Due to economic demands, some residents living in the Trị An reservoir area (Vĩnh Cửu District, Đồng Nai Province) have started building ponds to raise various native fish species, leading to significant environmental disasters. Currently, the most notable disaster involves the Emperor Cichlid, a species introduced from South America, which local fishermen have named.
 |
Emperor Cichlid is sold at Vĩnh An market. (Photo: LĐ) |
The Emperor Cichlid, known in English as the Peacock Bass and scientifically classified as Cichla ocellaris, belongs to the Cichlidae family and the Perciformes order. This species is commonly found in freshwater habitats. However, they can also tolerate salinity levels of up to 18/oo (18 parts per thousand). Like most species in the Cichlidae family, Emperor Cichlids are territorial and highly aggressive.
Emperor Cichlids are carnivorous, hunting their prey with rapid pursuit, contrasting with the ambush hunting methods seen in other carnivorous fish species. In Vietnam, their diet typically consists of smaller fish species such as Mè dinh, White fish, and Stone Tong fish. With such swift and efficient attacks on their prey, the risk of local native species becoming extinct is merely a matter of time.
Fishermen in the Trị An reservoir have reported that Emperor Cichlids began appearing in significant numbers from September to October 2006. Since then, this species has grown considerably in population.
(Photo: LĐ)
According to Mr. Phùng Mỹ Trung, the operator of the Vietnamese Forest Creatures website, in November 2006, the captured individuals measured only about 10-14 cm. The number caught was very rare among hundreds of kilograms of bait fish (small fish used as bait for raising snakehead fish). However, on June 3, 2007, the largest individual captured weighed 0.83 kg and measured approximately 100-140 cm.
Furthermore, Emperor Cichlids can now be found in various local markets. Anyone interested can easily purchase several dozen kilograms of this fish at Vĩnh An market.
Emperor Cichlids can reach sizes like this. (Photo: LĐ)
Thus, given their rapid reproduction due to abundant food sources and suitable living conditions, along with scientific documentation, Mr. Trung affirms the significant risk of this invasive species overwhelming and spreading at the expense of native fish species. A new environmental disaster could very well occur, similar to the cases of golden apple snails, catfish, and glass fish…
Huyền Anh
