Piranhas, Tetras, and Relatives (Family Characidae) Characins
are members of the order Characiformes, an extremely diverse
group of fish containing well over 1,500 species. Ranging in
size from the ⅔-inch pygmy blue characin ( Many species of
characins are important to people as a food source and as
popular aquarium fish. Within this group are found the tetras,
many species of which are among the most popular and commonly
kept fresh-water aquarium fish. Also numbered among the members
of this group is the infamous piranha, much feared throughout
South America as a voracious maneater. As usual, the truth is
far less dramatic, with the well-publicized piranha “feeding
frenzies” occurring far less regularly than people may think.
The species most associated with this phenomenon is the red-
bellied piranha ( Can piranhas be legally kept in captivity? It
depends on where you live. The fact that an animal is offered
for sale at a pet store does not guarantee its legality. Many
countries prohibit or carefully regulat