How Much Does It Cost To Buy A Piranha
Piranhas are very popular fish basically because of their nature of being aggressive. However, did you know that piranhas can be great pets at home as well? If you consider getting a piranha soon, read this article first and discover how much it will actually cost you.
Typical Cost Of A Piranha
The typical cost of a piranha is $5 to $20 each.
This price refers to a red-bellied piranha, the most popular specie of piranha that are kept as pets today.
Factors That Affect The Price Of A Piranha
Variety. There are different varieties of piranhas that you can choose from and their prices usually vary depending on specific varieties. Red-bellied piranhas (Pygocentrus Nattereri) are usually the cheapest. Rare piranha species with some attitude such as the Serrasalmus and Pygocentrus are a lot more expensive. A piranha of this variety can go as high as $200 each.
Size. Of course, the bigger the piranha already is, the price usually goes higher. A red-bellied piranha that is one to two inches in size is priced $4 to $8 usually while a piranha that is three to four inches can already go from $10 to $20.
Supplier. Different pet shops price their piranhas differently. This can be true because of several factors such as geographical location, cost of living, and competition.
Additional Costs
Keeping a piranha as pet means a new tank. It should be noted that mature piranhas can grow very large; hence, a large tank is always necessary. Some tanks can go about $800 while luxurious and customized tanks with a lot of accessories can go as high as $10,000 or even more.
Food will also be an added expense in the long term. You have options of frozen meat foods, live foods such as shrimp, and dried pellet foods. The cost of foods will vary depending on what kind of food you choose to feed your pet.
Tips Before You Buy A Piranha
Know your reasons for buying a piranha first. Understand that in a home aquarium, they really do not live up to their names of being bloodthirsty and ruthless killers. They are easy to frighten, shy, and nervous most of the time. So if you are looking for some action at home, you may really be disappointed.
Buy a healthy piranha. When you are shopping in a pet store, a piranha that is alert and aware is a healthy one. Another thing to look for is whether the fish is eager to eat or not. The eagerness to eat is also one sign that the piranha is healthy. Avoid, however, piranhas that are injured, swimming irregularly, and diseased. Getting piranhas like this can only mean a disappointment as most of the time, they will not survive the first week at home.
Prepare a good tank placed in a quiet corner at home before you take a pet home.