Black-spot Piranha (cariba) Care Guide
Pygocentrus cariba is a powerful Orinoco piranha with a black shoulder spot, a carnivorous schooling predator that requires a large tank and a meaty diet.
Overview
Pygocentrus cariba is a piranha of the family Serrasalmidae, sometimes called the black-spot piranha for the dark humeral marking behind the gill cover. FishBase gives a maximum size of about 27.9 cm total length. It is a deep-bodied, laterally compressed predator restricted to the Orinoco system.
Taxonomy
- Family: Serrasalmidae
- Genus: Pygocentrus
- Scientific name: Pygocentrus cariba (Humboldt, 1821)
Habitat
FishBase and Wikipedia place the species in the Orinoco River basin lowlands and the Llanos region of Venezuela and Colombia. It is a pelagic, tropical freshwater fish of large rivers and floodplains.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 400 L
- Temperature: 24-28 °C (75-82 °F)
- pH: 6.0-7.5
- GH: 4-18 °dGH
- Group size: 5 or more, as it is naturally schooling
- Lifespan: 10-20 years
- Use a large, well-filtered tank with a secure lid and few decorations
Diet
Wikipedia describes Pygocentrus cariba as a carnivore feeding on a wide variety of fish, carrion, invertebrates and other aquatic animals. In the aquarium it should receive meaty foods such as whole fish, shrimp and prepared carnivore diets; feeding mammalian meat is discouraged. Live feeder fish carry disease risk and are not necessary.
Compatibility
This is an aggressive, mid-water predator best kept in a species group of its own kind rather than with unrelated tankmates. Small fish will be eaten, and human hands should be kept clear during maintenance. Conspecific aggression can occur, so a large tank and ample group size help spread tension.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2020).