Dubai Municipality seizes dangerous piranha from pet shops

Dubai: The Public Health Services Department, Dubai Municipality, has seized piranhas from pet shops.

"This kind of fish is hazardous to public health due to its ferocity and voracious appetite for meat," according to a press release.

The Veterinary Services Section of Public Health Services Department in Dubai Municipality launched an inspection campaign on stores that sell tropical fish and pet birds to ensure that they are free of piranhas.

Dr Essam Sharaf, Head of Veterinary Services Section, said during the campaign, the municipality confiscated the piranha from pet shops valued around Dh2,000, and those offending shops were giving warnings.

Piranhas are originally from South America, and the word piranha means voracious in the local language. There are 20 species of it, but only five types of species are considered dangerous, while the remaining species eat vegetables.

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

He warned that this kind of fish is very dangerous and it should not be sold as tropical fish. Dr Sharaf urged public to report the presence of piranha or any violation if found by calling the municipality's toll-free number: 800900.