HomeFreshwater aquarium fishTetras & characinsPirambeba Pirambeba (Serrasalmus humeralis) Scientific name: Serrasalmus humeralis Valenciennes, 1850 The Pirambeba (Serrasalmus humeralis) is a freshwater fish of the family Characidae. Native range: South America, Amazon River basin. BiologyOccurs in rivers and estuaries. Feeds on the fins of other fish. Oviparous. Dies at less than 11?C. Its reproduction in captivity has been carried out. Although armed with strong, sharp teeth, it is however not dangerous to man. When captured with fishing nets, it must be released because it attacks the other fish caught in the net. Of the few piranhas which have escaped from aquaria in the USA, only this species was able to establish a breeding population in Dade County, Florida which was eradicated in 1981 (Ref 1739).Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameSerrasalmus humeralisFamilyCharacidae (Characins)OrderCharaciformes (Characins)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length20.0EnvironmentFreshwater; benthopelagicClimateTropicalDistributionSouth America: Amazon River basin.Conservation status (IUCN)Not EvaluatedThreat to humansHarmlessUsesAquarium: commercialResilienceHigh, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.) More tetras & characinsBlack tetraGymnocorymbus ternetziJewel tetraHyphessobrycon equesRed piranhaPygocentrus nattereriBuenos Aires tetraHyphessobrycon anisitsiBucktooth tetraExodon paradoxusHemigrammus bellottiiSee all tetras & characins SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.Last updated 27 September 2026