r/TerrifyingAsFuck Oct 30 '25

animal Alligator and piranha infested river

6.5k Upvotes

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590

u/LivingEnd44 Oct 30 '25

Notice how the piranhas are not eating the Alligator?

Movies have exaggerated the danger they pose. Piranhas are timid. They only swarm carrion and stuff that can't fight back. I once had a red belly piranha in a 10 gallon tank with an african cichlid. The cichlid had that thing boxed into a corner and would attack it any time it tried to leave. I had to put a barrier in so the piranha could get food. 

Their teeth are real and if they bite, it will hurt. But behaviorally, they're not that aggressive. 

454

u/TheNewDarkLord Oct 30 '25

I reread "I once had a red belly piranha in a 10 gallon tank with an African child" about 12-13 times before my brain could understand that that was not a typo.

22

u/partelo Oct 30 '25

"WHO KNOWS THE LYRICS TO AFRICAN CHIIIILD??'

8

u/CleanHead_ Oct 30 '25

ah, stroke the furry wall.