mcarver Posted March 28, 2008 Report Share Posted March 28, 2008 28th March 2008 This maybe of some interest to some of the members here. it is part of an email that I sent to my family in New Zealand. Yesterday we visited the pet market mainly because I’ve been wanting to buy Sammi’s cockatoo (I can him Mini Monster) some sort of toy or bell to play with so that he doesn’t get too bored when there is no one home. The market is in a 3 story building each floor having numerous small shops each specializing in a particular thing. Probably about 70% of the shops sold some sort of aquatic type of equipment, pet or flowers and pot plants. A large aquarium approximately 1m x .600m x .500m, complete with stand, heater, lighting, and filter system costs about N.Z. $200. There were complete aquarium setups up to about 2.5 meters long on sale. I am no expert in tropical fish having only kept cold water varieties in the past. They seemed to have many tropical fish species that I have never seen before and a lot being sold are of a large size. The golden dragon fish are very popular as the Chinese believe that if you own one, money will come to the house. It also seems for them the bigger the better. A large specimen cost about 35,000 Yuan, that’s approx N.Z. $6,500. When you consider that a labouring job pays about 1,200 Yuan a month, it shows the high regard the Chinese hold for these fish. The cold water varieties of fish are very impressive too and you never see deformed fish or nymphs for sale as you do in most of the New Zealand pet shops. Breeding size Pompom, Calico and Gold bubble eyes, Pearl scales and Celestials sell for about N.Z. $5.00 a pair. The ones that I saw were all very good examples of their variety. One thing that did strike me is that the Black Moor variety is longer and thinner than we are used to seeing, though this may only be a regional thing. There were Koi of all colours and sizes, some over 300mm in length. Others were obviously from last years spawning. The over crowding of tanks and basins is something you would have to see to believe. Fish deaths didn’t seem to be of too much concern as there is always a hungry turtle available to dispose of the carcass. They sell a lot of live food for the fish and turtles such as the usual blood worms etc, but also a small long thin black coloured fish. At first glance I thought they were eels but on closer inspection appeared similar in shape to very long thin white bait. There were very few cats and dogs for sale at the market though several shops specialized in dog food and accessories. One stall just sold dog clothes for the well dressed dog around town. Yes the Chinese seem to dote on their dogs too. There were only 2 shops selling birds. They had the usual budgies and finches and once again some species that I didn’t recognize. One medium sized bird similar in shape to a large blackbird is reputed to be a better talker and smarter than most parrots. Then there were the snakes, golden and green frogs, lizards, spiders and many varieties of turtle and tortoise. They also sell a variety of tailless white mice, rats, ferrets and rabbits etc, all the off beam type of pets that we see for sale in New Zealand. One thing that I didn’t see was any axolotls which surprised me. The shopkeepers hadn’t seemed to have heard of them. For those interested I tried turtle soup for dinner last night for the first time and was surprised at just how much fat a turtle has on it. The meat has quite a bland taste, maybe subtle would better way to describe it, and surprisingly to me was a red/brown colour. Early last week I ate frog, again for the first time and must admit I found it delicious. I have always made it a rule when I am traveling that I will try a new food before I say I don’t like it. I have found snake to be a little like fish in taste and texture. I tried that in Taipei and again in Southern China as a soup. I have put off going to the zoo here mostly because I have seen the way that some Chinese treat and keep animals. We are going to Beijing soon to visit friends and will probable visit the zoo there. With the Olympics coming I’m thinking the animals living conditions may have improved. They have Pandas at the Beijing zoo and I would dearly love to see one. Also, the new toy, the one I brought Mini Monster, it was completely destroyed when I got up this morning. It was a toy made for dogs and it lasted less than 24 hours. I’m off to give him a shower soon, that always settles him down for a while, he really is a sweetie in his own birdie way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasp Posted March 28, 2008 Report Share Posted March 28, 2008 Very interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted March 28, 2008 Report Share Posted March 28, 2008 TTIWWOP!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasp Posted March 28, 2008 Report Share Posted March 28, 2008 Pardon? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cichlid7 Posted March 28, 2008 Report Share Posted March 28, 2008 TTIWWOP!!!!!! hmm What :-? please explain :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted March 28, 2008 Report Share Posted March 28, 2008 That should be TPIWWOP. This Post Is Worthless Without Pictures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loopy Posted March 28, 2008 Report Share Posted March 28, 2008 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DantezGirl Posted March 28, 2008 Report Share Posted March 28, 2008 were are people getting them cool emoticons Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted March 28, 2008 Report Share Posted March 28, 2008 Not worthless at all. I found it interesting although pics would help. Here's a fish market in Hong Kong... http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v144/ ... ?start=all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loopy Posted March 28, 2008 Report Share Posted March 28, 2008 where are people getting them cool emoticons I collected up a heap of them from google and such and put them in a photo bucket album to use when i see fit. Others are welcome to use the links too. Sometimes our default ones just don't quite express what we are feeling. http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y49/soggy_fruit_loop/emoticons Wow! Caryl, those pics of the wall of fish in bags is surprising! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DantezGirl Posted March 28, 2008 Report Share Posted March 28, 2008 wow poor fish i suppose they do it to save time maybe and because they have so many would be hard to catch them all just guessing wow they are also heavily over crowded Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted March 29, 2008 Report Share Posted March 29, 2008 Yeah Loopy is right. Its just an expression Caryl, do you actually laugh out loud every time you write LOL? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted March 29, 2008 Report Share Posted March 29, 2008 Often as not - yes :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DantezGirl Posted March 30, 2008 Report Share Posted March 30, 2008 funny you should ask i find most things funny so i am actually laughing out loud when i say lol my family think im nuts and come rushing over to see what im laughing about Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted March 30, 2008 Report Share Posted March 30, 2008 Oh my gosh all those fish in one tank talk about over crowding! Why do they have so many of them bagged, they can't be selling that many that quick are they? Caper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted March 30, 2008 Report Share Posted March 30, 2008 I know how bad it looks but all the fish we saw looked fine to us. No sign of any sick or dead ones anywhere. All were alert with erect fins. They possibly were selling them fast as it was hard to move through the crowds of people and finding enough space to be able to take a photo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidb Posted March 31, 2008 Report Share Posted March 31, 2008 i think from what i have read is that they only put the fish in the bags in the morning before the market starts to bring them in and they stay in the bags during the market until it ends at about midday or when they are sold Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.