huffingtonpost: Pacu, Testicle-Eating Fish Species, Caught In Lake Lou Yaeger In Illinois

[HogNose]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/0...n_1656015.html

When biologists say the pacu fish eats nuts, they may be correct in more ways than one.

The pacu, a toothy fish that can weigh up to 55 pounds, has been spotted in Lake Lou Yaeger in Illinois, KSDK reports.
Responding to a report that a fisherman had reeled in a piranha on June 7, lake superintendent Jim Caldwell brought the fish to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, where it was identified as a pacu. Some reports say another pacu was seen a couple of weeks later.
Caldwell said he is still swimming in the lake nearly every day. Pacus primarily eat nuts, aquatic vegetation and snails, he told KDSK, and pose no real threat to humans.
Residents of Papua New Guinea may beg to differ. There, according to British fisherman Jeremy Wade, the pacu is known as the "ball cutter." In 2011, Wade said locals informed him that two fisherman had died from blood loss after something in the water had bitten off their testicles, according to the Metro.
"The locals told me that this thing was like a human in the water, biting at the testicles of fishermen," Wade said.
Wade determined that the perpetrator was the pacu, which is known for having human-like teeth. The angler did note that such attacks are uncommon, the Daily Mail reports.
Though pacus are native to the Amazon Basin, they were released into Papua New Guinea waters in the 1990s as part of an initiative to boost fisheries.


Biologists say any pacus in the Illinois lake are most likely former aquarium pets, according to the Journal-News. Anyone caught dumping the fish in the lake could face criminal charges.

[DC9]

Wow... and I'm trying to talk the wifey into selling our house and moving to a house on a lake... I'll just try to hide this thread for the time being...

I didn't see in the Article, but how does this kind of fish get into a lake? Or is the lake not closed off to other bodies of water?

[No Excuses]

I didn't see in the Article, but how does this kind of fish get into a lake? Or is the lake not closed off to other bodies of water?

Biologists say any pacus in the Illinois lake are most likely former aquarium pets, according to the Journal-News. Anyone caught dumping the fish in the lake could face criminal charges.

[Win4us]

The guy on the fishing show 'River Monsters" deals with these fish...they're a nasty lookin thing.

http://video.search.yahoo.com/search...+monsters+pacu

[JMS]

55 pound fish? I don't think that fish is big enough to bother me.

[HogNose]

If the guy with the 100 lb scrotum steps into the lake then these fish will be set for life.

[Riggo-toni]

testicle mangling pet fish to be dumped in lake after outliving its usefulness...a woman's best friend.

[KAOSkins]

We have those in the Rio Grande here in southern NM. I've seen them caught, but not using the teabagger method.

Their teeth look amazingly like ours.

[JMS]

We have blue fish which you can catch from shore when they run. Same family as Parana and Paco.... Good eating too.. Never heard fo them bothering anybody in such a mannor.

A fish is much more likely to strike at one's wedding ring, or wrist watch, any flashy medel as they are to focus on such a tender spot.

The entire line of reasoning strikes me as rather anthropomorphic and absurd.