05.11.2026 11:04
In the Manavgat district of Antalya, Mehmet Demir, who tried to pick up with his hand a piranha he had kept in his aquarium for 1.5 years and named "Netanyahu," was attacked by the fish. Demir, who was injured when Netanyahu bit his palm and finger, was treated at Manavgat State Hospital. Demir said that despite what happened, he could keep piranhas again.
Mehmet Demir, who lives in Manavgat, was attacked in the aquarium he wanted to clean after moving his workplace. Demir, who tried to take by hand the piranhas he could not catch with a net, was attacked by one of the fish.
HE WANTED TO CLEAN THE AQUARIUM
Mehmet Demir, who moved to Manavgat with his family after the earthquake in Hatay, moved the office of the educational institution he manages to another place. After the move, Demir wanted to clean the aquarium containing a piranha he named "Netanyahu" and a catfish he named "Trump"; because of the size of the fish, he decided to take them by hand instead of with a net.
HE WAS ATTACKED BY NETANYAHU
Demir, who transferred the first of the piranhas without any problem, was attacked by the other piranha he named “Netanyahu”. Demir, who was injured as a result of the fish biting his palm and finger, went to Manavgat State Hospital and received treatment. Demir was discharged after the intervention of the medical teams.
“IT TORE A COIN-SIZED PIECE OF FLESH FROM MY PALM”
Stating that he bought two piranhas as juveniles about 1.5 years ago, Demir recounted what happened as follows:
“We moved our workplace at the weekend. At our new workplace, I wanted to clean the inside of the aquarium before placing it in position. As always, I tried to take the fish with the help of a net. But because they were large, I could not take them with the net. I took the first piranha by hand without any problem. However, when I took the second fish, it bit the middle of my palm and my finger. It tore off a piece of flesh the size of a coin from the middle of my palm. My wife and I came to Manavgat State Hospital without delay, and the necessary intervention was performed.”
“I CAN STILL KEEP THEM”
Demir, who recommended using a net of the appropriate size while transferring the fish to another aquarium, stated that he loves animals very much and keeps different animals. Demir said, “This incident does not mean that I will not keep piranhas. I can keep them again.”