Fish enthusiasts and suppliers in Singapore are trying to breed new types of Flowerhorn cichlid and dumping their "rejects" and diseased fish into local rivers, according to a report in The Straits Times.
Fish enthusiasts and suppliers in Singapore are trying to breed new types of Flowerhorn cichlid and dumping their "rejects" and diseased fish into local rivers, according to a report in The Straits Times.
One breeder told the paper: "Some fish had bloated bodies and no humps on their heads; others were skinny and had no fins. What do you expect me to do with them?"
Last year, at the height of their popularity in the Far East, Flowerhorn cichlids were changing hands for as much as S$8000. However, demand has dropped dramatically recently.
One breeder told The Straits Times: "Nobody wants them any more. They're being chucked into dustbins like those unwanted babies in China. I could sell one at S$4000 last time, but now if I can sell one for $20, I'm very lucky".
The cichlids, frowned upon by serious fishkeepers and by PFK, are on sale at several shops in the UK - still at fairly high prices.