Culturing marbled goby in Malaysia

摘要

The marbled goby (Oxyeleotris marmoratus) Is a high value fish, prized particularly in Chinese cuisine, for its sweet delicate flesh. The price is kept high because of the challenges associated with growing this premium species. It is difficult to wean the larvae onto pellets and, compared to other commercial species, it is slow growing. Moreover, it has been difficult to produce the numbers of Specific Pathogen Free (SPF) fry the market demands. These challenges are being taken up by a small privatehatchery in an industrial estate in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Aquacliq is operated by Eric Lim Kai Siang and his highly skilled staff. Eric started off in his brother's garage, and once convinced that he could condition broodstock and raise the juveniles,the two brothers decided to start a commercial venture. They have closed the breeding cycle on this lethargic ambush predator, and 'soon hock' - as it is called by the local Chinese communities - is now bred year round. In a polyglot community like Malaysia the fish has many local names: lam kor, ikan ketutu, ikan hantu, malas, bodoh, kayu, and ubi!