candirus

[anggrek@juno.com (Tsuh Yang Chen)]

i know some are tired of this thread but i just wanted to put in my 2
cents.

candiru is the native amazonian name for several small parasitic fish. 
most are tiny elongated fish from the trichomicteridae family (Vandellia,
Tridensimilis etc.) but some are in the cetopsidae family.  when
fishermen catch large pimelodid catfish, they are often infested with
these little vampires.   and they are the MOST FEARED fish in the amazon
(for their supposed ability to penetrate human urethra), more than
stingray, piranhas, or electric eels.

i have read that some aquarists have kept them by placing large goldfish
in their tanks, which would serve as prey for the candiru.

tsuh yang chen, new york city