of ever getting bitten so long as he doesn't harass his fish with his bare hands.

[rayman45]

true

baddfish as 17" BLACK P

[M|L]

that person being quoted have no idea what he's talking about.

they are not difficult to maintain, they are commonly available, there are no reports of a black piranha attacking man, and the scientific name is actually Serrasalmus rhombeus, S. niger is no longer vaild.

[Xite]

^^

[guppy]

Black piranha used to be S. niger but I think are now called S. rhombeus and are just a color varient. Treat like any other piranha. If you getone to be agressive you are lucky because just like red bellies they tend to be timid except when very hungry or conditioned to competitive feeding schedule.

[iheartfishies]

They're boring.
They grow slow.
They wig out with lights on.
They wont eat in front of you.
Unless it was just mine.
He was probably like 6 inches and in a 55.
Never moved from his pot.
I had a 6 inch african live with mine for about 6 months
Then he finally ate him.

[M|L]

My black rhom would feed from my hand. I should upload the movie that I have.

[rayman45]

so do it

[redtailfool]

still have that rhom ming?

[M|L]

I just sold it Saturday.... :(

[rayman45]

about time lol

[Rui]

I have a 3" black rhom I try not to give up on. It is extremely boring and skittish. It does eat feeders in front of me though, but 1 minute of excitement once/month (don't like to feed my fish feeders - always get problems) just doesn't seem worth it. He is now the unhappy resident in my 230's sump. I hear they are very boring until they grow big.

For you guys with big Rhoms out there, exactly when did your black rhom stop being skittish, and at what size (assuming of course that they have indeed stopped being skittish).

I keep wanting to bring him back, but I do think that a big black rhom looks and behaves rather cool (just what I caught off the net anyways). If I am looking at a 5-10 year plan, please advise and I will get rid of mine tonight!! lol

[M|L]

Take it back and buy one that displays more attitude. For a black piranha to outgrow it's skittishness takes years and years. Adult black piranhas are not skittish, but they may not be very interactive either.

[iheartfishies]

Find that vid Ming!!:)

Ya, this place I go to has 1 Rhom, for sure, that's around 25 years old.
Missing most it's teeth.
He totally bucks at passer byers though.

Scarey as hell.

I love him. :hearts:

[piranha45]

25 years old?! same owner kept him for that long?

[piranha45]

you know heartfish the least you could do is take a phone shot of it

[DAZZA]

Not all piranha are killers. Yes they can be shy, very shy. My favorite varient of rhombeus is the diamond. Beautifull reflective scales and that RED eye, awesome. If you get one try to get one over 10". They are said to be less skittish at that size. My 10"+ rhom eats with the lights on. Dosen't move much though. You pays your money and takes your choice.
Ta.

[tigerfreak]

Didn't know that those Black Piranha r that shy.... Mine was okay when I brought it back... Started eating once I put him into the tank.... Hope that he will remain stable all the way....

[thamunsta]

my 4 5" redbellies are still in the 25gal that they where raised in from the size of a quarter/ one inch cube. they will soon be moving into a 55 gal ......there not usually skittish and seem to be okay with devouring frogs/rockbass/minnows/feeders/hunks of meat or w/e else i can get my hands on right in fornt of me. i hope they stay this way. ill soon put my rhino plecos in with them when they reach a size closer to a foot

[RhomBeusBoi]

Rhoms can be very skittish, or just sit there and be inactive. But when another tank mate is introduced it will usually kill anything it is housed with. Other than that they aren't usually very mean or active. It will probably just sit behind a rock and stare at you.

[i said no]

That quote is hype attacks on humans lol, if u get bitten u would b unlucky and it would b most likely your falt ie hand in tank they obviously exist and i have seen photos of a 18incher and according 2 some they get much larger . i own 1 just over 13inches and they do sit around alot but will kill any living thing in its tank even a 10 inch crayfish!

[grovestci]

I would love to see that movie also.

[guppy]

Rhoms can be very skittish, or just sit there and be inactive. But when another tank mate is introduced it will usually kill anything it is housed with. Other than that they aren't usually very mean or active. It will probably just sit behind a rock and stare at you.
I had a girl friend lke that once.

[Xoltotun]

I had a 12" S. rhombeus about seven years ago in a 125g tank. They're a very, very pretty single display fish. Depending on his mood and the lighting, he could range from a dark (almost black) charcoal-gray to white with irridescent purple highlights. They will kill anything they're housed with. Mine killed a large pleco the night I introduced him into the tank (the only thing left was the skull and assorted bits and pieces). Aside from their intolerance of tankmates, I wouldn't consider them a vicious fish per se. Most of the time he was pretty timid, although I did train him to associate my presence with food, which is the key to acclimating any fish.

[xdefton3sx]

I think it depends on the fish not the species, my pygos were skittish when i first got them now theyll come right up to my finger outside my tank like an oscar, and despite what the naysayers do or say i think theyre beautiful fish, i dont get a "kick", out of feeding live fish, in fact the only live anything i feed is ghost shrimp! And temp is an issue! The higher the temp the livlier the P!

[shekes]

I fished for black piranha in the Amazon and what stroke me first was how strong they are. When you start pulling her in, you think "Ah, it's a good size peacock bass" and then... it is a half a pound piranha. And it is not even tasty.

[RHOMBEUS]

Blacks are not boring, it is all up to you and your connection to your fish. My 17" eats anything I drop in the water ( even other piranhas ) He is jet black, huge, mean looking and beautiful, he can eat 8 inch fish in few bites, he is powerful as a pitbull, if it was in their nature two of this size rhoms can kill a human in seconds. But they are not insane beasts. I also have a gorgeous purple diamond Piranha with higherbach and ruby red eyes, similar to the ones in the wolf of the water video. And He is the most beautiful Piranha I've ever seen, even the 7-8 inch RHoms are very very powerful. I had experimenst with a8 inch rhom and 4 super reds...Reds no longer occupy that tank