Serrasalmus brandtii – Brandtii Piranha
Serrasalmus brandtii was first described in 1874 by Rheinhardt and Lütken et al. Their common names are Brandtii Piranha or Green Piranha.
Description
Most Serrasalmus brandtii are predominantly gold-coloured, although some specimen can be almost completely silver or have brownish tints. It has bright, iridescent scales on its flanks and a very concave head shape, typical for Pygocentrus Piranha’s. The eyes are silver. They can reach a total length of around 30 centimeters.
Most fins are translucent, and in the same colour as the body. The caudal fin is dark on the base but translucent as the rests of the fins. As the fish matures the analfin turns to a reddish/brown color. Unique to this species is that the base of the anal fin and the dorsal fin run in a vertical line: in all other piranha species the base of the dorsal fin is placed further forward. The caudal fin is darkly colored at the base, but is otherwise transparent and the same color as the other fins, with a thin black terminal band.
Different/unique appearances:
• Clear eyes.
• The position of the anal and dorsal fin: the base is at the same height, viewed from an imaginary vertical line.
Origin
This species is only found in a very limited area in Brazil: Rio São Francisco and a few small tributaries (such as Rio Itapicurù).
The Aquarium
At least an aquarium of 120x50x50 centimeters for adults. Young fish can be kept temporarily in a smaller aquarium, with a minimum size of 80x35x40 centimeters.
The aquarium should be equipped with sufficient hiding places, obtainable by the use of (drift) wood, stones, and/or plants. This is to meet the often somewhat skittish nature of this fish. In addition, there should be sufficient open swimming space available, as this species is a fast swimmer. Optionally, a flow pump can be used for additional flow in the water.
Temperature: 24 – 30°C
pH: 5.5 – 7.5
Compatible Species
None: Due to its habit of parasitizing on the fins and scales of other fish, it is not possible to keep this species with other piranhas or other fish species.
In some cases it has been possible to keep Armored Catfish (Plecos) or Spiny Catfish with this species, but a large number of hiding places (and a good dose of luck) are indispensable for this.
Diet
Fish (fillet, frozen whole fish such as smelt, live fish *), shrimps, mussels, insects, earthworms, bloodworms, mealworms, mosquito larvae, tubifex, flakes, tablets.
* When feeding live fish, a number of things should be considered: First, all fish can introduce diseases and/or parasites into the aquarium, including goldfish, windes and other commonly used cold water fish as well as tropical fish. It is therefore also advisable to keep food fish in a quarantine aquarium for a week or 2, in order to ‘flush out’ the sick and weakened specimens. In addition, it should be taken into account that goldfish and close relatives are not particularly nutritious. A diet that usually consists of live fish is therefore not recommended. All the more because goldfish and other Cyprinidae (carp-like) contain hormones – so-called “Thiaminase / Vitamin B1 inhibitors” – that paralyze the production of certain growth-stimulating substances in predatory fish. A very one-sided goldfish diet can therefore lead to growth and development disorders!
It may take a while for the fish to accept prepared food: if this is the case, make sure the fish is well fed with live food and then introduce a fasting period of a week to 12 days. During this period, provide the desired prepared food while the lighting is dimmed or turned off. If it doesn’t work the first time, supplement with live food and try again. Piranhas can go without food for a number of weeks without any problems, so the fish is not in any danger during this “cure” (with the exception of specimens smaller than about 8 centimeters!).
Comments
Serrasalmus brandtii is only found in the Rio Sao Francisco and a number of tributaries, in southern Brazil. This region is only sporadically fished by traders, with the result that this species is very rare and is therefore often sold for high prices.
It is striking that this species is not fished and eaten by the indigenous population, while most other piranha species regularly end up as a meal. The reason for this is firstly that the fish contains little meat and many bones, and secondly because the aggressive nature of this fish and the belief that the Brandtii Piranha feeds on human remains makes it taboo to eat this species.
Video
Author
Jonas Hansel – Piranha-info.com (original website no longer online)
Copyright images
Screenshots from the videos above
