So, I caught a Piranha in my backyard

[Sam Evans]

From the pics it looks like a pacu. At least the teeth do.

[vintagesix]

It's sad to see this sorta thing happen...but people buy these as pets for $10 because their 10 year old thinks their cute; fast forward 6 months when they school of 4 or 5 fish has grown to the point were the fish are trashing the tank. Then mom or dad think its fine for little johnny to release them into the pond/what have you. I know in Southern Florida there are tons of Oscar fish in the freshwater ponds crushing other fish. I thought for sure prior to checking the picture it was going to be a Pacu not a piranha because they look so similiar but yeah not the case. I've had both pacus and piranha both were the most skidish crazy fish.

[CharlyG]

I think it is a Pacu due to the flat teeth.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacu

http://junglephotos.com/amazon/amani...hes/pacu.shtml

[Rob Sharer]

That's not a piranha, it's a pacu.

Also from South America, but less dangerous. They eat fruit and nuts.

Nuts, you say? Google "bol kata" if you want a chill to the marrow. Might want to lay off the skinny-dipping for a while....


Rob

[Polynitro]

oh Pacu those are good eats right?

[CharlyG]

That is what the second link in my post above says....

[Shiny McShine]

Originally Posted by Polynitro

I know my backyard is like Mutual of Omaha...we have (to name a few things) Bald Eagles, possum, muscrats, egrets, osprey, coots, rabbits, snakes, wild boar,chinese ducks, red fox, wild horses, finger mullets...

Your backyard is like an insurance company?

did you mean Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom?

[abadiemet]

Originally Posted by Shiny McShine

Your backyard is like an insurance company?

did you mean Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom?

Have you ever tried to argue an insurance settlement with a Bald Eagle?

You'll never win.

[dwes]

Originally Posted by JackButler

About 15 years ago, a guy caught a black piranha in a small lake here in northern Ohio. Very weird.

The black ones are particularly nasty.

I had a few different piranha tanks years ago. The black one lived in isolation. My roommate used to say, "He doesn't eat other fish. He hates them!!"

[dwes]

Originally Posted by Sam Evans

From the pics it looks like a pacu. At least the teeth do.

My thoughts too. The red bellies have a row of very sharp, pointed teeth.

[geddyentwistle]

a pacu, probably from someone's fishtank, and was released into the wild as it got too big

[Jiffy_Jeff]

That thing has got the herpes....

[Polynitro]

Originally Posted by jmbstudios

That thing has got the herpes....

You think I should have used a condom?

[CharlyG]

yup, shoulda used mustard or catsup......


oh wait.....


nevermind

[heady dude]

Originally Posted by Bobby D

we have ALL SORTS of dangerous non-indigenous critters here in south florida.

right behind my condo, we have canals that are getting overrun with SNAKEHEADS -- these are MEAN fish that eat up and destroy almost all the other fish around.

it's crazy to see a piranha in Virginia

Yea Snakeheads are a real problem, they seem to be showing up all over the place. Thing is they are great eating. I ate a lot of them while travelling in SE Asia. Hot and sour snake head is amazing.