Red-bellied piranha
Pygocentrus nattereri
- Tank length
- 180 cmabout 6 ft (71 in)
- Group
- 5+
- Temperature
- 23–27 °C73–81 °F
- pH
- 5.5–7
- Adult size
- 25 cm10 in
- Lifespan
- 10–15 yrs
Must be kept as a species-only group of 5+ in a large, long tank; never add other fish, and lone or crowded fish become fractious.Must be kept as a species-only group of 5+ in a large, long tank; never add other fish, and lone or crowded fish become fractious.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
- Acei cichlid
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- African butterfly cichlid
Red bellied piranha may eat African butterfly cichlidRed bellied piranha may eat African butterfly cichlid
- Agassiz's cory
Red bellied piranha may eat Agassiz's coryRed bellied piranha may eat Agassiz's cory
- Ajamaru rainbowfish
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
Amano shrimpRed bellied piranha may eat Amano shrimpRed bellied piranha may eat Amano shrimp
- American flagfish
Red bellied piranha may eat American flagfishRed bellied piranha may eat American flagfish
- Angfa rainbowfish
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Arfak rainbowfish
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
Assassin snailRed bellied piranha may eat Assassin snailRed bellied piranha may eat Assassin snail
- Bandit cory
Red bellied piranha may eat Bandit coryRed bellied piranha may eat Bandit cory
- Batanta rainbowfish
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Black kuhli loach
Red bellied piranha may eat Black kuhli loachRed bellied piranha may eat Black kuhli loach
Data used by the planner
| Temperature | 23–27 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
|---|---|---|
| pH | 5.5–7 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Hardness (dGH) | 1–15 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Origin | Amazon, Paraná and Essequibo basins | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Beginner friendly | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Care level | moderate | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Activity | active | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Swimming level | middle | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Temperament | predatory | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Nips fins | Yes | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Long fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Territorial | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lives in groups | Yes | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum group | 5 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Diet | carnivore | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lifespan (years) | 10–15 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Months to adult size | 24 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Safe with plants | Yes | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum tank length | 180 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |