Blue Diamond Piranha Care

The blue diamond piranha, commonly referred to as the diamond piranha, is a large, highly aggressive fish. They have bluish-silver shimmery scales that glisten in an aquarium and are frequently displayed at fish shows. These fish are excellent specimens for experienced piranha keepers, but because of their high cost, complex care and aggressive temperaments, they are not a good choice for beginners.

  1. Caring for Babies

    • Most keepers purchase their piranhas as babies, and care for juvenile blue diamond piranhas is different from that of adults. AquaScape Online recommends that the juvenile tank be at least 32 inches long by 12 inches wide; a 30 to 50 gallon tank is an acceptable choice. Babies can be skittish and require places to hide, so provide your piranha with plants and cage ornaments to help him feel secure. Babies tend to eat more than adults and can have a truly voracious appetite. Young piranhas tend to nip at the fins of any other fish they are housed with, so it's unwise to keep fish fry with other fish, including adult piranhas.

    Housing

    • Adult piranhas require ample space to prevent aggression. At minimum, this means an 80 to 100 gallon tank, and if you are keeping multiple piranhas, double the tank size. Blue diamond piranhas are not compatible with any other species of fish and should not be housed with smaller fish or other piranhas. The tank temperature should be about 80 degrees Fahrenheit, so you will need a tank heater. Provide lighting for at least 12 hours each day by using a fluorescent tank hood. Piranhas are messy eaters and require ample filtration to maintain tank clarity. Plan on draining and replacing 10 to 15 percent of the water each week. Piranhas prefer slightly acidic water with a pH between 7.5 and 8, so perform weekly pH tests.

    Feeding

    • Blue diamond piranhas readily accept most meat. They prefer small fish, shrimp and insects. Adult piranhas will readily eat small mammals such as pinkie mice and reptiles and amphibians such as small frogs. You can also offer your piranha pre-mixed frozen piranha food to ensure he gets a balanced diet, but to remain healthy your piranha needs to periodically eat whole prey items such as fish. They should also get small quantities of leafy green vegetables such as collards and kale.

    Other Considerations

    • Blue diamond piranhas have a long lifespan and can live up to 15 years, so you should only purchase these fish if you can commit to a lifetime of care. They can grow up to 16 inches in length. They have very powerful, painful bites, so you should handle your fish with care and keep the tank locked and covered if you have small children.