Home / Fishes / Tetras, piranhas and pacus / Wimple piranha
No federal permit to keepWimple piranha
Catoprion mento
Fishes › Tetras, piranhas and pacus (Characiformes) › Serrasalmidae (Piranhas and pacus)
The wimple piranha (Catoprion mento) is a specialized, South American species of piranha that feeds on fish scales.
Care at a glance
Species-specific aquarium care
- Tank: At least 36 in long and 12 in front to back for one adult (adults commonly reach about 5.9 in / 15 cm).
- Water: Freshwater.
- Temperature: 73–79°F (range recorded for this species).
- Layout: An open-water swimmer: needs long, open swimming space with few obstacles.
- Diet: A predator: feed meaty foods sized to its mouth (frozen fish, shrimp, worms); it will eat tankmates that fit in its mouth. FishBase classes it as a carnivore.
- Safety: Can injure people (sharp spines, teeth or electric shock): use nets and care when working in the tank.
Calculated from this species' own FishBase record: tank size from its typical adult length and swimming zone, water values from its recorded ranges. The group guide below fills in general care.
Care guide
Species care notes
- Tank: a base of at least 47 × 15 in (roughly 36 US gallons); space needed is rated “large tank”.
- Water: soft, acidic water, 73–79 °F, pH 5.8–6.5, 1–5 dGH.
- Behaviour: temperament predatory.
- Difficulty: Difficult (Seriously Fish rating).
Short excerpts from the species profile:
- Setup: “Quite shy and prefers a tank with plenty of cover.”
- Diet: “It feeds largely on the scales of both conspecifics and other species in nature, and has specially adapted teeth in order to do so.”
- Tankmates: “Not a species for the community tank.”
From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167
Piranhas, pacus and silver dollars
Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: South American rivers. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.
Housing & setup
- Large tanks with strong filtration; pacus grow to over 2 ft and outgrow almost every home aquarium.
Diet
- Silver dollars: plant-based foods. Piranhas: fish, shrimp and pellets.
Health watch
- Piranhas are banned in many states. Never release pacus.
Understanding the animal
About this animal
About this animal
There is some debate over whether or not this species is considered a true piranha. If considered a true piranha, it would be the smallest species of piranha in the world.
Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Wimple piranha” (CC BY-SA 4.0) 174
In the wild
In the wild
From this species’ own FishBase record (habitat, bottom type, water and breeding data), not its family. Good care copies these conditions.1
| Where it lives | Lives in freshwater, in rivers and streams. Possesses powerful dentition and can inflict serious bites. Has been observed to feed on scales of other fish. |
| Water it lives in | Freshwater, 73–79 °F (23–26 °C), pH 5.4. |
| Climate | Tropical climate. |
| Wild diet | Hunting macrofauna (predator). |
What this means for care
- Keep water within its wild range, 73–79 °F.
Native climate (measured)
Native climate (measured)
| Warm-season highs | about 92°F (up to 95°F in the hottest sampled areas) |
| Cool-season lows | about 70°F (down to 61°F in the coldest sampled areas) |
| Average temperature | 78–82°F across sampled records |
| Relative humidity | 75–82% on average (driest month about 70%) |
| Rainfall | about 2010 mm a year |
Measured at 190 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.
From the sources
From the sources
Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.
| Overview | The wimple piranha (Catoprion mento) is a specialized, South American species of piranha that feeds on fish scales. There is some debate over whether or not this species is considered a true piranha. If considered a true piranha, it would be the smallest species of piranha in the world. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Where it lives | Home ranges Population dynamics Growth parameters Max. ages / sizes Length-weight rel. Length-frequencies Mass conversion Recruitment Abundance Life cycle Reproduction Maturity Maturity/Gills rel. — FishBase |
| Appearance and size | The wimple piranha reaches about 15 cm (6.5 in) in standard length. The curve of its large, banana-shaped lower jaw creates a distinctive protuberance; this gave this fish the specific name mento, which means 'chin'. Its reduced, conical teeth on the upper jaw project forward when the jaws are closed. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Biology | Possesses powerful dentition and can inflict serious bites. Has been observed to feed on scales of other fish. — FishBase |
| History and naming | The wimple piranha is not traditionally considered to be a true piranha; the shape of its teeth and the presence of two rows of teeth (instead of one) on the upper jaw makes it different from the other piranha genera. However, through molecular analysis, this species should be included in the true piranha group if the piranha group is to be monophyletic (see piranha for further discussion). — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
Data and studies
The numbers
The numbers
Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.
Adult length
Maximum recorded length. Measured as standard length (snout to the base of the tail, not counting the tail fin). Fish in home aquariums often stay smaller than wild records.
Water temperature
Range the species tolerates in nature; aim for the middle.
pH
Water hardness
Minimum tank footprint
Seriously Fish recommends a tank base of at least 47 × 15 in (about 36 US gallons).
Sources for this sheet
- FishBase (Froese & Pauly, eds.), version 24.07 Peer-reviewed researchThe global scientific database on fishes, maintained by a consortium of research institutions; every value is referenced.
- Seriously Fish species profiles Experienced keeper or breederLong-running aquarium reference written and peer-checked by experienced fishkeepers and ichthyologists; each profile covers habitat, tank size, water, diet, behaviour and breeding.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Management of aquarium fish Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Types and features of aquatic systems Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Nutritional diseases of fish Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
More piranhas and pacus
Black spot piranha
Pygocentrus cariba
Aquarium hobby
Cachama
Colossoma macropomum
Aquarium hobby
Gery's Piranha
Serrasalmus geryi
Aquarium hobby
Metynnis argenteus
Metynnis argenteus
Aquarium hobby
Metynnis lippincottianus
Metynnis lippincottianus
Aquarium hobby
Pirapitinga
Piaractus brachypomus
Aquarium hobby