''Serrasalmus geryi'', the violet line piranha or Gery's piranha, is a species of
fish found in the lower Tocantins and Araguaia Rivers of
Brazil. This rare ''Serrasalmus'' is the one
piranha
A piranha or piraña (, , or ; or , ) is one of a number of freshwater fish in the family Serrasalmidae, or the subfamily Serrasalminae within the tetra family, Characidae in order Characiformes. These fish inhabit South American rivers, ...
of the
genus ''
Serrasalmus
''Serrasalmus'' is a genus of piranhas. They are collectively known as pirambebas; the "typical" piranhas like the piraya piranha are nowadays placed in ''Pygocentrus''. Like all piranhas, ''Serrasalmus'' are native to South America.
These fish ...
'' that can coexist with others of the same species (though caution is advised). Gery's Piranha reaches sizes up to 12 inches in length.
Morphology (body characteristics)
Body shape is similar to other compressus group members and are very laterally compressed such as; ''S. altuvei'', ''S. hastatus'', ''S. compressus'' and ''S. altispinis''. The fish is distinctive at all ages with its broad stripe running from lower mouth to top of beginning of
dorsal fin.
Color:
Silvery bodied fish with numerous small spots on the flanks.
Anal fin
Fins are distinctive anatomical features composed of bony spines or rays protruding from the body of a fish. They are covered with skin and joined together either in a webbed fashion, as seen in most bony fish, or similar to a flipper, as se ...
is
hyaline
A hyaline substance is one with a glassy appearance. The word is derived from el, ὑάλινος, translit=hyálinos, lit=transparent, and el, ὕαλος, translit=hýalos, lit=crystal, glass, label=none.
Histopathology
Hyaline cartilage is ...
with a broad black margin.
Pectoral and
ventral fins are clear. A
humeral spot may be present. Eyes silvery to reddish-orange.
A quick visual reference to identify this fish:
* Reddish-orange eyes
* Violet line running from the lower jaw, over the back until the base of the tail fin
* Concave head shape
Maximum size:
Approx. 25 cm. (10") TL.
Specimens over 20 cm. (8") TL are quite rare in captivity.
Sexing:
Not
sexually dimorphic: males and females look similar.
Care
Tank requirements:
Recommended tank size for an adult specimen is 120x45x50 cm. (48x18x20").
Juvenile specimen can be kept in a smaller tank: minimum 60x30x30 cm. (24x12x12").
This is one of the few ''Serrasalmus'' species that have successfully been kept in a group for a while: minimum recommended size to attempt this is 150x50x60 cm. (60x20x24") - only to be attempted by very experienced piranha keepers who know exactly what they are doing, and know what risks are involved.
Plants,
driftwood or rocks provide hiding places; the tank lights should be dimmed.
Heavy filtration required to deal with the large amounts of waste this fish produces. A powerhead can be added to provide currents.
Fish can be dangerous to hands and other extremities. Care is required in handling.
Water temperature:
24-29 degrees
Celsius
The degree Celsius is the unit of temperature on the Celsius scale (originally known as the centigrade scale outside Sweden), one of two temperature scales used in the International System of Units (SI), the other being the Kelvin scale. The ...
(76-84 degrees
Fahrenheit).
Water chemistry:
pH should be between 6.0 - 8.0, ideal is slightly acidic to neutral water: pH 6.5 - 7.2
Soft water is preferred.
Compatible species:
Although this species has successfully been kept in a group, it is highly recommended to keep the Geryi Piranha as a solitary fish: it remains a
parasitic and highly aggressive species.
Breeding:
No instances of captive breeding have been reported yet.
Diet:
Fish (whole, fillet or feeders *),
shrimp
Shrimp are crustaceans (a form of shellfish) with elongated bodies and a primarily swimming mode of locomotion – most commonly Caridea and Dendrobranchiata of the decapod order, although some crustaceans outside of this order are refer ...
,
cockles,
mussels,
squid
True squid are molluscs with an elongated soft body, large eyes, eight arms, and two tentacles in the superorder Decapodiformes, though many other molluscs within the broader Neocoleoidea are also called squid despite not strictly fitting t ...
,
insects,
earthworms
An earthworm is a terrestrial invertebrate that belongs to the phylum Annelida. They exhibit a tube-within-a-tube body plan; they are externally segmented with corresponding internal segmentation; and they usually have setae on all segments. Th ...
, pellets.
Food items such as
poultry,
mammal
Mammals () are a group of vertebrate animals constituting the class Mammalia (), characterized by the presence of mammary glands which in females produce milk for feeding (nursing) their young, a neocortex (a region of the brain), fur or ...
meat, and organ meat should be fed sparingly: once or twice a month at most. Meat needs to be unseasoned and trimmed of any fat.
On rare occasions this species accepts vegetables, nuts, seeds, or fruit as well.
* Live fish need to be quarantined first, so they are safe to feed (containing no diseases or parasites).
Goldfish,
minnows and other members of the
Cyprinid family (Carp-like fish) should be avoided, as these fish contain growth-inhibiting hormones (Thaiminase/Vitamine B1 inhibitors) that could negatively affect the piranha's health and development.
References
"Serrasalmus geryi"on
FishBase
FishBase is a global species database of fish species (specifically finfish). It is the largest and most extensively accessed online database on adult finfish on the web.
{{Taxonbar, from=Q148813
Serrasalmidae
Piranhas
Fish described in 1988