‘World’s oldest piranha’ turns 33 as people flock to see flesh-eating fish - Daily Star

‘World’s oldest piranha’ turns 33 as people flock to see flesh-eating fish - Daily Star


‘World’s oldest piranha’ turns 33 as people flock to see flesh-eating fish - Daily Star

Posted: 27 Aug 2020 08:32 AM PDT

A man is convinced he owns the world's oldest piranha after his flesh-eating fish turned 33.

Kamil Elmali, 39, houses his pet piranha Dadas in his handbag store in Erzurum in Turkey.

Given their infamously deadly biting ability and finely serrated teeth, Kamil keeps the creature in a triple protection container and is sure to stop any customers from getting too close.

After it turned the ripe old age of 33, Dadas has become a local celebrity.

"Ever since he appeared on the local news, I've had loads of people coming into the top to see him," Kamil said.

This 33-year-old piranha is a candidate for Guinness World Records
This 33-year-old piranha is a candidate for Guinness World Records
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Read More

"I already know it's the oldest fish of its type in Turkey, and I'm pretty certain it's the oldest in the world, which is why I'm applying to the Guinness book of records."

According to Smithsonian Magazine, most piranhas live up to eight years in captivity – so Dadas is more than three times the usual age.

Videos of the fearsome creature show how it still seems as healthy as ever, easily swimming around as if it was young again.

The monster fish measures 23.6 inches long and appears almost half as big as the entire tank.

The piranha in the tank
The piranha in the tank

Kamil was just eight years old when he first spotted the fish in a pet shop.

"I used to go to the pet shop to see the piranha before going to school every day," he explained.

"It caught my attention so much that I wanted to own it."

Unsurprisingly, the pet shop owner never managed to find a buyer for the creature and when he eventually retired, he gave it to Kamil as a present.

He then built an aquarium in order to care for the fish at his workplace, saying owning it was the fulfilment of a childhood dream.

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