Red Bellied Piranha Serrasalmus Nattereri
Image for illustration purposes only. Exact colours, patterns, and size may vary between individuals.
Delivered alive, guaranteed
Live fish delivery is £20 per order, delivered Thursday, Friday or Saturday, arriving before 1:00pm on the day you choose at checkout. Packed by aquatic specialists and shipped overnight with a dedicated livestock courier, every fish is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee with automatic refunds. See How Live Fish Delivery Works for full details.
When will my fish arrive?
| Order placed | Delivery day |
|---|---|
| Up to Monday 11:00am | Thursday (that week) |
| Monday after 11:00am – Tuesday 11:00am | Friday (that week) |
| Tuesday after 11:00am – Wednesday 11:00am | Saturday (that week) |
| Wednesday after 11:00am – Sunday (any time) | Thursday (following week) |
Overview
The Red Bellied Piranha (now Pygocentrus nattereri) is the classic piranha, a deep-bodied silver fish with a flush of red on the throat and belly and a blunt, powerful jaw. Its fearsome reputation is largely myth, and adults are actually skittish and shy. Found across the Amazon, Paraná and Guyanan river systems, it suits experienced keepers with a very large species tank.
- Adult Size: Around 30–35 cm (12–14 in) in aquaria
- Lifespan: 10–15 years, sometimes longer
Origin
- Native to: Amazon, Essequibo, Paraná and Uruguay basins, South America
- Habitat: Rivers, tributaries, oxbows and floodplain lakes
Feeding
- Diet: Carnivorous, opportunistic generalist
- Preferred Foods: Prawn, white fish fillet, mussel, earthworms, bloodworm, sinking carnivore pellets
- Feeding Habits: Feed juveniles daily, adults every other day; no feeder fish or mammal meat
Tank Mates
- Best with: Its own kind only, singly or in groups of five or more
- Avoid: All other fish; smaller or slower companions are eaten, larger ones bitten
Aggression & Behaviour
- Temperament: Nervous and skittish; aggressive within the group hierarchy
- Territoriality: Group hierarchy; fin-nipping and injuries when crowded or underfed
Experience Level
- Difficulty: Advanced
- Challenges: Huge tank, heavy filtration, messy feeding, teeth that can injure
Water Parameters
- Water Type: Freshwater, soft and slightly acidic
- Temperature: 24–28°C (75–82°F)
- pH: 5.5–7.5
- Hardness: 2–12 dGH
- Flow: Moderate
- Tank Size: Minimum 450 litres for a small group of juveniles; adults need 1000 litres or more
Final Notes
This is a long-term commitment: a small juvenile becomes a heavy, fast-growing fish needing a very large tank, powerful filtration and dim lighting with plenty of cover to stop it panicking. Handle with care during maintenance, as bites are serious. Sexing is not possible externally. Spawning in captivity happens in mature groups, with eggs laid on roots and guarded. A calm, well-kept group is a genuinely impressive display.
Please Note
The livestock that is sold on our online site is not held in store at our Birchwood Aquatic Centre shop. Species sold at the Birchwood Aquatic Centre physical store may differ from ones available to order to your door.
Frequently Asked Questions
In insulated boxes designed for live transport, packed by aquatic specialists,
overnight with a licensed live-animal courier, arriving before 1pm.
It is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee.
Photograph it within 4 hours of delivery, email info@birchwoodaquaticcentre.co.uk with your order number, and the refund is processed automatically. The cover continues for 7 days after arrival.
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. You pick your day at checkout; please choose a day someone is home.
Yes. One basket, one checkout; the fish arrive with the specialist courier and the rest of your order ships as normal.
We can deliver to UK mainland only for live fish.
Follow the five-minute acclimatisation steps in our When Your Fish Arrive guide: float the bags, add tank water gradually, net the fish in, lights low, feed tomorrow.