When choosing to keep carnivorous Characidae, there are some things you will want to keep in mind. First and foremost, be aware that anything smaller than the Characidae will be considered food. And mixing other aggressive carnivores will only lead to one or the other being eaten. You will want to keep herbivorous fish that are much larger with Characidae. They will generally leave anything bigger than themselves alone, and the herbivore will not be interested in attacking unless provoked. In contrast to the piranha, which has similar jaws and eating habits, a Characidae will attack both alone and in schools. Piranha tend to attack only in schools. But the effect either type can have on your hand is similar, so be careful. These kind of fish are definitely not recommended for the beginner.

Carnivorous Characidae will eat pretty much any kind of meat. Worms, smaller fish (a lot of dangerous fish keepers will stock the aquarium with several small, cheap fish so the predator has something to hunt), etc. Try to avoid giving them a taste for red meat, and do not put your hands into the tank while feeding them.

Characidae live in the brackish waters of South and Central American rivers. Lots of peat and vegetable matter contribute to hazy waters and a PH leaning towards acidic. When properly kept, Characidae will breed in captivity, leaving eggs that stick to the bottom of the aquarium. They will eat their young however, so if you are going to attempt to breed Characidae be prepared to move either the adults or the young into a separate aquarium right after hatching.

Serrasalmus Rhombeus, also know as white piranha or spotted piranha, are another favorite of people who like to keep dangerous fish. Like Characidae, piranha are from South America, in the Amazon Basin. They can grow up to 10 inches long in the wild, but most aquarium-raised piranha only grow to around 6 inches. As with Characidae, piranha are not for the beginner. As one of the most aggressive fishes, they cannot be kept with other fish. Their most prominent feature is the over-sized jaw, with rows of needle-sharp teeth. Piranha have been known to tear apart aquariums with those teeth. When netting a piranha, you must use extreme caution to keep your hands away from the fish at all times. They will attack and shred your hand without hesitation if you let them. In the wild, a school of piranha can reduce an entire cow to bones in a matter of seconds, so your hand is just a little snack for them.

Piranha eat meat, of course. They will attack and eat any other fish they are kept with. Some of the nicer things about keeping piranha include their relative indifference to water conditions, and that they will not breed in a tank. This prevents schools of piranha from appearing in your tanks. They will eat each other in captivity, especially if there are no other fish to attack. Piranha are extremely aggressive and dangerous, and should only be kept by experienced keepers.

For the most part if you choose the Characidae, make sure that you do not include in your tank, smaller fish such as the Angelfish, Fighters, etc. The Characidae tend to use their teeth to gnaw at smaller objects, including other fish. Piranhas’ fish are similar to the Characidae species. Piranhas come from South America and freshwater, which these fish also have sharp teeth. The piranhas also have strong jaws, which these jaws are dangerous, just as the jaws of the Characidae species. The fish are predatory species, which attack in large groups. The Characidae tend to attack on their own or sometimes in groups. Yet the jaws and teeth could easily rip apart terrestrial species in a relatively quick time. If you are a beginner, fish collector stay away from this specie, as well as the piranhas.

What they eat?

Characidae enjoy dining on meats, such as worms, etc.

What type of water they enjoy?

Characidae tend to enjoy soft swampy waters. The waters make it easy for breeding, which the fish will lay eggs that will stick to the bottom of the tank. Be aware that Characidae eat their own. Therefore, if the eggs are in the tank don’t be surprise if the Characidae devours the youngsters. If you are thinking of Characidae to breed, make sure you learn skills before you purchase the fish.

Serrasalmus Rhombeus

The fish are commonly called Spotted Piranha and White Piranha. The piranhas derived from the Amazon Basins and South America. Piranhas grow up to 10 inches in size. The aquarium fish only grow six inches in size. Piranhas are not ideal for those starting aquariums or fish care. These fish should not habitat with passive fish as well. Piranhas have a deep pressed body. The body has silvery or olive green colors. The piranhas have strong teeth, which they use to devour, or tear apart other creatures, as well as tanks.

The fish rather resemble a bulldog, which they also have a lower jaw line that makes a person feel threatened when approaching the fish. Piranhas are aggressive fish. The fish will dine of large or small fish.

How to net

When using a net it is important that you take extreme precaution. The fish will gnaw at your hand.

Piranhas feed from lean meats and other fishes. The fish are carnivorous, which makes them a showpiece rather than a pet. The upside is piranhas are not picking with water conditions, and the fish will not breed in aquariums. Be aware that if you put two piranhas in the same aquarium, Mary will feast on George or vise versa. In other words, they will eat each other as well. Piranhas include the Red-Breasted and Natterer Piranhas. The Red-Breasted and Natterer Piranhas feast in the same way as the Serrasalmus Rhombeus. Do you need more help?

The Characidae is a member of the Ostariphysi species. This fish has small adipose or connective tissues, known as fins. Their jaws have teeth. Their weberian small bony structure (Ossicles), link to the bladder area and also the inner part of the fish’s ear. The Characidae originate from Central and South America, but some may also be found in other smaller parts of the world, like Central Africa. There are two types of these fish which you can purchase, i.e. the carnivorous or the omnivorous ones. Carnivores feast on meat whilst omnivores prefer vegtables and/or animals. Characidae fish are predominantly herbivores so it is best to avoid this variety, as your aquarium will be virtually destroyed once this fish has nibbled its’ way through your tank.

By choosing the Characidae, you should avoid having other, smaller fish in the tank like the Angelfish, Fighters and others, as the Characidae like to gnaw at smaller object with their teeth. This includes eating other fish. Piranhas are from freshwater and also South America, and they are very similar to the Characidae species, in that they have sharp teeth. The piranhas’ strong jaws makes them dangerous, very much like the Characidae, and are categorised as a predatory species. In large groups, they like to attack their prey. The Characidae attack in groups as well as on their own – they have jaws and teeth which make easy work at ripping apart a terrestial species in such a short time. As a beginner at keeping an aquarium, avoid buying this species and the piranhas.

Feeding the Characidae

They mostly enjoy meats so feed them worms, etc.

What Type of Water is Best for Them

Soft swampy waters are ideal for the Characidae, as they can breed easier, by laying their eggs on the bottom of the tank as they will stick there. You should be aware that Characidae feed on their own. Eggs in the tank will be devoured once they emerge as youngsters, so don’t be surprised at this action. You will need to learn how to breed the Characidae before you buy any, as the skills are better learnt beforehand.

2. Serrasalmus Rhombeus

These fish are more commonly known as the Spotted and the White Piranha. They come from the Amazon Basins and also in South America. Piranhas will reach their full size of about ten inches. Aquarium fish will only grow to about six inches. When you are just starting an aquarium, piranhas are not the ideal species that you should begin with in fish care. These fish should be separated from the habitat of passive fish. Piranhas are olive green or silvery in colour and have deep pressed bodies. Their strong teeth are used to devour and tear apart other creatures, and they will have a good go at the tank as well. The fish look like bulldogs in resemblance, with a lower jaw that is quite threatening on approach. Piranhas are, by nature, aggressive and their food consists of other large or small fish.

Netting

When using a net to catch the fish, you need to take extreme precaution as they will try to gnaw at your hand which they see as prey. It is necessary to use a net if you need to clean out the aquarium.

Piranhas like to feed on other fishes as well as lean meat. As they are carnivorous, these fish are mainly for show and not as a pet. On the upside piranhas do not special water conditions and in aquariums they do not breed. Having two piranhas in one aquarium is not a good idea, as one will feed on the other. Species of the piranha include the Natterer Piranha and the Red-Breasted Piranha. These types of piranha are similar to the Serrasalmus Rhombeus in the way that they feast.