/trichomycteridae/vandellia/cirrhosa/1.jpg "Vandellia cirrhosa(1) - Click to enlarge")
/trichomycteridae/vandellia/cirrhosa/2.jpg "Vandellia cirrhosa(2) - Click to enlarge")
/trichomycteridae/vandellia/cirrhosa/3.jpg "Vandellia cirrhosa(3) - Click to enlarge")
/trichomycteridae/vandellia/cirrhosa/4.jpg "Vandellia cirrhosa(4) - Click to enlarge")
/trichomycteridae/vandellia/cirrhosa/5.jpg "Vandellia cirrhosa(5) - Click to enlarge")
/trichomycteridae/vandellia/cirrhosa/6.jpg "Vandellia cirrhosa(6) - Click to enlarge")
/trichomycteridae/vandellia/cirrhosa/7.jpg "Vandellia cirrhosa(7) Feeding on blood within larger fishes gill chamber - Click to enlarge")
/trichomycteridae/vandellia/cirrhosa/8.jpg "Vandellia cirrhosa(8) - Click to enlarge")
 Cat-eLog Data Sheet | |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Vandellia cirrhosa Valenciennes in Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1846 |
| Common Name(s) | Candiru |
| Type Locality | Probably from America [= South America]. |
| Synonym(s) | Plectrochilus erythrurus, Urinophilus erythrurus, Vandellia gigantea |
| Pronunciation | sir hoe sah |
| Etymology | Vandellia: Named after M Vandelli. |
| Species Information | |
| Size | 60mm (2.4") SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp. |
| Identification | Transparent to yellowish body, fleshy dorsal fin without strong spine. |
| General Remarks | The fish of this genus are the true vampire-style parasites of the otherwise ill-named parasitic catfish family. In nature they sense the passing of larger fish by the dissolved waste in the water streaming out of their gills. This attracts the parasite to the gill cavity where it feeds, dropping off to lie on the substrate when sated and visibily full to bursting with blood. Legends abound and surround this fish as it can mistake the urination of partially submerged mammals (including humans) for the exhalent gills of fishes and enter the urogenital openings of the very unfortunate mammal. A fascinating piece of trivia is that this fish is often referred to as the only vetebrate parasite of man. |
| Habitat Information | |
| Distribution | Widespread in the amazon and orinoco basins. Amazon (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there) Orinoco  (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there) |
| pH | 6.0 - 7.0 |
| Husbandry Information | |
| Feeding | Despite recorded attempts to feed this fish chopped fish gills, blood (via a dropper) and conventional foods, it appears this fish is specialised to the point that it can only feed from live fish. |
| Furniture | Doesn't appear to like bright conditions, so floating plants should be offered. When not actively swimming around in search of its next victim, the fish will rest on the bottom, particularly after feeding. |
| Compatibility | For obvious reasons this fish should be kept alone; smaller fish are not ignored by this fish and can be killed outright by one parasitic visitation. |
| Suggested Tankmates | Food and other Vandellia. |
| Breeding | Unreported. |
| Further Information | |
| References | Hist. Nat. Poiss.v. 18 - pp386 - Pl. 547 |
| Registered Keepers | (1) Attu, (2) Brooklamprey. Click on a username above to see all that persons registered catfish species. You can also view all "my cats" data for this species.  Add this species to your "my cats" page. |
| Breeding Reports | None. |
| More Resources |
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| Hits | 12086 hits. |
| Last Update | 2005 Jul 03 00:00 (species record created: 2003 Jun 28 00:00) |
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