[Sir Nathan XXI]

Just got a Wimple piranha a few hours ago. This thing is already amazing, it comes to the glass and chases fingers and all. BCollins tells me that it really takes feeders out hard, I will have to see in a few days. Even though its small I am rather impressed. I suggest a wimple to you all. Lately there has been several in the area cheap too (Central OH). Pics up in a few minutes, thanks alot Brian!

 

[Sir Nathan XXI]

 

[RhomZilla]

Nice looking fish, Nate. Was gonna ask you to post a pic of a Wimple since I never seen one, but heard about it, but ytou beat me to it.

 

[Sir Nathan XXI]

Frank has good info on them, they are sexually dimorphic as well

 

[hastatus]

The fish photo in the middle clearly shows it to be a male.

 

[Sir Nathan XXI]

I read that on your site, but I was confused as to which had the bi lobe, but now I know,

Frank do you have an estimate when these become mature, I am gonna try to get a female

 

[Bcollins111900]

thanks nate as he is sweet and I am glad you are happy with him as I am with Marvin. Thanks again man. U will have to let me know if that pet store u goto by u has alot of weird fish?

 

[Sir Nathan XXI]

thanks nate as he is sweet and I am glad you are happy with him as I am with Marvin. Thanks again man. U will have to let me know if that pet store u goto by u has alot of weird fish?

let me know what you want. They have a pike, and a alligator gar

like I told you they will start getting in other Ps some time as well. I gotta hound them to get more Wimples in

 

[Outie]

Great pics, I love the blunt chin it really stands out. Are they mainly fin/scale eaters? Also how do they school, or they just simply tolerate each other.

 

[SnowCichlid.]

WoW nice photography work you have there, and nice fish as well, keep us updated :smile:

 

[hastatus]

Frank do you have an estimate when these become mature

No idea. The study done by me at 2 1/2 in. TL the fish (about 27 of them for the first study) exhibited behavior similar to a female black widow in that the females regularly attacked the males until all that remained was a dominant male, this was over a one year period. Subsequent specimens demonstrated they would exhibit schooling behavior at small sizes 2 inches or less and then once they reach the larger size they would again return to the same behavior of killing males.

One critical thing I must say here, you must maintain the pH at around 5.6 to 6.4. They appear to do better in soft acidic water and a bit lower temperature (76-78F) to keep the aggressiveness reduced.

The species to my knowledge has not been bred in captivity.

Michel Jegu and I are co-authoring a paper on this species with some additional information that I am not at liberty to reveal just yet.

 

[NIKE]

glad to hear your getting attached to the little guy! nice pics

 

[RhomZilla]

the females regularly attacked the males until all that remained was a dominant male. Once they reach the larger size they would again return to the same behavior of killing males.

Damn.. Im glad thast only happens in the animal kingdom!!!

 

[Xenon]

I love the look of that fish. That bulldog lower jaw is awesome and I have heard they are monster aggressive! Good pick up Nate! Please keep us up to date on how aggressive he is, etc.!

 

[Sir Nathan XXI]

thanks Frank, for the info, let me know when you get that paper done.

I will keep you all updated on this little guy, I really like him.

 

[Xenon]

I got a question. Is the wimple piranha illegal in all states the "true" piranhas are illegal in? Do the same legal parameters apply to this species?

 

[Sir Nathan XXI]

thats a very intresting point you have MIke, perhaps if people were to argue their case they would be legal in states, similar to what Frank had to do

 

[Xenon]

thats a very intresting point you have MIke, perhaps if people were to argue their case they would be legal in states, similar to what Frank had to do

Are they illegal?

 

[Sir Nathan XXI]

I meant if they are, I dont know. Frank probably does

 

[hastatus]

thanks Frank, for the info, let me know when you get that paper done.

I will let you ALL know.

Are they illegal?

Interesting question. Scientifically speaking, no, they should not be illegal because they are not by definition pirana. However, some states use common names only and their logic is the fish is a pirana by name only and would be illegal.

I remember a situation in California where a dealer imported Catoprion mento for sale in Southern portion of state. They used the common name as a display and were almost immediately investigated by California Fish and Game. The fish were not confiscated from the dealer, but was told to get rid of them quickly (as in a warning or else). Such is the mentalty (then) of CF&W. Don't know if they are still like that or have changed. This happened in 1986. The name pirana strikes terror in people's heart which is why I dislike so many references to the fish being called a killer or eating machine. This description of the fish is what gives the pirana its reputation (as also shown in Survivor by how they portrayed the fish). Though I am a bit off topic on the wimple, it does illustrate why some states are afraid of anything called a piranha.