Kelvin
K P Lim and Peter K L Ng
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Kelvin
K P Lim and Peter K L Ng
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| Freshwater
Fishes and the Singaporean Fish-keeping | Fishes in our culture | Fish as food | Role in the habitat  Freshwater
fish also have a part to play in the cultures of the different ethnic groups
in Singapore. Some Malays believe that the Climbing Perch
has the supernatural power of warding off or warning against the presence
of evil spirits in the house. Thus, one sometimes sees individuals of these
being kept in small fish-bowls for this purpose. A number of Malays also do not like to keep Fighting Fish (Betta splendens) in the house as they believe that the aggressive temperament of the fish will sow discord within the family. The Common Walking Catfish (Ikan Keli) is capable of inflicting a nasty wound with its sharp pectoral spines which are suspected to be venomous. There is a Malay belief that if the brain of the "offending" fish is applied to the wound, the wound will heal without trouble. Some rasboras (Ikan Seluang) are reputed to be used for magic. If the eyes of this fish are pierced with a special needle selected from a score, and the eye of that needle is damaged, then the person responsible will have the ability to inflict blindness upon his enemies.  The
Chinese similarly, have their own beliefs. The general Chinese geomancer
(or Feng-shui master) will reveal that in order to bring good luck and prosperity
to the home, it is essential to include paintings of fish in the home decor.
The fishes depicted in these Chinese paintings are usually of carps
or goldfish, so symbolic of the Chinese culture. That
fish features so much a part of Chinese geomancy is no accident. Fish is
as much a part of water (Shui), as is the bird of the wind (Feng). The Chinese word for fish sounds very much like the word for surplus. Thus, to give fishes as gifts also carried with it the blessing of continued wealth and bounty for years to come. For the Chinese, the carp holds a revered position, being always associated with good fortune. Even in Singapore, one often sees many Chinese paintings depicting a carp (or carps) jumping over a wave. This is supposed to represent success, the fish jumping over a wave symbolising a man's ability to reach a higher, better level, or as folklore has it, the carp is ascending to the dragon's gate.
The species is available in three colour forms: the green, the gold and the red. The red form is regarded to be the best, for the colour red brings the most luck, and consequently the most expensive of the lot to purchase (it can cost as much as $3000 per fish); the golden, somewhat less auspicious, but still desired and expensive; and the unfortunate green form is sometimes considered rather unlucky. Cantonese people who habitually gamble and keep the green form in their homes are said to "shee tou meen cheang cheang" (lose till their faces turn green!). Therefore, it scores very low points on the popularity chart. Along with the golden dragon fishes, both the silver and black South American Arawanas, the various goldfish breeds and the multi-coloured koi strains are also kept for good luck. The popularity of the goldfish is partly associated with it being a "good-luck" symbol, and forms a major part of our aquarium fish industry. |
Introduction Freshwater habitats Fishes in Singapore Conservation Amazing Fishy Facts About the guidebook |
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From A Guide to Common Freshwater Fishes of Singapore by Kelvin K P Lim and Peter K L Ng Published by the Singapore Science Centre and sponsored by BP @Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research and Singapore Science Centre |
