Torpedo Candiru Catfish (Pareiodon microps)

An unusual looking parasitic catfish, the Torpedo Candiru Cat or Candiru açu is found throughout much of the Amazon basin. A powerful, active swimmer that is almost always in motion, this species uses its strong sense of smell to seek out larger fish and either burrowing into gill tissue or skin with their highly specialized like mouths. They also feed on dead fish and mammals (including in some cases humans that had drowned), burrowing under skin and hollowing out the body. In the aquarium, they do best in a large tank with plenty of open swimming space and moderate to strong current.