Do not sell piranhas, authorities warn petshops.

Byline: Emmanuelle Landais, Staff Reporter

Dubai: The authorities are clamping down on pet shops stocking and selling piranha fish as they have a dangerous bite and are commonly known to eat other fish. A recent raid conducted by Dubai Municipality confiscated piranhas worth Dh2,000.

However, the carnivorous tropical fish popularised by films like Indiana Jones in which the action hero crosses piranha-infested waters and survives, are still widely available in pet shops here, say aquarium enthusiasts.

Ranging from Dh10 to Dh200 for a red-bellied piranha originally from South America, the fish is still available around the city.

Richard, 32, from New Zealand said he bought two piranhas last November for Dh200 from a shop at Airport Road. Initially, when he started looking for this type of fish some pet shops told him they were not available in the country.

"Some pet shops were reluctant to advise me where to go. But no one ever told me it was illegal or banned, they were openly on display," he said.

"I had wanted an exotic fish that would do more than just swim around. They are difficult to keep because they need a lot of attention. Because of what they eat, the tank gets dirty quickly and it can get expensive. As a treat I would give them a live goldfish once a week which puts a lot of blood in the tank. Otherwise I gave them frozen bloodworm which clogs up the filter," said Richard.

"In the end one ate the other and when I decided to get more, I found a shop in Satwa that sold them for Dh10! In the end I found them quite boring and a lot of hard work. They eat everything in the tank, including each other."

The Veterinary Services Section of Public Health Services Department in Dubai Municipality has launched the campaign on stores that sell tropical fish and pet birds to ensure that they are not stocking the carnivorous fish.

Dr. Essam Sharaf, Head of Veterinary Services Section said piranhas valued at Dh2,000 were seized and offending shops were given a warning.

Keeping piranhas as ornamental fish in residential premises is not allowed.

Pygocentrus nattereri, the Red Belly Piranha, is the most dangerous popular piranha, Sharaf added. Piranhas have a bulldog-like face with a very large lower jaw and many razor-sharp teeth.

What are piranhas? Aa The piranha is a member of a family of omnivorous freshwater fish which live in South American rivers and lakes. They are known for their sharp teeth and a voracious appetite for meat. There are 20 species of piranha but only five types are considered dangerous, while the remaining species are herbivores only. All piranhas have a single row of sharp teeth in both jaws; the teeth are tightly packed and interlocking used for rapid puncture and shearing. Individual teeth are typically broadly triangular, pointed and blade-like. The most common piranha is Pygocentrus nattereri, the red-bellied piranha. They should not be kept in pairs but in groups of four or more, since aggression among them is common. Members of the public are being urged to report any petshops stocking piranhas by calling the Municipality's toll-free number 800900. Have your say What is the weirdest pet you have ever had? Should there be a list of which pets people are allowed to own? What would be on that list? Tell us at [e-mail] Aaor fill in the comments form below.

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