Pirambeba

About

Found in rivers and estuaries across the Amazon basin, this lesser-known piranha, Serrasalmus humeralis, has a feeding strategy that sets it apart from the more famous species: rather than attacking whole prey, it specializes in biting the fins off other fish. That habit makes it a serious threat to any tankmates, so it is almost always kept alone. Despite the fearsome dentition, it poses little real danger to people. Though fishermen pulling nets have learned the hard way that it will immediately go after other fish caught alongside it. On the more unusual end of piranha trivia, this species holds a notable place in North American fishkeeping history: escapees established a self-sustaining breeding population in Dade County, Florida at some point before 1981, the only piranha species known to have managed that, before authorities eradicated the population. In the aquarium, it is a long-lived, relatively undemanding fish as far as piranhas go, and the carnivore label does come with the assumption that you are comfortable sourcing appropriate meaty foods. Reproduction in captivity has been documented, which speaks to how well it can settle into aquarium life given the right setup.