Breeding the red-bellied piranha
Relatively easy to breed in a large aquarium. Fish mature at about a year and 10-15 cm TL; the male digs a nest pit and guards the eggs, which are laid in batches.
Step by step
Raise a group together and let a pair form; bonded pairs spawn in a big tank.
Very large tank (600 L+) with a sand or gravel nest area, plants and wood, warm soft water.
Stable warm water, rainy-season style water changes and heavy feeding.
Females lay several thousand eggs (FishBase: 4,000-5,000); eggs hatch in 2-3 days and fry swim freely by about day 5.
Fry are guarded by the male; feed newly hatched brine shrimp then chopped shrimp and fish; separate by size to prevent cannibalism.
- Tank too small
- Mixing sizes
- Disturbing the guarding male
Male or female
Hard to sex; females usually grow larger and rounder-bodied. Breeding fish of both sexes darken.
Can I breed it in my tank?
- Hard: for experienced breeders.
Day-by-day plan
Typical for open substrate spawners
- 21 days beforeLet a pair form
Grow up a group and let a pair choose each other. Give them a flat stone or broad leaf.
- Day 0Spawning
The pair cleans the stone and lays rows of eggs. Both guard them.
- Day 3Eggs hatch
Wrigglers hatch in 2–4 days and are moved to pits by the parents.
- Day 7Free swimming
Feed baby brine shrimp several times a day. Parents often herd the fry.
- Day 42Grow-out
Move fry to a grow-out tank before the parents spawn again.
A general guide for this breeding type. Days change with temperature and species.
Simulator: guided
Grow up a group and let a pair choose each other. Give them a flat stone or broad leaf.
Simulator: try it yourself
Set up a virtual breeding tank and see what would likely happen.
- Without live or frozen food the parents aren't in breeding condition.
An educational estimate from the breeding rules, not a promise.