subject: The Current Facts About Tropical Fish From Our Tropical Fish Of Asia Tour [print this page] Welcome to East Coast Tranship's Tropical Fish Tour of Asia. If you want to see this information in a video go to the resource box at the bottom of this article.
We are a direct importer of tropical fish into the United States and have supplied wholesale tropical fish to pet stores in the United States for over 25 years. In this report we will highlight some of the Asian countries who supply either the harder to find, rarer species, or those that are "source countries" for a popular fish, thereby offering the fish at a much cheaper price.
We begin in southern Asia. There, just above Australia, lies the country of INDONESIA.
Indonesia is the source country for wild caught Clown Loaches.
No other country in the world offers Clown Loaches as cheap as Indonesia.
Indonesian also breeds Gar Fish.
They currently offer 3 species...the mac-ulata, the oc-ulata, and the hujeta (who-jeeta)
Indonesia also breeds the Silver and Pearl Arowana so that they are offered year round.
Another source fish of Indonesia is the family of Rainbow Fish.
Many Asian countries offer some FreshwaterShrimp species.
But Indonesia offers more specie than all other countries and does a better job shipping them.
There are 27 species total on their list.
BANGKOK
Northwest of Indonesia is Bangkok, Thailand.
Bangkok produces a few rare fish but is also a primary source country for many kinds of other fish.
Flowerhorns are becoming very popular. Bangkok has been busy cross breeding and hybridizing Flowerhorns for some years now. Seen here are some of the ones they have produced.
Tiger Datenoids and the Humphead Glassfish are two more fairly rare species found in Bangkok.
Bangkok is probably the largest supplier of Primary Source' fish, though other countries may carry these fish, none can compete with Bangkok on price.
Among these are Betta's, Botias, Brackish water fish, a number of Catfish, Eels, Painted Glassfish, Clown Knifes, Oscars, Sharks, and Painted Tetras
SINGAPORE
Due South of Bangkok lies Singapore. Singapore has a few "specialty" items but is known mainly as a "bread & butter" country.
Among the specialty items they produce are Arowanas, such as the Pearl Arowana, the Platinum, the Red and the Ruby, all bred in Singapore.
Lately Singapore has been producing some quality Flowerhorns
Singapore produces and sells Electric Blue Jack Dempsey's and an assortment of Rams.
Now, when it comes to standard "bread & butter" stock for a pet store, there is no country with a higher inventory of these fish than Singapore.
Some examples are:
Angels - they devote 170 breeder codes to Angels.
Barbs 79 breeder codes
Common Cichlids 120 codes
Fancy Gourami's over 90 codes
Singapore is the Source Country for livebearers . . .
Guppies 150 codes
Mollys over 150 codes
Platy's over 280 codes
Swordtails over 185 codes
Singapore probably carries the largest total inventory of all the countries we represent.
At any one time, about 80% of all items are available.
HONG KONG
Just barely off the coast of China, is the small province of Hong Kong.
Like other countries we import from, Hong Kong has developed a niche within the market.
Their specialty items are Goldfish, Piranhas, Neon Tetras and various Newts and Frogs.
As far as Goldfish- Hong Kong stocks and ships just about every kind there is.
They access mainland China so their inventory is HUGE.
They devote well over 500 codes to just Goldfish.
As far as Piranhas - Hong Kong is a breeder exclusively of Red Belly's.
They are reliable suppliers throughout the entire year.
As far as Newts - There are 5 species that Hong Kong carries.
While the Mandarin is a rarer species, they commonly carry the Fire Newt, Paddle tail and Spotted Red.
As far as Neons - Hong Kong is the primary Source for Neons in the whole world.
Their supply is steady, reliable, and the cheapest of all other countries in the world.
Other oddball fish that Hong Kong consistently offers is:
The Chinese Hi-Fin Shark
Silver Arowanas ... Bred so they are available throughout the year.
Various Frogs and Toads
And Finally Do-Jo Weather Loaches - not available from other countries
Of course Hong Kong carries many more Tetras and other fish. These are just the highlights.
TAIWAN
About 200 miles due North of the Philippine Islands, off the coast of China, lies the large island of TAIWAN.
TAIWAN has found its niche in the market by specializing in the breeding of African Cichlids and Parrots.
No other country offers African cichlids and parrots in such variety.
Taiwan offers over 1,000 African cichlid code numbers for our FIRST shipper alone.
And we actually offer two separate shippers for this country.
Some are quite rare. Many of the more expensive species, such as the different forms of Tropheus Moori, are individually bagged.
If you have had trouble finding a particular species of African Cichlid, Taiwan is the country you will find it in.
Besides African Cichlids, Taiwan produces the most striking Parrots of any country.
They have over 100 different code numbers for parrots alone.
Other countries attempt to color parrots and offer them, but none does as good a job as a Taiwan and - the colors are extremely intense.
Lastly Taiwan offers a pretty good selection of freshwater shrimp.
Often the shrimp are shipped in a small size for grow out to full adults.
MALAYSIA
In extreme Southern Asia, just above Indonesia is Malaysia.
We use Malaysia for our primary source of Koi.
Although Koi are offered from Hong Kong, Singapore and Bangkok, we feel that Malaysia offers the best quality Koi for the money.
Malaysian Koi are a lower grade than High Quality Japanese Koi, but are much higher quality than domestic Koi raised in the United States.
We hope you have enjoyed our tour of wholesale tropical fish that we mentioned above. For more informationn about tropical fish, see our resource box at the bottom of this article.
