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	Candiru
Calilasseia Ultimate Fish Guru Panda Funster Posts: 5496 Kudos: 2828 Votes: 731 Registered: 10-Feb-2003	The Candiru Vandellia cirrhosa, one of several Catfishes from the Family Trichomycteridae, has a gruesome reputation based upon accounts of it allegedly swimming into human urinary tracts. For a long time, much of the anecdotal musings have been regarded with some scepticism, but now, we have evidence that this fish does indeed pose an extremely painful hazard to anyne mistakenly urinating in its home waters. What follows is NOT for the faint hearted, and the links contain, among other features, graphic illustrations of surgery. You have therefore been WARNED that clicking on the links below is likely to make you lose your lunch if you are in the least bit squeamish about such things! First, Actual surgical details (Site is in Portuguese, as the doctor is Brazilian) Second, An English Language Account of the surgery involved. Third, this site illustrates the parasitic lifestyle of the fishes, complete with shots of a Candiru attached to gills. So, if there was any doubt before now, this should confirm that the Candiru is indeed a potentially hazardous fish to anyone foolish enough to go nude bathing in its home waters. Last edited by Calilasseia at 01-Apr-2005 10:40 Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002
Posted 26-Jan-2006 12:04
Shinigami Ichthyophile Catfish/Oddball Fan Posts: 9962 Kudos: 2915 Registered: 22-Feb-2001	Oh GOSH, that Candiru is enormous! And here I thought they'd have to be tiny, miniscule things to fit into the gills of fish and other tight places... jawdrop BTW, if anyone's looking at the pics at the bottom of said Portugese site, those little spiny things are apparently the Odontodes, which, if I'm not mistaken, are the hairs/spines on the side of the Candiru that keeps it from leaving the place it intends to be. Frickin' painful. Last edited by Shinigami at 01-Apr-2005 10:45 -------------------------------------------- The aquarist is one who must learn the ways of the biologist, the chemist, and the veterinarian.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 12:04
Janna Mega Fish Posts: 1386 Registered: 24-Aug-2003	One word: OW! They shade the glow of it with their mossy-misty costumes, They wear masks of silk, porcelain, brass, and silver, So as not to mislead with their own, ordinary faces.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 12:04
Cup_of_Lifenoodles Fish Guru Posts: 2755 Kudos: 1957 Votes: 30 Registered: 09-Sep-2004	From what I've heard, they actually make very good aquarium fish, provided they're kept with smaller sized fish (lest it's parasitic nature kick in) and that the owner doesn't decide to urinate in the tank. Last edited by Cup_of_Lifenoodles at 02-Apr-2005 18:12
Posted 26-Jan-2006 12:04
sirbooks Moderator Sociopath Posts: 3875 Kudos: 5164 Votes: 932 Registered: 26-Jul-2004	I've seen these fish mentioned on Animal Planet... Very nasty! I feel sorry for their victims. And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."
Posted 26-Jan-2006 12:04
Corydoran Enthusiast Posts: 269 Kudos: 370 Votes: 1217 Registered: 27-Sep-2004	The candiru can't swim up a stream of urine. It gets into the urinary tract when people submerse their lower half to urinate. For that reason, I don't understand why people go all the way in to pee when there is a risk of it (as I saw in an Animal Planet show). Hopefully, these people are careful when they go swimming, too.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 12:04
Toirtis Mega Fish Posts: 1260 Kudos: 529 Votes: 6 Registered: 24-Feb-2003	One of my LFSes had a trio of candiru in a few months ago, and I missed my chance at buying them...I still kick myself for missing them.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 12:04
Cup_of_Lifenoodles Fish Guru Posts: 2755 Kudos: 1957 Votes: 30 Registered: 09-Sep-2004	I'm quite sure anything that could swim up a stream of urine would be defying the laws of gravity themselves. Rather, I was referring to the reported "frenzy" they go into when exposed to a strong source of urea/ammonia.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 12:04
Hoa dude_dude Mega Fish Posts: 957 Kudos: 888 Votes: 72 Registered: 28-Dec-2004	yuck
Posted 26-Jan-2006 12:04


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