Opinion of the candiru fish

[Undisguised Sockpuppet]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candiru

so what is your opinion of it? for those not in the know...

The candirú or canero (Vandellia cirrhosa) is a freshwater fish in the group commonly called the catfishes. It is found in the Amazon River and has a reputation among the natives as the most feared fish in its waters, even over the piranha. The species grows only to a size of an inch in length and is eel shaped and translucent, making it almost impossible to see in the water. The candiru is a parasite. It swims into the gill cavities of other fishes, erects a spine to hold itself in place, and feeds on the blood in the gills, earning it a nickname as the "vampire fish of Brazil".

It is feared by the natives because it is attracted to urine or blood, and if the bather is nude it will swim into an orifice (the anus or vagina, or even in the case of smaller specimens the penis-- and perhaps deep into the urethra). It then erects its spine and begins to feed on the blood and body tissue just as it would from the gills of a fish. The candiru is then almost impossible to remove except through an operation.

A traditional option is the use of two plants, the Xagua plant (Genipa americana) and the Buitach apple which are inserted (or their extract in the case of tight spaces) into the affected area. These two plants together will kill and then dissolve the fish. More often, infection causes shock and death in the victim before it can be removed.

The author William Burroughs encountered stories about the candiru during his travels in South America, and referenced the creature in his book Naked Lunch. Candice Millard's The River of Doubt also presents rumors of attacks heard on Theodore Roosevelt's Amazon trip. The fish is also mentioned in several movies, such as "Anaconda" and "The Rundown". Novelist Julian Barnes mentions the fish in his book A History of the World in 10½ Chapters. In the animated show "The Venture Bros.", a parody of Hanna-Barbera's "Jonny Quest," The Monarch, a villain who uses butterflies as his theme, tied up the Venture family along with bodyguard, Brock Samson, and threatens to lower them into the waters of the amazon and let the candiru do its worst. However, before this can happen, Dean Venture complains of sharp pains in his groin, which later turns out to be Acute Testicular Torsion.

A reference is also made in a season one episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, A Single Life.

[riceowl]

Horrible, horrible person.

[Undisguised Sockpuppet]

But you've gotta admit it would be poetic justice for opebo to encounter one...

[minionofmidas]

It's also mentioned in fight club, at least in the book. Not sure about the movie.
Anyways, Freedom Fighter for sure. Any tiny guy that can kill humans is a Freedom Fighter.

[afleitch]

It's also mentioned in fight club, at least in the book. Not sure about the movie.
Anyways, Freedom Fighter for sure. Any tiny guy that can kill humans is a Freedom Fighter.

At least until it came after you

It sure scares the hell outta me!

[minionofmidas]

It's also mentioned in fight club, at least in the book. Not sure about the movie.
Anyways, Freedom Fighter for sure. Any tiny guy that can kill humans is a Freedom Fighter.

At least until it came after you

It sure scares the hell outta me!

True freedom fighters are scary people.

[afleitch]

I have to agree with that. But the fish is still a little SOB

[MasterJedi]

It's a horrible fish.

It was only rumored to do that until a guy actually got one up his dick and had to get help.

[Undisguised Sockpuppet]

I wonder if the candiru would survive in the southern US...

[Undisguised Sockpuppet]

Opebo needs to go to brazil and skinny dip in the amazon after having a few drinks.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

But you've gotta admit it would be poetic justice for opebo to encounter one...

Perhaps he was one in a previous life.

[Undisguised Sockpuppet]

But you've gotta admit it would be poetic justice for opebo to encounter one...

Perhaps he was one in a previous life.

No