Payara (Vampire Fish / Saber-Tooth Barracuda)
Hydrolycus scomberoides
The Saber-Toothed Impaler of the Amazon (30-40 cm / 12-16 inches in captivity). The Payara is quite simply the most terrifying-looking freshwater predator on Earth. It is world-renowned for possessing two colossal, horrific lower fangs (saber-teeth) that grow so long that nature had to biologically carve two hollow 'sheaths' or cavities directly into the fish's upper skull, just to allow the fangs to slide up and hide near its brain when it closes its mouth. Despite its demonic appearance, it is a highly fragile, incredibly skittish, and neurotically stressed fish with an infamously high mortality rate in home aquariums due to its strict demand for industrial water current, easily fractured jaw, and extreme susceptibility to fungal disease.
Température de l’eau
24 - 28 °C
Valeur du pH
6 - 7.5
Type d'eau
Eau douce
Niveau dans le bac
Milieu
Taille adulte
30 cm
Volume minimal du bac
>= 300 L
Groupe minimal
>= 1
GH
4 - 12 dGH
KH
2 - 6 dKH
TDS
80 - 240 ppm
Conductivité
125 - 375 uS/cm
Description de l'espèce
Geographical Origin and Habitat: 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.
Soins, reproduction et cohabitation
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 Cohabitation: 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 Breeding: 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.
Origine et répartition géographiques
Upper Amazon basin (Rio Ucayali, Peru). Open water pelagic predator; stations in fast river currents waiting for small fish to be washed downstream.
Origine
Amazonie, Orénoque et GuyanesAsie de l'Est
Profil de poisson
- Tempérament
- Semi-aggressive
- Despite their fearsome appearance and predatory nature, they are surprisingly skittish and easily startled in captivity. Sudden movements or poor water quality can cause them to panic and violently crash into the aquarium glass. They are generally peaceful towards fish too large to eat, but remain dedicated, lethal predators.
- Régime alimentaire
- Omnivore
- They are obligate piscivores in the wild, using their enormous fangs to spear smaller fish before swallowing them whole. While difficult to transition, some individuals can be trained to eat frozen whole fish like silversides or lancefish. Offering a varied diet of fish, ensuring high protein intake, is crucial for their survival.
- Espérance de vie
- 0.5-2 years
- Taille adulte
- 30 cm
- Ratio des sexes
- Pair
- There are no known, visually obvious sexual dimorphisms present in this species. Determining the sex of living specimens is practically impossible without invasive veterinary procedures. Furthermore, keeping groups to establish pairs often ends in severe territorial aggression.
- Fréquence d'alimentation
- Twice daily
- Adults typically require feeding only once every two to three days, reflecting their gorge-and-fast natural feeding cycle. Juveniles may require more frequent feedings, usually daily or every other day, to fuel their rapid growth. Careful observation is needed to ensure they are maintaining adequate body weight.
- Charge biologique
- Extreme
- This apex predator produces an exceptionally high bioload due to its heavy, protein-rich diet. The waste generated from digesting whole fish can quickly degrade water quality if not managed properly. Massive biological filtration, strong mechanical flow, and stringent water change schedules are strictly required.
- Courant
- Stagnant
- They absolutely require strong, highly oxygenated water currents to mimic their natural fast-flowing river habitats. Powerful powerheads and extensive aeration are essential to keep these fish healthy and thriving. Inadequate flow or low oxygen levels will rapidly lead to stress, disease, and death.
- Risque de saut
- Yes
- Vampire fish are powerful swimmers and possess a significant risk of jumping out of the aquarium. Their rapid, torpedo-like strikes at prey near the surface can easily result in them exiting the tank. A very secure, tightly fitting, and heavily weighted lid is mandatory at all times.
- Reproduction
- Oviparous
- Successful captive breeding of this species has not been documented in the home aquarium hobby. They require enormous spaces and specific seasonal river flooding triggers that are impossible to replicate in standard tanks. All specimens available in the trade are wild-caught from their native river systems.
- Compatibilité et compagnons
- Solitary
- They are highly predatory and possess an extremely large mouth equipped with massive, specialized fangs. Any fish that can even remotely fit into their mouth will be viewed as prey and consumed. They are best kept alone or with armored, deep-bodied fish that are far too large to be swallowed.
- Niveau dans le bac
- Middle
- They generally occupy the middle to upper levels of the water column, hovering against the strong current. They are built for open water ambush, waiting for unsuspecting prey to drift by before striking with lightning speed. They rarely rest on the substrate, requiring plenty of unobstructed swimming space.
Modèles et paramètres scientifiques
FishBase
Fenêtre sur les données scientifiques officielles de l’espèce
Données synchronisées le : 15/06/2026
- Niveau trophique
- 4,5 ± 0,5 se
- Singularité phylogénétique (PD50)
- 0.5664
- Relation bayésienne longueur-poids
- a = 0.00661, b = 3.2
- VulnérabilitéVulnérabilité élevée à très élevée (70 / 100)
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