Column, thin-layer, and high-performance liquid chromatographic techniques were used to study carotenoids in the herbivorous and carnivorous piranhas cultured in aquarium. Assays were run on tissue samples from skin, muscles, liver and intestines dissected from individuals of both sexes. A total of 16 carotenoids were identified, lutein and astaxanthin (herbivorous piranha), astaxanthin and zeaxanthin (carnivorous piranha) being the dominant pigments. Εpsilon-carotene and diadinoxanthin were identified only in the herbivorous piranha while cynthiaxanthin in the carnivorous fish. The total carotenoid content ranged from 1.889 (muscles) to 12.215 µg·g^–1 wet weight (intestines) in the herbivorous piranha and from 0.907 (muscles) to 5.235 µg·g^–1 wet weight (liver) in the carnivorous piranha.

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