Lucky fish craze hits Singapore amid economic gloom

Asian Economic News, Jan 13, 2003

SINGAPORE, Jan. 6 Kyodo

A big craze for an ornamental fish believed to bring good luck to its owners has spawned huge profits for many small-business operators who have rushed to set up shops selling the fish amid the country's current economic gloom.

The fish, known as ''Luo Han'' or ''Flower Horn Fish'' is believed by Singapore's majority Chinese population to bring good fortune to its owners.

It is a freshwater fish marked by its protruding head and believed to be descended from the Cichlidae family of fishes found mainly in Central and South America and in Africa.

But experts say the type popular in Singapore today is a hybrid that had been crossbred in Malaysia in recent years to attain its current distinctive features.

Hundreds of new shops selling aquarium fish have emerged this year as many Singaporeans who lost their jobs or whose businesses are languishing under the economic downturn scrambled to take advantage of the latest craze.

According to the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority here, more than 300 exotic fish shops were set up this year alone, bringing the total number of such shops here to about 500.

The majority of these new shops were set up to sell the Luo Han fish exclusively, and most of them are making big money.

Many small fish farms in the suburbs of Singapore have also stocked up on the fish and Luo Han theme parks have also sprouted, attracting thousands of people during weekends who are eager to catch a glimpse of these fish.

This is not surprising, considering that the best varieties of Luo Han are priced out of reach of most Singaporeans, with a 25-centimeter fish costing up to S$50,000 (about $28,700).

''The price skyrocketed because the Chinese believe the fish is lucky,'' said Johnny Tan, 36, from Flower Horn Lucky Aquarium.

The smaller varieties are usually snapped up for about S$10 by schoolchildren. But most serious breeders buy those costing a few thousand dollars each.

Even though the fish attracted little attention when it first hit the market more than a year ago, it has since then swelled in popularity as word spread in the media about owners who hit the jackpot or won the lottery after keeping the fish.

Today, the more affluent Singaporeans, especially wealthy businessmen, are willing to fork over several thousand dollars to buy the more expensive varieties out of the sheer belief that they will bring prosperity to their business -- something much needed during these tough times.

But the Luo Han is also more than just a good luck charm. Owners say they also like its aggressive nature, which makes it more responsive and playful when teased, such as chasing after the owners' hand up and down the aquarium. It is also hardy and does not die easily.

The name Luo Han has been linked to monks in Chinese mythology, and some owners claim that the color and patterns on the fish sometimes resemble auspicious characters in the Chinese language.

Most of the Luo Han sold in Singapore are imported from farms in Malaysia and Thailand.

Ng Soon Tian, 34, abandoned his coffee shop business to open a shop selling the Luo Han in August this year.

''I don't think the craze will die out because more new varieties are being developed, and will continue to fascinate people,'' he said.

Several noodle shops in Singapore that saw business dwindling recently resorted to offering free Luo Han to people buying noodles.

But, of course, they were not intending to serve the fish as part of the meal. In fact, one businessman in nearby Malaysia who recently whipped up ways to cook the fish raised the ire of Luo Han fans and dealers.

Underscoring its huge popularity, even thieves are going after the fish rather than cold cash. There have been a growing number of cases of burglaries at fish farms or shops this, forcing farm or shop owners to install padlocks and other security systems to protect their fish.

One 47-year-old man died in passionate pursuit of the fish this year. He fell into a river and drowned while trying to catch the fish with a net along the banks of the Kallang River.