[serrasalmus_collector]

When it comes to spawning piranhas in captivity, few have been spawned other than reds. The species include P.Cariba, P.Terenetzi, S. Spilopleura, S.Maculatus, and S.Rhombeus. Since most of the fish you will be dealing with are wild caught the triggering mechanism must be discovered. To do this we must research the native biotope, for clues. Most piranhas start their spawning during the beginning and heightened points of the rainy season. Within the shift from dry season to rainy season are the keys. These are some of the changes that must be explored.

1) Barometric pressure shift
2) Increased food supply.
3) Increased water flow.
4) Increased oxygen levels.
5) Dilution of dissolved substances in the water.
6) Changes in food type.
7) Changes in water depth.
8) Changes in overall water temperature.
9) Availability of spawning sites.
10) Manipulation of lighting.
11) Right time of the year.
12) Increase in microorganisms.
13) Sound.
14) The spawning of other fish.

By investigating the shifts in the above parameters, virtually all piranhas can be spawned in captivity. Because of aggression and the cannibalistic nature of the fish, the dry season simulation can be dangerous and result in fish loss. If the goal is to spawn them in the home aquarium be prepared for the possible loss of fish. This happens in the wild all the time. The weak are destroyed leaving only the strong, to assure another good healthy generation of fish.

Very recently I have had a partial success getting P.Ternetzi to spawn in captivity. The eggs appeared in-fertile, and the female got chewed up really bad. I will be posting some pics to show the result of the aggression in piranha spawning. All my future spawning attempts will be shared with this forum and the methods used to induce the spawning. There is very little published about the breeding of piranhas in the home aquarium. Perhaps we can change that. This forum is a wonderful place to exchange ideas, partial success, and failure attempts.

My current attempted projects include. Peruvian Spilopleura, P. Cariba, P. Ternetzi, and the beautiful S.Geryi. Hopefully success will be achieved with all species, and you in turn may duplicate the procedures and have similar results in your home aquarium.

To help promote this site and allow members to have some access to rare piranhas @ a very economic price; when my fish spawn 2 of those interested will receive 3 free captive bred babies. About 1-2 inch total length. When I say free there will be no cost for the piranha, but perhaps shipping. This will enable you to also explore the possibility of breeding them yourself. Or perhaps you may just want to enjoy a shoal of piranhas.

Here is a link with a wonderful article by Kristian Adolfsson, on simulating rainy season and dry seasons in the home aquarium.

Dry Rainy Season in the home aquarium

This link will be closed, because I will be adding tons of pictures to it. Feel free to start topics based on this tread, or any ideas you have.

This thread will have a proven and repeatable method of breeding Gold Spilopleura or Serrasalmus Maculatus piranhas.

When the dry season comes in South America it is very harsh. The above article mentions removing 75% of the total water volume in the aquarium. The above article is also about corydoras. I prefer to utilize a know tetra breeding tecnique. My dry season simulations are done in a separate tank than the breeding tank. The 100 gallon breeding tank is set up, cycled and running. The dry season occurs in a 50 gallon breeder with about 12 gallons of water. The fish are deprived food, and have very poor water quality for 3 weeks.

Here are some pics of my dry season simulation


Prior to the dry season simulation the fish must be fed very well. The pictures below are 6 serrasalmus maculatus in about 4.5 inches of water, and an air stone. The fish have been in that state for 3 weeks now. If you attempt to duplicate these methods use caution. A hungry piranha is a very dangerous piranha. Watch your fish and water parameters closely. Be prepared to make small water changes if ammonia becomes a problem.

[serrasalmus_collector]

Here is a list off some of the products I have used to acheive a successfull spawn in captivity

Bacter Vital
This is a wonderful product made by Mac Weiss for cycling a new tank. It only takes 1 teaspoon for 50 gallons, and it is much more ecconomical than Bio Spira. It takes this product about 3 days, but I can validate it works



Water Test Kit




Undergravel filter
This is a wonderful undergravel filter. It doesn't have the long lengthy tubes you would expect. Undergravel in my opinion is a requirement to keep contol of disolved oxygen content. As a bonus. This filter has cartriges that can be filled with zeolite, or carbon; this aids in keeping water clean



De cholorinator
This is a requirement for all piranhas. Chlorine is deadly to them in very small quantities. I prefer this product, it only takes 1 drop per gallon, or 1 teaspoon for 50 gallons. This 16 Fl oz (480ml) bottle will treat over 9,600 gallons




Sutable nesting material
This stuff rocks for Serrasalmus maculatus genus. It is 100% organic. This material is composed of peat, leaves, twigs, and an assortment of other natural occuring components. It leaches tannis acid into the water, and complements black water extract.

[serrasalmus_collector]

The list continues

Black Water extract, and other products to simulate a rain forest biotope I don't know where to begin. All these products are totally awesome.

[serrasalmus_collector]

Reverse Osmosis Unit
If the water is just to hard. The RO unit is the best way to soften it.



Chemicals for controling PH, and hardness
It appears that Serrasalmus Maculatus don't like to spawn in water with a hardness over 7dH. So if you have been trying and you water is very hard, I would recomend an R.O unit. These products help you keep contol of you water conditions.










I don't know if you notice everything was neutral to acidic. Those are the conditions neccessary to trigger large spawns. If using an RO unit, the last item is important. It's good practice to add some river, or discus trace elements, and mix with tap water. Mix the RO water with tap untill you have the desired hardness.

[serrasalmus_collector]

After a minmum of 3 week in shallow water, the fish are moved. They are moved to a 100 gallon that is slighly planted, and half full. The next day they get water change, and then fill tank to 75%. The following day another water change and fill tank. I start a water change scedule of 4 days on 3 days off, with a minimum 30% water change.

Here are some pics in the fish in the simulated rainy season.





Next watch for a fish to start nest building or pairing of 2 fish.

[serrasalmus_collector]

The final end result.

FRY!!!!



They do grow up quickly. Here they are at just a month and a half.



And they continue to grow. Here are some of my 1st born. They were born mid June 2003. So they are right around a year old.




I must add for these fish being serrasalmus genus, and together for a year; there is hardly any fin damage. These fish will be breed back with the parents in hope of achieving an albino. I may go back into breeding reds to find an albino too.

A friend may be loaning me a colony of breeding reds. If I get them. This site will get all the information. Everything that was done from aclimating the fish to pre-spawning behavior, all the way to the fry growing into juvinile stages.

Breeding piranhas is one of the things that brought me into the hobby. Let's share our experiences here, and go forward with breed these wonderful and agressive fish.

[Aquatic_Death]

What a post


when you get some to breed you gotta let me know ill buy some from ya

[Plecostomus]

sound's hard!!
but hte babies sure are cute!

[serrasalmus_collector]

They weren’t really too hard for me. I purchased the fish with breeding them as a goal. It generally takes approximately 1.5 years for a piranha to reach the proper maturity to breed. When my gold’s reached 1.5 years they bred with a fury.

I spend a lot of time researching how piranhas breed in captivity, and in the wild. I formulated my own experiments, and they worked. 2.5 weeks after moving into my home the spawning started. That particular species appears to be triggered by water levels, changing cleanliness of water, temperature change, and hours of daylight. Apparently once spawning starts, temperature had no bearing on my fish. They spawned from 76 to 84 degree temperature.

Every fish I have raised from quarter size has bred for me in captivity. Piraya is the next species I will try this with. Pictures will be posted every month on the Piraya. Their growth and possible cannibalism will be shared with this forum.


Breeding piranha in captivty requires alot of patients, and repetition. Those 2 things point to dedicated hobbyist. With proper research and dedication gold piranhas should breed relatively easily for you.

[Pygo_Specialist]

Really cool thread, and nice pics. If you have any more pics of the fry I would love to see them. Maybe start in another thread. Save time for the people with dialup connections

[hgsmitty]

Way cool Serrasalmus!!! You have inspired me to try the breeding using your tricks.