| Medinai have a coloration that resembles that of the Pygo. Caribe with the exception of many irredescent scales. This coloration may be a form of Muellerian mimicry, which is mimicry that allows the medinai to communicate with predators that I am dangerous just like the caribe (which are usually in large shoals). This coloration may also allow the medinai to successfully shoal with caribe on occassion to get in on a big meal without the caribe seeing them as a food source. As juveniles medinai will have many spots on their body with a slight amount of red/orange on their gill plate. As medinai mature most will get a ruby colored throat. Some get so much red that it seems to span their whole underside (jaw to anal fin). At the same token some will not get that vibrant of colors, and that is fine. Medinai's scales get darker as they mature and may take on a charcoal grey coloration. When medinai swim you can really see their irredescent scales shine in the light, and you will realize why they are one of the most beautiful piranha out there. |
| Coloration: |
| Size: |
| Medinai grow to a max size of 8 inches standard length (snout to end of stump) or 10-12 inches in total length (snout to end of tail fin). They grow fast up to 4-6 inches and then they grow very slow. Medinai get decently round in shape, but not quite as much as spilos. A medinai will be comfortable in a 29 gallon tank, but if you really care about your medinai then you will put it in a 55 gallon tank for life. |
| Temperment: |
| Medinai have a lot of personality. You won't find an owner out there that won't say that they have enjoyed their medinai very much. They tend to be active and aggressive. They should be kept solitary, however, some people have tried to shoal them. Most of the time shoals don't work with medinai, but with a large enough tank and frequent feedings you may be able to pull it off. |
| Eating Habits: |
| You will hear people say that you should feed your piranha beefheart, shrimp, and fish fillets, and you should. If you don't get your medinai on non-living food from the get go then you will probably be stuck feeding them earthworms and goldfish for the rest of its life. Medinai have a tendency to only want living food, so if they don't take to beefheart and shrimp then give them feeders. Please don't starve your fish to make them eat a piece of beefheart! It's not worth it to have a hungry piranha, and if you feed the feeders very nutritiously then your medinai will get the proper nutrition when it eats them. |
| General Information |
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| Munen Loves Comets! |
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| Adam's (Chozn1) shoal of 4 2-3" Medinai |
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| Shawn Leach's 6.5" Medinai |
| Shawn's medinai is a perfect example of how some adult specimens can get very vibrant coloration. |
| Adam's medinai shows how some may not develop as much color and still be perfectly healthy and beautiful as well. |
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| My medinai as a juvi. You can see how they only have slight red on the gill plate and many spots. |