thatpetblog
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Posts by thatpetblog
Piranhas – Myth and Mystery Part 2 – The Black Piranha
Jul 19th
Hello, Craig here. In my last blog, I introduced the infamous Red-bellied Piranha. Now let’s talk a less common species, the Black Piranha.
Serrasalmus rhombeus is a brute of a fish. Like all piranha species, the Black Piranha calls the Amazon and Orinoco river basins of South America their home. Though this is a relatively widespread fish, there is actually a “complex” of species that all fall under the “rhombeus” name. All of them develop blood red eyes as they mature and their colors range from silver to black to a pale grey. The Black Piranha is a sleek top end predator that can attain sizes or well over 12 inches. Some people make claims that this beast can grow as large as 20 inches or more.
As juveniles, the Black Piranha is known to feed on the fins and scales of larger fish, as well as insects and small crustaceans. This behavior changes as the fish ages. At maturity, the rhombeus piranha is a lightning-fast predator. Their bodies are laterally compressed and very streamlined. This allows for quick pursuit of their prey. Whether taking a whole fish, or simply shearing off parts of their prey, the attack is always fast and brief.
Most of the fish in this complex are found in fast flowing rivers, but the larger adults can be found in deeper waters. In the home aquarium, keeping a single specimen in a large tank of at least 120 is the only way to go. These fish are highly aggressive towards one another in captivity, and will rarely accept others as tank mates. Typically a shy fish, it is wise to provide a large piece of driftwood for cover. Keeping the lighting subdued will encourage the fish to feed and be more active at all hours of the day. Powerheads can be used to create current and oxygenation as found in their native habitat, and will help to keep this species of piranha in excellent health. Feeding will require a varied diet of shrimp, fresh fish filets, and pellets. Some individuals are quite stubborn, and may prefer live foods when first acquired. If you are going to feed them live fish, it is always a good idea to quarantine the fish before you offer them as food to your piranha. It is also recommended that you do not feed your piranha live goldfish, but instead opt for guppies, rosey-reds or mollies. A large and efficient bio-filter will be needed to help to deal with the waste the fish produces. Weekly water changes will help to keep the environment in top condition and allow for the best possible growth rate and coloration.
While these fish are not readily seen for sale in stores, you do see them available from time to time. They are hardy and long-lived aquarium inhabitants when they are cared for properly. Next time I will talk about one of the most unique of all piranha - Serrasalmus elongatus , the Elongate Piranha.
Black Piranha image referenced from wikipedia and originally posted by Torox
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Loading ...US Natives for the Marine Aquarium – Mummichogs, Striped Killifishes, and Sheepshead Minnows – Part 1
Jul 16th
Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. In common with most aquarists, I’m enthralled by brilliantly-colored reef fishes. However, I find that little can compare to the thrill of catching, keeping and breeding native fishes. Today I’d like to look at three hardy species that are among the most beautiful and interesting I’ve yet to keep. I’ve collected all by seine net and minnow trap within NYC limits and off nearby Long Island.
Note: Please check your state’s regulations before collecting native fishes. More >
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Extreme Makeover – That Fish Place Outside Pond Edition
Jul 9th
Ok, so the makeover isn’t all that extreme, but it was much needed in the case of our outdoor pond display located at the corner of the store on the field end of the parking lot. As you may know, we periodically re-vamp our displays inside the store, and in this case it was time for this old pond to get dressed up. If you’ve visited our retail store you’ve probably seen this pond, the body of which is constructed of landscaping blocks with a cascade of natural stone on the back end. It’s been there for years, and though the structure has remained much the same, the plants really make the pond come to life. More >
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Volunteer Opportunities Conserving Fresh Water Fishes and Ecosystems
Jun 11th
Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. Responsible aquarists are usually interested in conservation, and those of us living in the USA are fortunate in having available a number of organizations that utilize volunteers to help study and preserve rivers, marshes, lakes and other vital freshwater habitats and the fishes and other creatures that they support. The organizations highlighted here tend to take an ecosystem approach – please see the articles cited below for projects focusing solely on fishes and other aquatic animals.
General Habitat and Animal Conservation
American Rivers, one of the nation’s largest organizations focusing on freshwater conservation, helps volunteers to organize local projects and provides technical assistance. Present and past projects have involved fish surveys, water quality sampling, wildlife monitoring, shoreline cleanup, emergent vegetation re-planting and a host of other interesting and important activities. American Rivers also hosts “River Action Day”, an annual event that draws hundreds of concerned activists to Washington, D.C. More >
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Depth Perception – Deep-reef Fish in the Aquarium Trade
Feb 10th
When most people think about where some of their favorite aquarium fish come from, they usually think of brightly colored corals and fish darting about in the sunlight. If you ask them how fish are collected, they might picture collectors snorkelling or skin-diving to the reefs to hand-collect the fish that will soon appear in their local fish stores. But, for a large number of fish in the aquarium trade, this is just not a reality. Sure, plenty of fish come from shallow reefs close to the surface, but many also come from deep, dark reefs over 100 feet below the surface where light doesn’t penetrate and even some of the colors of the fish themselves don’t, for all practical purposes, exist. More >
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