I am going to the Amazon...

[Lady D]

Thanks for clarifying that. Anything a suitable deterrent from that fish??? Had gone to wikipedia and couldn't find it there or anywhere else. Don't worry bsmart, I thought you might be trying to pull one over on people with that laughing smiley!

Amputation of the private areas is the cheapest, and most life-changing, way to remove the fish.

 

[kathydwells]

Oh, I am sure bsmart isn't worried. He knew what he was talking about. It took me all of about 3 seconds to find the fish picture.

 

[DD]

bsmart, staysmart on your trip and you'll be just fine. have funn, take lots of pics, and give us a full report when you return.

 

[Teresa]

Actually bsmarts spelling was off..it is the candir? fish, and yes they do exist, and they do exactly what they said they do. I have seen them on the Discovery channel.

Proof here.

http://www.angelfire.com/mo2/animals1/catfish/candiru.html

The vampire fish of Brazil.

OMG that fish is not kidding around... bsmart - I know you plan to stay away from the water... no skinny dipping or urinating...

 

[Sheila]

The trip sounds awesome bsmart! They actually have some candir? at the Georgia Aquarium. If you haven't been yet, they are in the River Scout exhibit. All the fish in that exhibit are from the Amazon.

The only way I'd want to see those bad boys would be through the safety of that big ol' plexiglass wall!

 

[bsmart]

From an article about the Candiru:

When candirus parasitize humans, it is usually only when they are skinny-dipping while urinating in the water. The candiru tastes the urine stream and follows it back to the human. It then swims up the anus and lodges itself somewhere in the urinary tract with its spines. Blood is drawn, and the candiru gorges itself on both the blood and body tissue, its body sometimes expanding due to the amount of blood. This is all said to be very painful for the poor person who has this happen to him or her. Unfortunately, they are almost impossible to remove due to the spines. Amputation of the private areas is the cheapest, and most life-changing, way to remove the fish. Actual surgery is extremely expensive and involves inserting the Xagua plant and the Buitach apple up the urethra. These two plants kill and even dissolve the parasitic fish. If surgery is not done in time, the blockage of the urinary tract will prove fatal. The candiru is the only known vertebrate to parasitize humans.

 

[audie]

From an article about the Candiru:

When candirus parasitize humans, it is usually only when they are skinny-dipping while urinating in the water. The candiru tastes the urine stream and follows it back to the human. It then swims up the anus and lodges itself somewhere in the urinary tract with its spines. Blood is drawn, and the candiru gorges itself on both the blood and body tissue, its body sometimes expanding due to the amount of blood. This is all said to be very painful for the poor person who has this happen to him or her. Unfortunately, they are almost impossible to remove due to the spines. Amputation of the private areas is the cheapest, and most life-changing, way to remove the fish. Actual surgery is extremely expensive and involves inserting the Xagua plant and the Buitach apple up the urethra. These two plants kill and even dissolve the parasitic fish. If surgery is not done in time, the blockage of the urinary tract will prove fatal. The candiru is the only known vertebrate to parasitize humans.

i am never going in the water again !

 

[scooterpolluter]

I hear that's how Long Dong Silver died! :shock:

 

[Miss Kitty]

That'll teach ya' not to tinkle in the water! Your anus?????

 

[audie]

in the grand scheme of things, just what purpose does an anus swimming creature serve ?