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YOU MIGHT HAVE seen tropical fish the pacu in the headlines over the past couple of weeks.
It was reported that the animal had made its way across the Atlantic from its home in South America and had been spotted in waters around Europe.
It was also said that the fish had a set of human-like teeth and was in the habit of eating human testicles.
If all that’s true it’s certainly food for thought.
So we tried to find out a bit more.
Do they actually eat testicles?
The notion that the fish has a tendency to eat human testicles is incorrect and dates back three years to a story that surfaced in Denmark.
A Danish fisherman snared one of them among his catch of eels and perch.
Following this, Professor Peter Rask Moller from the Copenhagen Museum of Natural History – probably bored with saying serious, academical type things - thought he’d have a bit of a laugh with this development.
He issued a warning for men to “keep their swimsuits well tied” as the fish could occasionally mistake male testicles for the tree nuts that make up much of its diet.
Surprisingly (or not surprisingly) people took this statement from a well-placed official pretty seriously, and thus the rumour was started.
It has reemerged on a yearly basis since then. Like here in 2015, and here in 2014.
It is pretty understandable why people were worried, seeing as the fish does boast a pretty scary set of human-like nashers.
You’ll be relieved to know that that although a member of the piranha family the fish is a vegetarian.
Are we about to get them in Ireland?
The probability of spotting one of the fish while out in Irish water is slim-to-none.
Speaking to TheJournal.ie, Pat O’Suilleabhain from the National Sea Life Aquarium in Bray said that while the fish are occasionally bought within the pet market (and they have a few in their centre), they would not be able to survive in Irish waters.
“The drop in temperature, I mean if you go out and dip your toe in any river at all. We would have temperatures below 10 degrees and that is really totally unsuited for the survival of the fish.
Also they aren’t flesh eating in the same way that other piranhas are.
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The fish’s teeth are in better condition than the wife’s.
I swallowed a whole vagina once,I had a stiff neck for days.
Sounds fishy to me…
U swallowed a vagina? Or viagra?
Viagara maybe???
I’ve eaten a few vaginas in my time too.didn’t swallow them whole though
I’ve big lips.
I made it half but never again.
Your’re only doing it well when you can tickle her belly button. From the inside.
We can’t take any chances…nuke them all!
Supposed to be an emoji!, this was how it appeared!!!???
Awh Dam and there was I encouraging my partner to go swimming
A load of polllocks
They’d have a job finding mine!
Most of us never heard of testicle eating fish and now that we have he doesn’t even eat testicles so another none story from the bottom of the barrel
I’ve swam with barracuda and you’re advised to “make sure everything is tucked in” as they will bite an outreaching finger, or a dangling piece of yer’ meat and two veg. I was rolled up like a sleeping as they swam around me!
Just like my ex wife
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