Hobbies And Interests
Survival Adaptations
Because the red-bellied piranha lives in a very dangerous place where they are constantly at risk of being consumed themselves, they hunt in groups. This schooling behavior gives them strength in numbers and allows them to consume larger animals than they could alone. They are also aggressive when feeding and have razor sharp triangular teeth. All of these adaptations and behaviors have led the red-bellied piranha to be a top level predator in the food chain of South American rivers. Man is the primary risk to piranha survival in the beginning of the 21st century.
Spawning
The early part of the rainy season triggers the need to spawn and the piranha will pair off and swim around in circles to court one another. Eventually, the female will deposit 1,000 eggs in a lagoon and attach them to a floating plant. Once it is done, the male will swim by and deposit his sperm onto the eggs.
Protecting and Feeding
While the eggs are maturing, the mother and the father linger around the area to protect the eggs. After 10 days, the baby piranha, referred to as fry, will hatch and feed at the base of the plant. This fertilization time is determined largely by the warmth of the water. They survive initially on a sac left by the mother, but eventually move on to tiny crustaceans, fish and insects around the roots and stems of the plant. Once they are large enough, they will venture out for larger food and join the school.
Maturation
Red-bellied piranhas grow to about 15 inches in length and can weigh up to 5 lbs. They grow rather quickly and are ready to mate themselves by the time they reach one year of age. As they mature, they develop a darkened red area on their belly which gives them their name. Red-bellied piranha live to about 5 years in the wild, though they have been known to live longer in captivity.