How to Breed a Black Piranha

The Serrasalmus rhombeus, or Black Piranha, is a commonly kept and bred Piranha. These freshwater fish breed best in an environment devoid of other fish species. It is not easy to breed Piranhas, so you will need to provide them with an environment that feels completely natural to them so they feel comfortable enough to spawn.

Things You'll Need

  • Aquarium
  • Plants
  • Gravel
  • Live baby shrimp
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Keep the Piranhas in at least a 100-gallon tank. Keep either one male and one female or a group of up to six Piranhas together. For a group of several Piranhas, you will need at least a 500-gallon tank, as Black Piranhas are highly aggressive towards each other. Keep the Piranhas in pairs so they do not fight over mating partners.

    • 2

      Simulate Amazon River conditions. Keep the water at an acidity level of pH 6 and between 75 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit. Use soft water with a low lime content shower the water surface to simulate the rain season. This helps trigger spawning. Place plants in the aquarium, as this will help the Piranhas feel comfortable in their environment. Keep one side of the tank shaded and one side lit up.

    • 3

      Watch out for the when the Piranhas are going to lay their eggs. They will begin to dig up the gravel at the bottom of the aquarium to make a nesting area. Move the eggs to a small 15-gallon tank once they have lain their eggs. Construct a gravel nesting area in this tank. Fill this tank with water from the parents' tank. Be careful while moving the eggs, as the parent Piranhas are very aggressive during the nesting period. Piranhas usually lay between 400 and 700 eggs, and they take three days to hatch. The baby Piranhas must have food readily available. The best food option is live baby shrimp.