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Hi, I am no expert but I know some of the information that you needed. So, bear with me for my long essay.

Omega 3
Yes, the advice to consume more fish which is high in Omega 3 does help baby and young kids’ brain development. It also helps adults’ brain in a way of preventing dementia (also some other brain related disease), heart disease and some other illnesses. However, the brain beneficial Omega 3 actually refers to 2 out of 3 types of Omega 3 which is called docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). The third types are called alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). This is why the milk powder for infants and children are fortified with DHA and EPA. Noted that food that is fortified with DHA & EPA and Omega 3 supplements are no match for natural sources.

The sources which contain DHA & EPA are definitely come from meat or animal based. The animal based that have highest DHA & EPA are the marine animal (includes seals & whales) especially those oily fish which live at colder region because they need to keep a lot of fat in their body in order to thrive in cold region. Freshwater fish that live in colder region also have high amount of DHA & EPA compare to our tropical freshwater fish but lower compare to marine/saltwater fish that live in cold region. Other animal based that contain DHA & EPA but in lower content includes grass-fed cow & chicken egg.

The alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) is usually found in plant such as walnut, flaxseed, chia seeds, soy, leafy greens and etc. Plant based contain little to none at all of DHA & EPA. As such, I don’t recommend to eat more plant in your search for beneficial DHA & EPA. I didn’t mean that ALA is bad for your health. ALA is also beneficial to human health in other ways and our body need ALA to transform it into DHA & EPA. However, this transformation of ALA into DHA & EPA in animals and human are not efficient.

All animal includes fish and human are only able to convert ALA into tiny amount of DHA & EPA. However, oily fish able to contain the highest amount of DHA & EPA by accumulation. It mean that ALA which contain in aquatic plant such as phytoplankton, algae, seaweed and etc are being eaten by small fish that convert ALA to DHA & EPA which lead to being eaten by medium fish which not only taken in the DHA & EPA from the small fish but also convert some ALA into DHA & EPA in its own body and so on until it reach the top of the food chain, the apex predator in the ocean such as tuna, salmon, mackerel and etc. Fish that live in cold water would save a lot of this ALA, DHA & EPA in its own body as part of its body fat while tropical fish didn’t save much.

Mercury
Mercury itself is a naturally occurring element that is present throughout the environment and in plants and animals but human industrial activity (such as coal-fired electricity generation, smelting and the incineration of waste) boost up the amount of airborne mercury which eventually finds its way into lakes, rivers and the ocean, where it is gobbled up by unsuspecting fish and other aquatic. This is one of the reasons that mercury contents in animal especially in fish are raising.

For your information, mercury usually refers to as inorganic form while the mercury in fish are the more toxic organic form called methylmercury but I will just refers it as mercury. It is true that freshwater actually contain more mercury than saltwater. However, it doesn't mean that freshwater fish have higher level of mercury than saltwater fish. Because in freshwater, mercury tends to latch onto decayed plant and animal matter, where sunlight can easily break it down. However in saltwater, mercury latches onto chloride (salt), where sunlight has less of an effect on those bonds. By being longer in saltwater, it increases the chance that a fish will ingest more of the mercury.

Once mercury gets into the marine food chain, it “bioaccumulates” in the larger predators in a same way as how Omega 3 accumulates. That’s why larger fish are generally riskier to eat than smaller ones. Fish not only accumulate mercury from consuming smaller fish. All fish absorb mercury from the water that passes through their gills. The longer the fish lives, the more mercury it will bio-accumulate. As such, species of fish that live in saltwater where mercury does not break down easily by the sunlight, long-lived and/or high on the food chain contain higher concentrations of mercury than others.


Solutions / Guides
As I mentioned earlier, mercury exist in our environment, plants and animals. It is just a matter of the level of mercury concentrations. As such, you could always choose fish which is low in mercury but high in Omega 3. Unfortunately for us, Malaysia doesn’t really that strict or efficient in providing an easy access and detailed list of mercury content in local fish (especially freshwater fish). The list below is from USA release by their U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Please be noted that since the list is from USA, the type of fish listed might be different/different name from what we know in Malaysia and/or Asia. (e.g. lobster - they refers to saltwater variety, the freshwater variety are called crayfish/crawfish in USA, bass such as sea bass, black bass are not our Asian Sea Bass/Barramundi/Kim Bak Lor).

Highest Mercury Fish
Pregnant and nursing women and young children should avoid fish high in mercury, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). High mercury fish to steer clear from include:
• Tilefish
• King mackerel
• Shark
• Swordfish
• Marlin
• Orange roughy
• Ahi Tuna
• Bigeye tuna

High Mercury Fish
While not the highest in mercury, you’ll still have to limit these mercury-containing fish to three 6-ounce (170g) servings (or less) per month.
• Spanish mackerel
• Gulf mackerel
• Albacore tuna
• Yellowfin tuna
• Sea bass
• Bluefish
• Grouper

Low to Moderate Mercury Fish
These fish contain low to moderate amounts of mercury, so it’s generally safe to eat up to six 6-ounce (170g) servings each month.
• Striped bass
• Black bass
• Saltwater bass
• Mahi Mahi
• Lobster
• Fresh water perch
• Sea trout
• Canned light tuna
• Skipjack tuna
• Cod
• Halibut
• Trout
• Whitefish

Lowest Mercury Fish
If you’re concerned about ingesting mercury from fish, choose fish lowest in mercury — especially if you’re pregnant or nursing. Low-mercury fish are excellent choices for children as well. The FDA says you can enjoy up to 12 ounces (340g) of low-mercury fish per week if you’re pregnant or nursing.
• Salmon
• Herring
• Haddock
• Anchovies
• Butterfish
• Crab
• Clam
• Crawfish
• Catfish
• Croaker
• Flounder
• Chub mackerel
• Atlantic mackerel
• Oysters
• Pollock
• Perch
• Mullet
• Mussel
• Rainbow trout
• Freshwater trout
• Sardines
• Shrimp
• Scallops
• Squid
• Sole
• Tilapia

Best for Pregnant Women
Not all low-mercury fish are high in omega 3 fatty acids, which are fats needed for proper brain development in babies and children — and important for brain health in adults. Therefore, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) provides a list of the best overall fish options for pregnant women because they’re low in mercury and good source of omega 3s:
• Sardines
• Herring
• Oysters
• Pollock
• Salmon
• Mussel
• Atlantic mackerel
• Rainbow trout

While the threat of mercury contents in fish are real and should be concerned. It may be made too extreme by the trends/hype. It is because mercury in fish has always been exists and human have ate it since ancient time. It is just made worse by human activity. While lesser mercury contents in those days are one of the reasons for the ancient people being not affected by mercury, there is another reason. That reason is selenium. There are some studies about how selenium prevents the bad effects of mercury on human body. And all fish contains selenium. As such, by eating fish which contain low mercury and moderate to high selenium, maybe even add some food which is high in selenium such as chicken egg, shiitake mushroom, white mushroom, chicken, brown rice, soy bean and etc into your diets, it should help you to be able to reap the benefits of Omega 3 while reduce the risk of mercury poisoning.

If you're still worry about the mercury in fish, maybe you should check your own mercury level first. After all, fish are not the only living beings that is affected. The next thing you know, you or your family already have high level of mercury contents in the body. Go for a blood mercury test. Women with a high blood mercury level who are planning to start a family may decide to postpone pregnancy for a few months until that level drops.

As for the name of edible fish, I assume fish which is locally available in Malaysia? For that, I will post later .

This post has been edited by xxhenry89xx: Jul 6 2018, 03:46 PM

0. As i mentioned earlier, I am no expert. I just have the same thought as you did and have been doing some research of my own. (I am not someone parents, I just did it for my own curiosity) and I am banana too. I got most of the information and photo from other sources and compile it into related topic.

1. Yes, don't substitute. But I didn't mean not to eat any plant based Omega 3. Marine plant like seaweed do have little amount of DHA & EPA.

2. Yes, seals and whales have Omega 3. That is how the Inuit / Eskimo people are able to live in cold region with lesser case of heart disease & brain related disease (dementia). Their traditional food are mainly meat with little to no plant based at all. Of course, their special genetic plays a role too. They only start to get heart disease & brain related disease (dementia) after being "modernized" (as in working in city and start to eat food like hamburger, bread & etc) .

3. So far the latest results based on current environment condition (pollution), yes, freshwater fish are safer than saltwater fish in terms of mercury contents. Which mean if there is suddenly a wildfire (either naturally like in Australia or man-made like in Indonesia) case occur or volcano eruption at Indonesia or normal stuff like some smoke spewing factory suddenly build nearby the river where you get your fish, I recommend avoid those fish.

4. Yea. I been searching quite a while few years ago and came out with no results.

5. Yes, crayfish/crawfish = freshwater lobster (In Malaysia, we usually just call it lobster). I was a Hospitality Management student. There is once during my internship where I introduce the freshwater lobster as just lobster to some ang moh, when it was served in front of them, they said there is no fucking way a lobster to be that small and that was a crayfish.

Yes, Asian Sea Bass are not the same with bass that ang moh are familiar with.

6. I think that should be right. Around a palm sized portion should be around 150g - 200g. Yes, about needing 4-5 people to eat a normal steamed fish in chinese restaurant in order to match the recommended serving size. I saw that you mentioned that you're from Ipoh, Perak. Me too
So, back to the topic about needing 4-5 people. Unless, you eat in chinese restaurant that served super small fish. Like the one near Sam Poh Tong, Ipoh near Symphony Hotel Suite. I think the shop name is Rawang Fish restaurant where it is famous for the slogan "One guy, one fish" (in Cantonese)

7. Yes. Maybe you should do a blood check up for mercury level before you even concern about mercury in fish. As i mentioned before, fish are not the only living beings that is affected by mercury. The next thing you know, you might been eating beef or pork or chicken or maybe vegetable which is raised & grow near smoke spewing factory.

8. Okay coming right up.

This post has been edited by xxhenry89xx: Jan 17 2018, 05:38 PM

For me, I think saltwater fish have "fishy" (flavors of the ocean) taste while freshwater fish have "muddy" (flavors of the lake/river) taste. When there is an exception, it usually mean those fish moved a lot and freely (big area for moving, move a lot usually are predator fish). Some fish I left out it Cantonese name, Hokkien name & etc.
I hope some of you guys could named it?

As such, I will separate type of local fish that I know of into freshwater & saltwater.

Malaysia freshwater fish are not well known to outsiders/foreigners leading insufficient research about those fish. It is make worse by laymen's categorization (only categorize by rough physical appearances) which lead to misidentification of Malaysia freshwater fish (e.g. when you are told that you are eating a Patin Buah but actually it is a Patin Lawang or other similar looking species).

However, it is laymen's categorization that bring forth common names (俗名), name that we know commonly/locally. Other kind of laymen's categorization/common names includes giving same name to similar looking fish which is from different species or different name for a same species of fish just because they look different between juvenile & adult. Furthermore, common names often vary across or even within regions.

I will try include various common names for a same species of fish.

P.S. I do not own any of the photo as below.

EXTERNAL ANATOMY OF FISH



Freshwater fish

Giant Snakehead
Also known as : Giant Mudfish / Red or Redline Snakehead
Mandarin name : 多曼鱼 (Duō màn yú), 小盾鳢 (Xiǎo dùn lǐ)
Cantonese name: 金筆 (Gam bat), 多曼魚 (Do man yu)
Malay name : Ikan Toman
Details:
• It have different look and color throughout it life stage, the name Red or Redline Snakehead refer to when it was still a juvenile where it have red line pattern across its body.


Usually in Malaysia, they served Toman (most probably sliced or steaked) that look liked this but this Toman are considered as ""teenager" stage of Toman.


This is what an adult Toman look like.

Common Snakehead
Also known as : Striped Snakehead / Snakehead Murrel / Chevron Snakehead
Mandarin name : 线鳢 (Xiàn lǐ), 生鱼 (Shēng yú)
Cantonese name: 生魚 (Saang Yu)
Hokkien name : Lay Hu
Malay name : Ikan Haruan




You could see why it is called Striped Snakehead.

Helicopter Catfish
Also known as : Wallago Catfish
Mandarin name : 鲶鱼 (Nian yu)
Cantonese name: 鮎魚/鯰魚 (Nim Yu)
Malay name : Ikan Tapah


Image above show the usual/normal Tapah with it scientific name, Wallago attu.


This one is from different species, the Wallagonia leerii but Malaysian still refer this as Ikan Tapah (I heard some people differentiate this species as Tapah Tembaga, not sure) since it look quite similar. The image is from fishing documentary "River Monsters".

I don't know how to differentiate between the two. Some said W. attu have pointier dorsal fin (the fin you will see above the water when a shark are coming toward you) than W. leerii. Some said W.leerii have darker upper body with clear stripe marking on its side body which given its English name, Striped Wallago Catfish .

Malaysian Toothed Catfish
Mandarin name : 白鲶 (Bái nián)
Cantonese name : 發鯰 (Fatt nim), 發鯰魚 (Fatt nim yu), 馬蹄魚(Ma tai yu)
Malay name : Ikan Gerahak, Ikan Gahak, Ikan Begahak
Details:
• It has similar body design with Tapah but with upturned snout, shorter barbels, lighter body colour which is silvery white and prominent tooth.
• Its Cantonese name of 馬蹄魚(Ma tai yu) literally mean horse’s hoof fish because when the fish is put with its head down and its tail upward, it look like a horse leg.



Asian Redtail Catfish
Mandarin name : 白须公 (Bái xū gōng)
Cantonese name: 白鬚公 (Baak Sou Gung / Pak Sou Gong)
Malay name : Ikan Baung





Striped Catfish
Also known as : Iridescent shark / Sutchi Catfish / Siamese Shark
Mandarin name : 巴丁(Bā dīng)
Cantonese name: 巴丁魚 (Ba ding yu)
Malay name : Ikan Patin, Patin Lawang
Details:
• The glow or iridescence exhibited in juveniles, as well as the shark-like appearance of this and other shark catfish earning it the name, Iridescent Shark.
• The juveniles also have a stripe along the lateral line and a second stripe below the lateral line. Adults are generally darker coloured and often lack the striping, yet they still retain the glimmering glow.
• This species of shark catfish are native to the rivers of Southeast Asia (originated from Thailand). It is not a shark.
• This fish are preferred by locals (Malaysia) to be farmed because it can grow very quick, easy to be bred in captive, easy to formulate the feed, and has high immunity system and can adapt to surrounding easily compare to native shark catfish.
• It is omnivorous but become increasingly herbivorous as they get older where they will lose their teeth.
• This fish are commonly known in the market as Dory Fish, Cream Dory, Swai or Basa.


It is a type of catfish (shark catfish) not a shark. It is named so due to it front head resemble a shark.


Juvenile striped catfish with it noticeable stripe.

P.S.
• Patin Kolam & Patin Sangkar usually refers to this species of fish.
• While Patin Sungai refers to other species of shark catfish which is harder to be bred & farmed in captivity. Most of the Patin Sungai are wild caught and native in Malaysia rivers. Among those species includes:

1. Patin Buah
2. Patin Muncung
3. Patin Juara

In order to harvest Patin Buah in captivity which is famous for it whitish sweet flesh compare to Patin Lawang's yellowish flesh, Malaysia has cross-bred Patin Lawang & Patin Buah to produce Patin Emas (Hybrid shark catfish) which is known in Mandarin as 巴丁鱼王 (Bā dīng yú wáng).

Walking Catfish
Mandarin name : 塘虱 (Táng shī)
Cantonese name: 塘蝨 (Tong Sat)
Hokkien name : Thor Sat
Teochew name : Thow Sak
Malay name : Ikan Keli


It can do the same thing as snakehead does, breathing oxygen directly from the air and "walk" (snakelike movement) on land. Hence, the name.

Mozambique Tilapia
Mandarin name : 非洲鱼 (Fēizhōu yú) in Malaysia, 吳郭魚 (Wu Gu Yu) in Taiwan
Cantonese name: 非洲魚 (Fei Zau Yu / Fei Chow Yu) in Malaysia, 福壽魚 (Fuk Sau Yu) in Hong Kong
Hokkien name : Hui Chiu, Jit Pun Hur in Singapore (Literally ‘Japanese fish’, It is said that during WWII, the Japanese introduced tilapia to Singapore)
Malay name : Ikan Tilapia


Sometime, the Malaysian Chinese call it Hek Fei Zau (Black Tilapia).


This is the red tilapia. The Malaysian Chinese called it 紅非洲 (Hung Fei Zau) in Cantonese or more popular name, 金鳳魚 (Gam Fung Yu) in Cantonese which literally mean "Golden Phoenix Fish". The red tilapia are much more preferable among the Chinese due to its attractive red color.

The first red one are result of inbreeding (mate with dad, mum or sibling). You know what happen when inbreeding, you get "K" child. So, when you're eating a red tilapia = eating "K" fish.

Marble Goby
Also known as : Gobies / Sleepers Gobies / Sand Goby
Mandarin name : 笋壳鱼 (Sǔn ké yú), 顺壳鱼 (Shùn ké yú), 蓝哥鱼 (Lán gē yú), 林哥鱼 (Lín gē yú)
Cantonese name: 筍殼 (Sun Hok / Soon Hock)
Hokkien name : Soon Hock
Malay name : Ketutu, Haruan Hantu, Bakut, Ubi, Ikan Malas
Details:
• This fish are active at night and would only move to catch foods in front of their mouth. Hence, earning it Malay name/nickname of Haruan Hantu & Ikan Malas.
• This fish look like a bamboo shell when it is not moving in the water hence earning it Chinese name "Soon Hock" which literally mean bamboo shell.





Malayan Mahseer
Also known as : Greater Brook Carp / Malaysian Mahseer / Thai Mahseer
Mandarin name : 忘不了 (Wàng bù liǎo), 似野结鱼 (Shì yě jié yú)
Cantonese name: 忘不了 (Mong Bat Liu)
Malay name : Empurau, Ikan Kelah, Kap Anak Air Besar
Details:
• The fish is reported to be the most expensive edible fish in Malaysia and has been known to fetch up to RM1, 800 to RM2, 000 per kilogram (I heard the price have drop. Most probably farmed and exceed supply).
https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2014...rm3000-empurau/
http://www.theborneopost.com/2015/03/17/em...-auction-in-hk/

• The fish was marketed by a Sarawakian named James Wong (王诩颖) a.k.a Malaysia River Fish Expert/King till it was introduced by a Taiwan/Hong Kong food show (not sure if it was a cooking show or something like our 8tv Ho Chak).
• Noted that it is different from Peninsular Malaysia version of Ikan Kelah which usually called Kelah Merah.



Hoven’s Carp
Also known as : Mad Barb / Sultan Fish
Mandarin name : 苏丹鱼 (Sū dān yú)
Cantonese name: 蘇丹魚 (Sou Daan Yu)
Malay name : Ikan Jelawat, Ikan Sultan
Details:
• The name Mad Barb refers to its behaviour when apparently intoxicated after consuming some types of poisonous fruit. This diet of poisonous fruits causes its flesh become occasionally toxic.
• It is also called Sultan Fish because it used to be served only to the sultans and royals.
• The section above its head is flat. It has silver coloured greenish back and belly with silvery white colour.
• On its pectoral fins and its stomach contained red colour, curved side streaks and down. At the ends of the tail’s underside is red colour.



Jullien’s Golden Carp
Also known as : Seven-Striped Barb / Carpilla Ikan Temoleh
Mandarin name : 国宝鲤 (Guó bǎo lǐ), 独目鲤 (Dú mù lǐ)
Malay name : Ikan Temoleh, Temelian
Details:
• In Malaysia, this fish could only be found in Perak River and Pahang River but many would prefer the one from Pahang River.
• It is one of two (2) critically endangered Malaysian freshwater fish. The second being Arowana.
• While it is legally protected in Laos where it is forbidden to catch, trade or transport the species, the protection of this fish in Malaysia is still in grey area.
• This fish have many noticeable characteristics such as longitudinal stripes above its lateral line and maxillary barbels (whisker like appendages near its mouth) to feel its surrounding.



Giant Featherback
Mandarin name : 关刀鱼 (Guān dāo yú)
Cantonese name: 關刀魚 (Gwaan Dou Yu)
Malay name : Ikan Belida
Details:
• This fish has long knife-like body and a long anal fin that gives these fish their name as featherback /knifefish.
• It is normally silver white in color.
• It has a lot of bone in its flesh which made it hard to eat as a fillet or as a whole. Usually, in order to eat this fish, people tend to minced it and made it into food like otak-otak, fish ball, fish cake and etc.



Clown Featherback
Also known as : Clown Knifefish / Spotted Featherback / Spotted Knifefish
Mandarin name : 七星刀 (Qī xīng dāo)
Cantonese name: 七星刀 (Cat Sing Dou)
Malay name : Ikan Belida Bintik
Details:
• This fish has long knife-like body and a long anal fin that gives these fish their name as featherback /knifefish.
• It has silvery gray color body with a row of large ocellated spots above the base of the anal fin for both juveniles and adult.
• It has a lot of bone in its flesh which made it hard to eat as a fillet or as a whole. Usually, in order to eat this fish, people tend to minced it and made it into food like otak-otak, fish ball, fish cake and etc.




Both giant & clown featherback have a lot of bones in their flesh.

Asian Swamp Eel
Also known as : Swamp Eel / Rice Eel / White Ricefield Eel
Mandarin name : 黄鳝 (Huángshàn), 鳝鱼 (Shàn yú)
Cantonese name: 黃鱔 (Wong Sin / Wong Siin), 鱔 (Sin / Siin), 鰻魚 (Maan Yu)
Hokkien name : Mua
Malay name : Belut Sawah, Belut Air Tawar



Asian Sea Bass
Also known as : Giant Sea Perch / Barramundi
Mandarin name : 尖吻鲈 (Jiān wěn lú), 金目鲈 (Jīn mù lú), 盲槽 (Máng cáo), 石甲 (Shí jiǎ)
Cantonese name: 金目鱸 (Gam Muk Lou), 盲鰽 (Maang Cou), 石甲 (Sek Gaap / Seck Kap)
Hokkien name : Kim Bak Lor
Malay name : Ikan Siakap, Siakap Putih, Kakap Putih
Details:
• Barramundi is a loanword from an Australian Aboriginal language of the Rockhampton area in Queensland meaning “large-scaled river fish”.
• Despite it name of Asian Sea Bass, this fish are catadromous which mean the fish spends most of their life on fresh water and migrating to salt water in order to breed. However, there have been recorded reports of populations that spend their entire life cycle in salt water or in brackish water.
• Easy identifiable by its golden-coloured opaque eye that looks like a cataract, hence the Chinese name 金目鲈 (Jin Mu Lu) literally mean ‘Golden-Eyed’ Bass.



This post has been edited by xxhenry89xx: Aug 11 2018, 01:27 PM

P.S. I do not own any of the photo as below.

Saltwater fish

Unicorn Leatherjacket
Also known as : Unicorn Filefish
Mandarin name : 鹿仔鱼 (Lù zǐ yú), 鸡鱼 (Jī yú), 肉竹 (Ròu zhú)
Cantonese name: 剝皮魚 (Mok Pei Yu), 牛鯭 (Ngau Mang), 大沙鯭 (Dai Sa Mang)
Hokkien name : Keh Hu, Bak Teik
Malay name : Ikan Barat-barat, Kerosok Padi, Ayam Laut
Details:
• This fish is sold/marketed as "Chicken Fish" in Malaysia.
• This fish grow slowly and take more than 14 years to become sexually mature, making them vulnerable to fishing pressure.
• Usually caught as a bycatch.

https://www.tripadvisor.co.za/LocationPhoto...ersekutuan.html
The links above show the photo of the fish sold at Jalan Alor.

When I try to search about the fish, I found that the fish is called Unicorn Leatherjacket in English, Ikan Barat-barat in Malay and Keh Hu in Hokkien. And the image results based on using the information above are definitely showing the same fish. However, when I search using the terms "Chicken Fish", I found some fish image that definitely not Ikan Barat-barat/Unicorn Leatherjacket, instead it is another type of fish called Starry triggerfish and Ikan Jebong/Ayam Laut in Malay. Most of the search results are from Malay blog and as such, saying that Starry triggerfish is the "Chicken Fish".

http://sharingthotsandluv.blogspot.my/2013...asam-manis.html
One of the blog that write about Starry triggerfish/Ikan Jebong.

My question is which is the real identity of "Chicken Fish" in Malaysia. Note that when i say in Malaysia because there is another Chicken fish from Vanuatu near Solomon Islands called poulet fish.

Or is it both consider as the Chicken fish? Just like how the Chinese identify both freshwater catfish and marine/saltwater catfish as Tong Sat (Cantonese)?


It is said to be taste like chicken. Hence, it is sold under the name of “Chicken Fish” in Malaysia.

Redbelly Yellowtail Fusilier
Mandarin name : 豆腐鱼 (Dòu fu yú), 黄尾鱼 (Huáng wěi yú)
Cantonese name: Tau Fu Yu
Hokkien name : Tau Hoo
Malay name : Ikan Delah, Delah Pinang, Bagan, Sulit
Details:
• Well known for its use in making fish balls, because it gives the fish balls a nice bouncy texture.
• The meat of the Yellowtail Fusilier is very sweet, so apart from using it to make fishballs, you can also pan-fry the whole fish.
• On the other hand, the skin is very tough, so people don’t usually eat it.
• You can easily identify Yellowtail Fusilier by its unique combination of yellow (tail), blue (middle section) and an obviously pink (belly) hues.



Chinese Silver Pomfret
Also known as : Butterfish
Mandarin name : 斗鲳 (Dòu chāng), 斗底白鯧 (Dòu dǐ bái chāng), 斗底 (Dòu dǐ)
Cantonese name: 斗底 (Dau Dai)
Hokkien name : Dao Chior
Malay name : Ikan Bawal Tambak, Duai Tambak
Details:
• This fish is the most expensive fish within the “鲳” (Chāng) fish category.
• The fish is identified by its diamond shape with dull silver, pewter coloured body.



Silver Pomfret
Also known as : White Pomfret
Mandarin name : 白鲳 (Bái chāng), 银鲳 (Yín chāng)
Cantonese name: 白䱽 (Baak Cong / Pak Cong)
Hokkien name : Pek Chior
Malay name : Ikan Bawal Putih, Duai Putih
Details:
• The fish is identified by its silverish white, not pewter coloured body.



Black Pomfret
Mandarin name : 黑鲳 (Hēi chāng)
Cantonese name: 黑鯧 (Haak Cong / Hak Chong)
Hokkien name : Orh Chior
Malay name : Ikan Bawal Hitam



Snubnose Pompano
Also known as : Snubnose Dart
Mandarin name : 金鲳 (Jīn chāng)
Cantonese name: 金鯧 (Gam Cong / Kam Cong)
Hokkien name : Kim Chior
Malay name : Bawal Mas, Nyior-nyior
Details:
• The fish is identified by its golden fins and tail.



Yellowstripe Scad
Also known as : Yellowstripe Trevally / Yellow-Banded Trevally / Smooth-Tailed Trevally
Mandarin name : 金带细鲹 (Jīn dài xì shēn), 君令 (Jūn lìng)
Hokkien name : Kun Ning
Malay name : Ikan Kuning, Selar Kuning, Pelata Kuning
Details:
• This is the fish that Malaysian (mostly at coastal region, elsewhere they usually eat nasi lemak with fried chicken) and Singaporean eat with Nasi Lemak.
• It is good for frying especially if it is coated with tumeric powder or paprika and a little salt.
• It is also known as “the poor man’s fish” because of its affordability.
• It is currently on World Wide Fund for Nature’s (WWF) red list of threatened ocean species.
• Do not confuse this fish with another similar looking fish, Yellowtail Scad which is larger. This fish is around half the size smaller or more than Yellowtail Scad.
• It can be easily identified by its distinctive and prominent lateral yellow strip running along the back from the head to its tail. It has small eyes, very thin scales and greyish tail.




Nasi lemak with ikan kuning

Yellowtail Scad
Also known as : Northern Yellowtail Scad / One-finlet Scad / Omaka
Mandarin name : 色腊 (Sè là)
Cantonese name: Sik La
Hokkien name : Sek La
Malay name : Ikan Selar, Temenong
Details:
• It has yellow tail and an easily identifiable long dark strip of hard scales extending from the tail to 1/3 of body.
• Do not confuse this fish with another similar looking fish, Yellowstripe Scad which is smaller.
• This fish is often served at the peranakan restaurants grilled with sambal belacan chilli stuffed inside the fish.




Ikan Selar-Yellowtail (top) vs. Ikan Kuning-Yellowstripe (bottom)

Torpedo scad
Also known as : Hardtail Scad / Finny Scad
Mandarin name : 硬尾 (Yìng wěi)
Cantonese name: 硬尾 (Ngang Mei)
Hokkien name : Ngeh Bueh
Malay name : Ikan Cencaru
Details:
• This fish has body color range from bluish-grey to greenish, changing to a silvery white on its sides and belly, with a large black spot on the upper rear edge of the gill cover, a series of prominent deep scutes along the side, long scythe-like pectoral fins, and a narrow caudal peduncle.





Milkfish
Also known as : Bangus
Mandarin name : 虱目鱼 (Shī mù yú), 牛奶鱼 (Niú nǎi yú)
Cantonese name: 虱目魚 (Sat Muk Yu)
Hokkien name : Gu Ni Heur
Malay name : Ikan Susu, Ikan Bandeng, Ikan Baulu
Details:
• It has streamlined body, huge eyes which is covered with a thick layer of transparent gelatinous tissue, a pointed snout with a small toothless terminal mouth and a large deeply-forked caudal fin.
• The colour of its body is silvery blue-green above, silvery on sides and white below.
• The young fry live at sea for two to three weeks and then migrate during the juvenile stage to mangrove swamps, estuaries, and sometimes lakes, and return to sea to mature sexually and reproduce.
• This fish is considered as a bony fish hence the lower market value.
• This fish is popular in Taiwan and Philippines where the local expertly debone the fish.





Pale-edged Stingray
Also known as : Sharpnose Stingray
Mandarin name : 魟鱼 (Hōng yú), 魔鬼鱼 (Mó guǐ yú)
Cantonese name: 鯆魚 (Pou Yu), 魔鬼魚 (Mo Gwai Yu)
Hokkien name : Hung Heur
Teochew name : Hung Hu
Malay name : Ikan Pari Ketuka, Tuka
Details:
• This species is the most common stingray to be served in Malaysia as it is often a bycatch (caught unintentionally) in fisherman net which cause this species to be branded as Near Threatened.
• It is used to be sold cheaply because there is no market value for it. It is considered as “fishy fish” as it has ammonia smell.
• It is only began to be served as food in Malaysia after the Portuguese traders brought their cuisine in the form of Sambal Stingray (Ikan Bakar in Malay) using local ingredients to Malacca during Malacca Sultanate era and make popular by the Kristang (also known as the "Portuguese-Eurasians" or "Malacca Portuguese" or “Orang Serani” in Malay).
• Trivia: Portuguese are the one who spread chilli to the rest of the world includes India (imagine curry without chilli) and Malaysia after Christopher Columbus who is an Italian under the Spanish found chilli at South America (Mexico).



Indian Threadfin
Mandarin name : 顺风午 (Shùn fēng wǔ), 午鱼 (Wǔ yú), 马友鱼 (Mǎ yǒu yú)
Cantonese name: Mah Yau Yu
Hokkien name : Ngor Her, Orh Ngor
Malay name : Ikan Kurau, Senohong
Details:
• The fish is identified by it threadlike rays which are found under the pectoral fins (the front fins). The Indian threadfin has 5 threadfin. It has black and white pattern on its skin.
• There is a premium grade Indian threadfin called the Balai Ngor. It is named so because they’re fished off Tanjung Balai in Indonesia (near to Singapore). It has a golden yellow hue on its skin in addition to the usual black and white.




5 threadfin under the pectoral fins

Fourfinger Threadfin
Also known as : Indian Salmon / Blue Threadfin / Rawas Fish
Mandarin name : 午鱼 (Wǔ yú), 马友鱼 (Mǎ yǒu yú)
Cantonese name: Mah Yau Yu
Hokkien name : Peh Ngor, Ngor Her
Malay name : Ikan Senangin, Senangin Rambu Empat
Details:
• This fish has 4 threadlike rays under the pectoral fins (the front fins).
• The diameter of its eye is also greater than the distance between the eye and the snout. So compared to the Indian threadfin, the eyes are proportionally larger.
• It also have lighter skin colour compared to Indian threadfin. Hence its name in Hokkien peh ngor (white ngor) as opposed to orh ngor (black ngor) referring to the Indian threadfin.



Trivia:
• Grouper are listed as fish which high in mercury.
• This fish sometime named as Garouper which is a wrong spelling of its Portuguese name, Garoupa. Some said the word Garoupa was derived from Malay word, Kerapu. Some say it is the other way around. Nobody know for sure. I mean even the word "Mandarin" come from Portuguese mispronunciation of Malay word, "Menteri" when Portuguese traders are asking the Malay what to call those officer from China during Malacca Sultanate era.

Spotted Coral Grouper
Also known as : Bar Cheek Coral Trout
Mandarin name : 石斑魚 (Shí bān yú), 七星斑 (Qī xīng bān), 太星斑 (Tai xīng bān)
Cantonese name : 七星斑 (Cat Sing Baan / Chat Seng Paan)
Hokkien name : Ang Gau, Chut Bee Gau
Malay name : Kerapu Sunoh Pisang, Kerapu Bara
Details:
• A red, pale greyish or olive to dark brown grouper with small blue spots on the head, body and fins. Some spots on the head and anterior body are horizontally elongate forming dashes (oval shape).






Blue spot (oval shape) that form dashes

Leopard Coral Grouper
Also known as : Leopard Coral Trout / Common Coral Trout
Mandarin name : 石斑魚 (Shí bān yú), 东星斑 (Dōng xīng bān ), 西星斑 (Xi xīng bān)
Cantonese name : 東星斑 (Dung Sing Baan), 西星斑 (Sai Sing Baan)
Hokkien name : Ang Gau
Malay name : Kerapu Sunoh Bara, Kerapu Bintang
Details:
• Most likely to refers as 東星斑 (Dung Sing Baan) as 西星斑 (Sai Sing Baan) refers to few other groupers.
• A large olive green to reddish brown or orange-red grouper covered in regularly-spaced bright blue spots (except below), and a blue ring around the eye (may be broken up).
• This fish can rapidly change their colour, and often assume a mottled pattern when hunting. This species is often mistaken for the Spotted Coral Grouper, which has some elongate spots or dashes on the head region.




Blue spot (round shape) on an orange-red Leopard Coral Grouper

Orange-spotted Grouper
Also known as : Goldspotted Rockcod / Estuary Cod
Mandarin name : 石斑魚 (Shí bān yú), 红点石斑 (Hóng diǎn shí bān)
Cantonese name : 青斑 (Ceng Baan)
Hokkien name : Chia Gau
Malay name : Ikan Kerapu Bintik Jingga, Kerapu Pinang, Kerapu Balong, Kerapu Rintek
Details:
• A pale brownish to greyish-brown grouper.
• Best identified by their orange-brown to reddish-brown spots on their body and 4 to 5 “H-shaped” darker bars on its sides.




H-shaped pattern

Areolate Grouper
Also known as : Areolate Rockcod / Greenspotted Rockcod
Mandarin name : 石斑魚 (Shí bān yú), 西星斑 (Xi xīng bān)
Cantonese name : 西星斑 (Sai Sing Baan / Sai Seng Paan)
Hokkien name : Koay Gau
Malay name : Kerapu Ekor Putih, Kerapu Bintik Bulat
Details:
• A pale grouper covered in close-set orange to brown spots (refers as areolate pattern - mean pattern like nipple) that become more numerous and relatively smaller as the fish grows, and a narrow white margin on the tail.




Narrow white margin on the edge of the tail

Duskytail Grouper
Mandarin name : 石斑魚 (Shí bān yú), 红点油班 (Hóng diǎn yóu bān)
Cantonese name : 芝麻斑 (Zi Maa Baan), 雙色尾紅斑 (Sheung Sik Mei Hung Paan)
Hokkien name : Koay Gau
Malay name : Kerapu Ekor Gelap
Details:
• This grouper often mistaken for the orange-spotted grouper because of the similar orange dots on the body of the fish.
• The easiest way to identify this grouper is to look at its tail which only has the orange spots on the upper third while the lower two thirds is a dusky brown colour, hence its name.




Lower two thirds of its tail in dusky brown colour

Humpback Grouper
Also known as : Mouse Grouper / Panther Grouper / Barramundi Cod / Polka Dot Cod or Grouper
Mandarin name : 老鼠斑 (Lǎoshǔ bān), 驼背鲈 (Tuóbèi lú)
Cantonese name : 老鼠斑 (Lou Syu Baan / Lou Shu Paan)
Hokkien name : Ngiau Chee Gau, Zut Bi Gau
Malay name : Kerapu Tikus, Kerapu Belida, Sunoh
Details:
• Its small head and humpback appearance resembles the Barramundi or Asian Sea Bass, earning it the name Barramundi Cod in Australia.
• Its colour ranges from greenish white to pale greenish brown with large widely spaced round black spots all over the body, earning it the reputation of being occasionally called Polka Dot Cod/Grouper.
• It is called Lou Shu Paan or Mouse Grouper because of its resemblance to the rodent.



Giant Grouper
Also known as : Brindlebass / Bumblebee Grouper / Brown Spotted Cod / Queensland grouper
Mandarin name : 石斑魚 (Shí bān yú), 鞍帶石斑魚(Ān dài shí bān yú), 龙旦 (Lóng dàn)
Cantonese name : 龍躉 (Lung Dan)
Hokkien name : Gau Tun
Malay name : Ikan Kertang, Kerapu Kertang, Kerapu Pertang
Details:
• Largest bony fish found in coral reefs and largest among the 石斑魚 (Shí bān yú) category.
• DO NOT confuse with Goliath Grouper. They're not the same fish.
• Adults are greyish-brown with a mottled pattern and darker fins, while small secretive juveniles are yellow with dark broad irregular bars and irregular dark spots on the fins.
• The defining characteristic of the fish are the numerous small black dots which cover the fins, most predominantly on the pectoral fins, but also the dorsal and tail fins.




Numerous small black dots which cover its fin

Brown Marbled Grouper
Also known as : Tiger Grouper / Black Rockcod / Carpet Cod / Flowery Rockcod
Mandarin name : 石斑魚 (Shí bān yú), 老虎斑 (lǎo hǔ bān)
Cantonese name : 老虎斑 (Lou Fu Baan / Lou Fu Paan)
Malay name : Kerapu Harimau
Details:
• A large pale yellowish-brown grouper covered in small close-set brown spots, five vertical series of irregular dark brown blotches, and a distinctive small black saddle at the base of the tail. All the fins have small brown spots.



Dragon Tiger Grouper
Also known as : Hybrid Grouper / Sabah Grouper / Pearl Grouper
Scientific name : Epinephelus Fuscoguttatus x Epinephelus Lanceolatus
Mandarin name : 石斑魚 (Shí bān yú), 龙虎班 (Lóng hǔ bān)
Cantonese name : 龍虎斑 (Lung Fu Baan / Long Fu Paan), 沙巴龍躉 (Sa Ba Lung Dan)
Malay name : Kerapu Hibrid, Kerapu Kacukan
Details:
• A new type of grouper results from cross-breeding.
• There are a lot of hybrid grouper in the current market but the first hybrid grouper is cross-bred via researches from Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Malaysia, in collaboration among researchers of the Borneo Marine Research Institute of UMS, the Fisheries Development Authority of Malaysia (LKIM) and Kinki University of Japan, represented by Prof. Dr Shigeharu Senoo of UMS.
• This grouper was produced by fertilising the eggs of the tiger grouper (Brown Marbled Grouper or Lao Hu Ban in Mandarin) with the sperm of the giant grouper (Long Dan in Mandarin – literally mean Dragon Grouper) through the in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) technique; hence earning its name of Dragon Tiger Grouper derives from its Chinese name.



Narrow-barred Spanish Mackerel
Mandarin name : 马鲛鱼 (Mǎ jiāo yú), 康氏马鲛 (Kāng shì mǎ jiāo)
Cantonese name : 鮫魚 (Gaau Yu / Kau Yue), 竹鮫 (Zuk Gaau / Chuk Gaau)
Hokkien name : Tek Ka
Malay name : Ikan Tenggiri Batang
Details:
• It has long body, lack of scales and thick rubbery skin.
• It has dark bluish-grey to bluish-green top body, silvery grey sides and whitish belly with multiple dark grey vertical bars pattern on its body.
• When selecting a Narrow-barred Spanish Mackerel, make sure that its flesh is slightly pinkish and not in whitish colour. The blood clots around the bone should be fresh red in colour. (refer the fish cross-section as below)


The cross-section of the fish



Spotted Spanish Mackerel
Also known as : Indo-Pacific King Mackerel / Spotted Seerfish
Mandarin name : 马鲛鱼 (Mǎ jiāo yú), 斑点马鲛 (Bān diǎn mǎ jiāo)
Cantonese name : 線鮫 (Sin Gaau)，泥鮫 (Nai Gaau)
Hokkien name : Beh Ka
Malay name : Ikan Tenggiri Papan, Ikan Tenggiri Bunga
Details:
• It has silvery white sides with several rows of round dark brownish spots scattered in about three irregular rows along the lateral line.



Korean Seerfish
Also known as : Korean Mackerel
Mandarin name : 马鲛鱼 (Mǎ jiāo yú), 朝鲜马鲛 (Cháoxiǎn mǎ jiāo)
Cantonese name : 扁鮫 (Bin Gaau)
Hokkien name : Tua Pan
Malay name : Ikan Tenggiri Korea
Details:
• Compare with the Narrow-Barred Spanish Mackerel & Spotted Spanish Mackerel, this fish have a more distinct hump above the eyes which make it look a bit “fiercer”.



P.S. Tongkol, Aya and Tuna are referring to the same thing. It is just a matter of name from different region of Malaysia. Tongkol (also known as ikan kayu) mainly used by people of west Peninsular Malaysia while Aya used by people from east of Peninsular Malaysia. While Tuna are loanword from English.

Mackerel Tuna
Also known as : Eastern Little Tuna / Kawakawa
Mandarin name : 巴鲣 (Bā jiān), 柴鱼 (Chái yú), 金鎗魚 (Jīnqiāngyú), 鲔鱼 (Wěi yú)
Cantonese name : 杜仲 (Dou Zung, Tow Chung), 杜仲魚 (Dou Zung Yu)
Hokkien name : Cha Hu
Malay name : Ikan Tongkol Kurik, Aya Kurik, Kayu, Bakulan
Details:
• Dark blue-greenish dorsally, belly silvery-white.
• Dark spots in area between pelvic and pectoral fins.
• Many dark, broken, oblique stripes above lateral line, from below first dorsal fin to caudal peduncle.


Dark spots in area between pelvic and pectoral fins.



Frigate Tuna
Also known as : Frigate Mackerel
Mandarin name : 扁舵鲣 (Biǎn duò jiān), 平花鲣 (Píng huājiān)
Cantonese name : 小杜仲 (Siu Dou Zung, Siu Tow Chung)
Hokkien name : Cha Hu
Malay name : Ikan Tongkol Selasih, Aya Selasih, Kayu, Bakulan
Details:
• A small dark blue tuna with silvery sides and belly, and 15 or more narrow, oblique to nearly horizontal dark wavy lines in a scaleless area above the lateral line.
• Look quite similar to mackerel tuna but frigate tuna are only half the size of mackerel tuna and do not have dark spots in area between pelvic and pectoral fins.



Longtail Tuna
Mandarin name : 青甘金枪鱼 (Qīng gān jīnqiāngyú), 小黄鳍鲔 (Xiǎo huángqíwěi)
Hokkien name : Cha Hu
Malay name : Ikan Tongkol Hitam, Aya Hitam, Kayu, Bakulan
Details:
• Longtail tuna is a relatively small slender species with a very long slender tail.
• This fish have metallic dark blue to black on the upper third of the body, and silver-white below, with colourless elongate oval spots in rows along the underside and belly.
• Second dorsal and anal fins each followed by 7-10 finlets (pointy diamond shaped fin around tail area).
• It has moderately long pectoral fins.



Indian Mackerel
Also known as : Mouth Mackerel / Long-jawed Mackerel
Mandarin name : 甘望鱼 (Gān wàng yú), 羽鳃鲐 (Yǔ sāi tái)
Cantonese name : 大口鮫 (Dai Hau Gau), 花鮫𩼰 (Fa Gau Ci)，花鮫 (Fa Gau)
Hokkien name : Kam Bong Hu
Malay name : Ikan Kembung Borek, Ikan Temenung, Rumahan
Details:
• This fish have blue-green upper body with silvery sides and belly.
• It has several dark stripes on upper body, uppermost stripes breaking up into spots on towards the rear of the body, and a prominent black spot on the body near the lower margin of the pectoral fin.
• It has large mouth with it upper jawbone reaching beyond rear margin of eye and a visible long gill rakers when the fish open its mouth, hence the name Mouth Mackerel & Long-jawed Mackerel.
• Its dorsal fin, pectoral fin and caudal (tail) fin are yellow in colour with black tips.



Whitefin Wolf Herring
Mandarin name : 西刀鱼 (Xī dāo yú)
Cantonese name : Sai Tou Yue / Sai Dou Yue
Hokkien name : Sai Toh
Malay name : Ikan Parang
Details:
• This fish have a lot of bones with sweet flesh making it usually made into fish ball or home-made fish cake.
• Its dorsal fin is entirely white or colourless, hence the name Whitefin.


Whitefin Wolf Herring with white dorsal fin


Whitefin Wolf Herring with colourless/transparent dorsal fin

Blackfin Wolf Herring
Also known as : Dorab Wolf Herring / Knife-fish / Leaping Silver-bar
Mandarin name : 西刀鱼 (Xī dāo yú)
Cantonese name : 西刀魚 (Sai Dou Yu)
Hokkien name : Sai Toh
Malay name : Ikan Parang
Details:
• This fish have a lot of bones with sweet flesh making it usually made into fish ball or home-made fish cake.
• There are black markings on the upper part of its dorsal fin that set this fish apart from its closest relative, Whitefin Wolf Herring which lead to its name of Blackfin.


Black marking on the upper part of the colourless/transparent dorsal fin

Cobia
Also known as : Black Bonito / Black Kingfish
Mandarin name : 海鲡 (Hǎi lí), 军曹鱼 (Jūn cáo yú)
Cantonese name : 懵仔 (Mung Zai), 懵仔魚 (Mung Zai Yu)
Hokkien name : Hai Lay
Malay name : Ikan Haruan Tasik
Details:
• This fish is distributed in most tropical and subtropical waters worldwide, but absent in the eastern Pacific ocean.
• It is dark brown in color with creamy-white or yellowish belly and two silvery-white or bronze stripes from the head to base of tail.






This post has been edited by xxhenry89xx: Jun 17 2019, 09:53 PM

Thank you for reading patiently .... hahaha

Yea, I know that most of the fish that we eat nowadays are farmed. Although I agree that wild caught fish taste better, I am actually one of those people that support fish farming. I just keep the hope that fish farming technique would improve in the future.

Yes, I have read about estrogen in water too.

Yes, I know about the wastewater turn into drinking water. I remember telling it to one of my friends and she don't believe it till she do her own research. After that, she stop drinking tap water (after filtered/cooked) and buy mineral water as drinking water for a month or so. Then, I told her about mineral water So, she gave up and start drinking tap water (after filtered/cooked) again. lol

Haha.. but there are some fish that I am not sure about it Cantonese name. It may be same as it Mandarin name or not. Even if it is same, I am not sure how to pronounce it in Cantonese based on Mandarin.

1. Yes, Toman are called Do man in Chinese but I believe only Malaysian Chinese would call it Do Man. Sang Yu basically refer to all type of Snakehead like the one in China which could live in colder climate, the Northern Snakehead which is a concern as invasive species in USA. They are so scared of it that they make a horror movie about Snakehead.

2. The Tapah Town in Perak are named after the fish. Tapah mean "Tak Apa" in Perak Malay language. I heard that Malay in Perak don't eat Tapah fish because of a legend and/or rumours that they found human remains inside Tapah fish, not sure if it is true.

You could eat it at some Chinese kampung at Perak. For example, at Slim River, Perak

Quite a young Tapah if you ask me
http://eatingasia.typepad.com/eatingasia/2008/04/post.html

or Lenggong, Kuala Kangsar at Perak

A frozen Tapah
https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/focus/2016...ites-freshwate/

3. You're welcome.

4. At least, it is true for the first red variety of tilapia. After that, it was cross-bred (hybrid) with other species of Tilapia like the Nile Tilapia and Blue Tilapia to avoid it from become super "K" and to add some preferable genetic like tolerance to colder water or grow faster.

5. Yup, i heard about Arapaima too. They even cook it in this famous cooking competition show named "Iron Chef" America version not the Japan Version.
Yes, I saw that Araipama in Nam Thean Tong too. They constantly come up to breath so it easy to spot them despite those milo/teh tarik colour water.
I think it is called 巨龙鱼 (Jù lóng yú) or 巨骨舌鱼 (Jù gǔ shé yú) in Mandarin.
DO NOT mistaken it with Arowana (The name comes from the Indonesian word, arwana or nirwana, meaning paradise / fish of paradise) which is called 龙鱼 (Lóng yú) in Mandarin & Ikan Kelisa in Malay.



6. Basically, the swamp eel are not really an eel. It is a fish that look like an eel same as South America electric eel which it is also refer as an eel. The true eel or should I say freshwater eel (not sure about saltwater eel though), have life cycle same as our Asian Sea Bass where it lay egg in saltwater & born in saltwater and swam to freshwater to live (terbalik with salmon) and Unagi is a true eel. All eel or eel-like fish, I think we Chinese will just refer it as San Yu (Mandarin) or Sin (Cantonese).

You could try some eel dish at paddy field kampung. I try it few time near Tapah, Perak. My friends said they try it before at Sekinchan.

7. Yup, many other country are fighting to name an animal first especially if it is commercially valuable. For example, Empurau (Wang Bu Liao) are called Malaysian Mahseer but the Thai called them Thai Mahseer. Or the Long Dan (Giant not Goliath Grouper) are named as Queensland (one of Australia state) Grouper by the Australian.

This post has been edited by xxhenry89xx: Jan 28 2018, 10:50 PM

As i mentioned in my first post, all of the info was compiled by me from various sources. It is just a coincidence that I have the same interest in what Leo.Lee was asking for.

1. The legend is about a Malay from Perak who is quite rich (some say poor) and like cockfighting (sabung/laga ayam). Let call him Pak Ali (I forgot his name). His rooster/cock never lose a cockfight and Pak Ali was happy in the beginning. Due to Pak Ali's rooster never lose, nobody dare to put their rooster in a cockfight against Pak Ali's rooster and as such Pak Ali start to feel bored.

The news of Pak Ali's rooster came to the attention of the Sultan Perak and he challenge Pak Ali into a cockfight. The Sultan Perak came up with few conditions/stake for the cockfight. Pak Ali accept it because he was so bored (to the extent of not thinking rationally) and he would do anything just to join a cockfighting. The conditions/stake are Pak Ali's rooster would be exchange with Sultan's rooster and would represent Sultan in the cockfight while Pak Ali would have Sultan's rooster to represent him. If Pak Ali lose, his village, house, wife, children & etc (all his belonging) would be owned by the Sultan Perak. If the Sultan lose, Pak Ali will gain part of the Sultan ruling power/authority and part of Perak state.

In the cockfight, as usual, Pak Ali's rooster win the fight and he was so happy until he realize that his rooster are representing the Sultan. Pak Ali lose everything and went to live in small house near a river. One day, he saw a giant Ikan Tapah washes ashore/stranded beside the river. He dunno what to do until a parrot fly to a tree near Pak Ali and make a sound that sound like "blllah prut". Pak Ali thought it mean "belah perut" (cut the stomach) and so he cut the stomach of the giant Ikan Tapah and to his surprise, there is a lot of gold coming out from the fish stomach. Pak Ali take all the gold and stitch back the fish stomach. He release the Ikan Tapah back to the river and swear to the fish that he & his family & his descendant would not eat, abuse, disrespect & etc (basically not doing any harm) the Ikan Tapah. If anyone of them violate this promise/swear/curse, they will get itchiness and swollen all over their body (basically skin disease) After that, Pak Ali use most of the gold to redeem all his belonging & save some.

Today, Pak Ali's descendant that was in touch with Ikan Tapah their skin would become red and itchy. Then, they will need to go and meet one of Pak Ali descendant who still keep the remaining gold and use that gold to boil with some water. They will drink the water and will be cured from the skin disease.

2. There are a lot of thing that people dunno about South and/or Central America people's diets. Different place have different animals & plant. As such, people would eat whatever is available there. They eat piranha, guinea pig (breed for food same as rabbit), arapaima (original wild caught but caught too much so they farmed it nowadays) and etc. It just that some of their food are not popularized to the rest of the world unlike their chilli, cocoa which made into chocolate, pineapple, papaya, dragon fruit (you do know that it is a fruit of a cactus, right? and only central & south america desert or half desert have cactus. P.S don't go imagine Middle East desert with camel and cactus. lol) and quite recently avocado.

"reared by seafood restaurant guy - near Tropicana club" - are you sure those arapaima are not in the menu?

This post has been edited by xxhenry89xx: Jan 19 2018, 11:51 AM

1. I hope so too. Anyway I was posting this question around the web (forgot when and for how long), no answer so far.

2. ikr.

3. Yes, I heard about it from the elders too.
Well, if you search for any parenting blog or forum from Malaysia & Singapore, you tend to find them writing about it too as Ikan Kurau (I am not sure if they know about the difference or not) while parenting blog or forum which is written by Chinese from Hong Kong, maybe China or from Australia, they'll just refer it as the threadfin or Ma Yao Yu.

WARNING (you may need to open a google map if you want to understand what I am trying to say about the location)
And research about mercury level in threadfin that you could find is about Ikan Senangin / Fourfinger Threadfin / Peh Ngor because they are done by the Hong Kong and/or Australia being that Fourfinger Threadfin are the most normal?/standard?/easily available threadfin that Hong Kong people or Australian can get their hand on. As Fourfinger Threadfin habitat/home/roaming area spread from west India (maybe till north of Africa) to as further east to South of Japan & as further south to the North of Australia.

While Ikan Kurau / Indian Threadfin / Orh Ngor habitat/home/roaming area spread ONLY around west India to south of Hainan Island to as further east as Phillipines and as south as east of Papua (didn't reach Hong Kong or Australia sea). Most of the wild Indian Threadfin (not sure if there is a farmed one) that we have in Malaysia & Singapore are caught in area from Andaman Sea heading down to the southeast where Malacca Straits is, passing Singapore and head northwest to where Gulf of Thailand are situated.

So, if you want mercury level in Indian Threadfin, you have to slow slow wait for either India, Malaysia, Singapore, Thai or Indonesia.

P.S those result about Ikan Senangin / Fourfinger Threadfin / Peh Ngor are okay to eat for pregnant woman & young child. It around the same level as Salmon (categorize as lowest mercury in the previous list that I posted) I guess that why the Australian call it as "Bluenose SALMON" (joking, the name is real but it is not related to mercury level).

4. sssshhh.

This post has been edited by xxhenry89xx: Jan 19 2018, 07:56 PM

SO, do you know anything about the other fish species which the Malay say it is Chicken fish?

My question:
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https://www.tripadvisor.co.za/LocationPhoto...ersekutuan.html
The links above show the photo of the fish sold at Jalan Alor.

When I try to search about the fish, I found that the fish is called Unicorn Leatherjacket in English, Ikan Barat-barat in Malay and Keh Hu in Hokkien. And the image results based on using the information above are definitely showing the same fish. However, when I search using the terms "Chicken Fish", I found some fish image that definitely not Ikan Barat-barat/Unicorn Leatherjacket, instead it is another type of fish called Starry triggerfish and Ikan Jebong/Ayam Laut in Malay. Most of the search results are from Malay blog and as such, saying that Starry triggerfish is the "Chicken Fish".

http://sharingthotsandluv.blogspot.my/2013...asam-manis.html
One of the blog that write about Starry triggerfish/Ikan Jebong.

My question is which is the real identity of "Chicken Fish" in Malaysia. Note that when i say in Malaysia because there is another Chicken fish from Vanuatu near Solomon Islands called poulet fish.

Or is it both consider as the Chicken fish? Just like how the Chinese identify both freshwater catfish and marine/saltwater catfish as Tong Sat (Cantonese)?

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Agree that there are a lot of restaurant selling river fish at Lenggong, Perak.
I am no expert about the price. The Soon Hock at Lenggong are cheaper? hmm. farmed, maybe? Still, gonna plan my next trip to Lenggong, Perak. Dun care if it is farmed.

Tengalan fish is one of the fish that I never try before and dunno about it Chinese name.

Pak Sou Gong is Ikan Baung. (You can read my previous LONG post about freshwater fish )

Ikan Kelah.. Is it Kelah Merah? Its scale a bit reddish brown. Or is it yellowish brown? Cause the yellowish one is Empurau and i dun think it drop till rm220 for 1kg ONLY, not even farmed one. If it does, look like I need to go Lenggong for few days. hahaha.

This post has been edited by xxhenry89xx: Jan 19 2018, 08:48 PM

hmm.. do you know the exact Mandarin words for it? I am a Banana but I can copy paste and listen to those words via Google translate.

1. Good some expert elder would definitely help a lot. My father like to eat fish but he is not that particular about the name and how to differentiate it.

2. haha. Bingo.. just as I suspected. In Malaysia, Empurau/Ikan Kelah are from Sg Rajang at Sarawak only. Yea. I heard most Kelah (Empurau, Kelah merah, i think even Kelah hijau are eaten with its scale) and most of those giant fish like Giant Grouper are eaten whole. None of their body part are wasted. In the case of Giant Grouper, even their gonads (I believe it is the fish testicles) would be cook into separate dish.

3. Yup, I know. It in my post of Freshwater fish.

4. Patih Mas? You mean Patin Mas? The hybrid patin. Produced using Patin Buah and Patin Muncung. (a lot of hybrid fish nowadays cause commercialized, want them to grow bigger & faster)

This post has been edited by xxhenry89xx: Jan 26 2018, 02:18 AM

1. Lol. the Cantonese named sound like cursing/vulgar word. I think it should be some kind of carp fish. Carp famous for it small "Y" shaped bone.

2. Oh I see. Only lower price in wet market. Too bad. I have no skill in cooking it. Better don't tarnish some good fish with my lousy cooking skill.

3. Hehe. Thanks for the invitation. Let see if I manage to get some off days first & some makan gang. Hmm MK brand never heard before but usually those low profile chili sauce are better than those "famous" one. Agreed with your comment about Kg Koh. I am from Ipoh, we have a chili + garlic sauce called Highlands brand but Ipoh people just call it "Foh Shan" (Volcano) chili sauce.

I have read your previous post about you are involve in fish farming. So, when i saw you wrote about hybrid grouper is mix between Tiger Grouper with Goliath Grouper (which you refers as Long Dan), I assume that you just type wrongly or something. (As far as I know, hybrid grouper/to be specific the Long Fu Ban was first produced at Sabah, their English name is Sabah Grouper)

As far as I know, there is only two type of Goliath grouper, Atlantic & Pacific which is 2 ocean/sea that are super faraway from South East Asia. Now, you have make me curious about this Asian Goliath Grouper. Could you send us some photo? It would be better if you send me the name of their species. I would be happy to do some research (googling ) about them.

Whoa, hold your horses.

English, please? too many scientific words.

Let me get this straight.
What you mean is if the list by Malaysia are research result that use a liquid chromatography instrument, the methylmercury contents in a fish are not accurate?

Whoa. So, I assume the Goliath that you are referring are a type of hybrid too? Not the natural/wild one?

Belugas? The dolphin? Why you guys want to breed that?

hmmm.
Epinephelus itajara ?
Epinephelus quinquefasciatus ?
Epinephelus lanceolatus ?