Piranhas are intense fish, and they have an international reputation for being ruthless killers, but the truth is that these fish are not usually considered harmful to humans and are more threatening to other fish. Many travelers going to Thailand have heard stories about these predatory fish being in the waters and wonder if there are any piranhas in Thailand.
There are no naturally-occurring piranhas in Thailand. Piranhas have been illegally sold on the black market as pets in Thailand but were not released into the wild. Pacu fish are similar to piranhas and have been introduced into some Thai lakes for sport fishing.
Also read: Are There Dangerous Animals In Thailand?
Are There Piranhas In Thailand?
Thailand is an extremely biodiverse country with several hundred fish species found in both coastal and inland waters. Several predatory fish are found in Thailand, but many travelers wonder if these waters hold piranhas.
There are no piranhas is Thailand. These fish are not native to Thailand and are only naturally found in South America. Piranhas are illegal in Thailand and are not naturally found in this country.
Piranhas can be dangerous to local fish when introduced to non-native ecosystems. They can be incredibly damaging to local fish populations and are unlikely to have natural predators outside of their native ecosystems.
Thailand is the perfect place for piranhas, as the waters here are ideal breeding and eating grounds for piranhas. Still, these fish as not native to southeast Asia and are considered illegal in many countries in the region.
Were There Ever Piranhas In Thailand?
The main reason why tourists wonder if there are piranhas in Thailand is due to various news stories from the early 2000s of piranhas being released into Thai waterways by traffickers. This leads many to wonder if these piranhas were released into Thai waters and if they remained there.
While these stories are to be taken seriously and are legitimate, any potential piranhas released into Thai waters either did not survive or were never released due to the efforts of law enforcement in the area.
There are no native piranhas in Thailand. If these fish were introduced correctly into Thai waters, they would breed and multiply prolifically, causing serious damage to the region’s aquatic ecosystems.
There were some piranhas held in captivity in Thailand, and several reports of piranhas being sold on the black market for high sums of money. These fish are prized by collectors and have been smuggled into Thailand for this purpose.
However, most of these fish have been discovered by law enforcement in Thailand and confiscated before they can do any damage in local waters.
Are Piranhas Permitted In Thailand?
Piranhas are beautiful fish to look at, and they are not as terrifying as Hollywood would have you believe, but they are still considered dangerous in areas where they are not native.
Due to the black market trade of piranhas in Thailand and the danger that they pose to the ecosystems of Thailand if ever introduced into local waters, piranhas are banned and are completely illegal in Thailand.
These fish thrive in tropical waters with high nutrients, such as in their native South American habitats. Thai waters possess similar qualities, meaning these fish would thrive in Thai waters.
This is a serious problem, as piranhas that multiply quickly in these waters would cause irreparable damage to ecosystems in Thailand.
For these reasons, piranhas have been made illegal in Thailand, and anyone caught bringing these fish into the country, trading in these fish, or keeping these fish will face dire consequences from Thai authorities.
Are There Fish Similar To Piranhas In Thailand?
Piranhas are not present in the waters of Thailand, and they are not permitted to be introduced either, but are there any fish in Thailand that could be confused with piranhas? Are there fish similar to piranhas in Thailand?
Piranhas are part of the family Serrasalmidae, which has several subspecies of fish that are all similar to one another. None of these fish occur naturally in Thailand, but one species from this genus has been introduced into some land-locked waters in the country.
Pirapitinga (Piaractus brachypomus), known locally in Thailand as the Pacu, is a species of fish closely related to the piranha and has been introduced into private fishing lakes in Thailand.
This fish is also from South America and has a similar appearance to piranhas. This fish is, however, significantly larger and heavier than piranhas.
Pacu fish grow to very large sizes when bred for sport fishing and can weigh up to 10kg in some instances. These fish as specifically introduced to waters that do not flow in or out of rivers and are always closely managed and kept within sport fishing lakes.
There are not many of these fish in Thailand, and only very few sport fishing locations keep them. They are prized for their weight, size, and the thrill of catching them. For these reasons, they are kept by some sport fishing organizations in Thailand.
Pacu makes excellent sport fish, and are carefully controlled and managed by the companies that introduce them into Thai lakes. These lakes are completely closed and used only for sport fishing.
Can Tourists See These Fish In Thailand?
Thailand is a popular tourist destination, and thousands of travelers visit the country every year. Part of the experience of Thailand is observing local wildlife, and many tourists wonder if they can see the fish that Thailand offers.
Several fishing tours are available for tourists in Thailand, both inland and in the ocean. Thailand has fantastic fishing locations, and tourists can spend time on the rivers and oceans in Thailand, exploring the water and observing local marine life.
However, the only way to see any predatory fish we are discussing here is to find the sport fishing lakes that breed Pacu and spend time on the water to catch them.
These fish are not native to Thailand and are not seen in the local rivers and oceans. The only way to see them is commercial sport fishing, which is only available in certain regions of the country.
If you enjoy sport fishing and want to catch something similar to a piranha during your trip to Thailand, participating in inland sport fishing is the only way to do so.
Are Predatory Fish A Problem In Thailand?
Thailand is home to hundreds of individual fish species, and several are predatory. This country is known for its rich biodiversity, and exploring the region’s fish may make you wonder if predatory fish are a problem in Thailand.
Predatory fish that are native to Thailand are not a problem for the local environment, habitats, or ecosystems in the country. The only predatory fish that pose an issue in Thailand are those not native to the country.
Fish such as piranhas that can do serious damage to local fish can cause permanent damage to local waterways in Thailand that the ecosystems will never recover from.
Local predatory fish in Thailand are part of the natural ecosystem, meaning they are meant to be there and do not cause any problems. These fish contribute to the health of the local habitat rather than detracting from it and are never an issue in local waters.
Introducing foreign predatory fish can decimate local indigenous fish populations, wreak havoc on aquatic habitats, and destroy local fish species. Predatory fish that breed very quickly is especially dangerous, so piranhas are illegal in Thailand and should never be introduced into local water there.
Pacu fish are only introduced into closed lakes that are not connected to water systems, and these fish as managed and caught before they can breed out of control, making them safe when kept correctly.
