Payara (Vampire Fish / Saber-Tooth Barracuda)

Geographic Origin and Biotope: Upper Amazon basin (Rio Ucayali, Peru). Open water pelagic predator; stations in fast river currents waiting for small fish to be washed downstream.

Taxonomy and Morphology: Vampire Tetra / Payara (Hydrolycus scomberoides). A legendary "monster" in the aquarium hobby. It possesses two gigantic fangs (lower canines up to 15 cm / 6 inches in adults in the wild) that slide into upper cranial slits (holsters) when it closes its mouth.

Social Behavior: In the tank it is a shy predator (not territorially aggressive). Swims in mid-water tilted downwards, with short and furious bursts to catch prey. Tolerant of similar specimens if there is enough space.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Metallic scales, silver like mirrors to camouflage in the light of open water (barracuda effect). The belly is slightly shaded, but the two protruding fangs capture all visual attention.

Aquarium Setup: Exhibition aquarium in "River" style. Minimum 180-200 cm (72-80 inches) BARE tank, requires titanic flow pumps running continuously. Furnishings or rocks are dangerous because it injures itself darting in fear.

Diet and Feeding: Feeding nightmare! The Payara will almost always ignore dead foods. When young it needs neons, guppies and minnows (live feeder fish); as it grows it must be slowly weaned (with months of patience) to fish chunks moved by tongs.

Water Quality: Require immaculate filtration and 100% saturated oxygen levels to counterbalance life in constant current. They are terrified of sudden pH drops and cannot stand ammonia.

Compatibility and Tankmates: Ignores fish that do not fit in its mouth. Strangely cohabits peacefully with shield fish like large Geophagus, large Loricariids, Metynnis (Silver Dollar) and huge peaceful Cichlids (Heros).

Aquarium Reproduction: Totally impossible and unknown in captivity (Unrecorded worldwide). The required dimensions and the hormonal trigger of the Amazonian rain migrations preclude their reproduction in the tank.

Risks and Diseases: The "Broken Fang" or panic syndrome. 90% of specimens (grow only 30cm / 12 inches in captivity, compared to 1 meter / 3.3 feet in nature) die young crashing against the glass scared by lights, irreversibly breaking their jaw and fangs.