Singaporeans Are Paying Up To RM357 On Cosmetic Surgery For Their Pet Arowana Fishes
Got doctor also.
By John Lim — 29 Mar 2018, 01:19 PM
Singaporeans really love their pet fishes – so much so that they're willing to put them under the knife for a price. No, not to cook them, but for cosmetic surgery!
In a story published yesterday, 28 March, TODAYonline revealed that cosmetic surgeries for pet fishes have become more and more popular in the city-state.
The English daily also talked to Ng, one of the more well-known cosmetic surgeons for Asian Arowana fish in the country, to understand the ins and outs of the trade.
While some might find the idea of fish cosmetic surgery cruel and peculiar, Ng insisted that the procedures actually "beautifies" the fish instead of harming it
"I know some people think it’s cruel to the fish. But really I’m doing it a favour because now the fish looks better and its owner will love it even more," Ng, also known as Dr Ark to his clients, said.
Giving a fish an eyelift is one of the most popular procedures at Ng's clinic. It involves loosening tissues behind the fish's eye and pushing the eyeball up into the socket.
How much does one procedure cost?
It was reported that the cost for an eyelift can run up to SGD117.71 (around RM347.19) and the price for a chin job starts at SGD78.47 (around RM231.50).
Forking out that much to pay for a fish cosmetic surgery may sound absurd to most people, but the owners of these Asian Arowanas doesn't share the same sentiment; that's because if they can pay thousands for a fish, what's few hundred bucks for a quick fix-up?
Known also as the "dragon fish" in Chinese, the Asian Arowana has been reigning as one of the world's most expensive aquarium fishes for decades, with its selling price running from hundreds to thousands of dollars
The fish is often regarded as a status of wealth and prosperity. Chinese businessmen in particular prize the fish - with its large glimmering scales, sage-like whiskers and aggressive personality - for its resemblance to the mythical Chinese dragon.
"For Chinese, keeping fish is about bringing good luck and wealth, and the Asian Arowana are especially lucky," said Kenny Yap, the executive chairman of Qian Hu Fish, one of the top Arowana breeders in Singapore, as quoted by TODAYonline.