Red-bellied piranha

"Red-bellied piranhas eat not only fish and meat but occasionally algae and aquatic plants."

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Red-bellied piranhaPygocentrus nattereri

  • Habitat

    Rivers and lakes of South America

  • Food

    Fish, bait, insects, mollusks and plants

  • Lifetime

    10 - 15 years

  • Weight

    3.5 kilograms

  • Length

    30 centimeters

  • Number of youngsters

    5000 eggs

  • Incubation time

    2 to 3 days

  • IUCN Status

    Not researched

  • EEP

    No

  • 20

    with so many swimming the red-bellied piranhas in a school

  • 15

    years, that's how old this piranha species can get

  • 30

    centimeters, that's how big the red-bellied piranha can get

    • Lots of young piranhas

    Before laying eggs, the male of the red-bellied piranha makes a nest. He does this by making a pit at the bottom of the river. Females lay up to 5,000 eggs at a time. These eggs stick to each other and to aquatic plants. After just one week, the eggs hatch.

    Bad reputation

    Piranhas have sharp teeth. With these, they eat mostly fish. Many people think piranhas are dangerous. Yet it happens very rarely that they attack people. No human has ever been killed by piranhas.

    Want to know more about IUCN status or the EEP? Clickhere.