Wow [emoji47]Here are two display tanks from two different stores in Hua Di Wan. One is a well aged system and the other a semi-new system. The semi-new system is the store that sells just Acropora. Coming up soon, another display tank!
China
- Thread starter Tony Vargas
- Start date
- Tagged users None
My goodness they are absolutely beautiful, this thread is wonderful, thank you so much for sharing it with us, can't wait to read more.Here are two display tanks from two different stores in Hua Di Wan. One is a well aged system and the other a semi-new system. The semi-new system is the store that sells just Acropora. Coming up soon, another display tank!
revhtree
Owner Administrator
Staff member
Super Moderator
Reef Squad
Partner Member 2024
Excellence Award
RGB
Photo of the Month
Article Contributor
R2R TV Featured
Hospitality Award
Article Administrator
Black Friday Sponsor
Industry Professional
My Tank Thread
My Aquarium Showcase
- Joined
- May 8, 2006
- Messages
- 49,234
- Reaction score
- 98,071
Here are two display tanks from two different stores in Hua Di Wan. One is a well aged system and the other a semi-new system. The semi-new system is the store that sells just Acropora. Coming up soon, another display tank!
Amazing!
jerseypete
Active Member
Following. Hoping this was one of those 60 page threads I could read tonight. Guess I have to wait.
gary henkel
Community Member
this is beyond fabulous. hands down the single best thread ever posted on a reef related forum
OP
OP
Guangzhou is nicknamed the "City of Flowers" thanks to its warm and humid subtropical climate, which feels similar to South Florida in late spring. It is also traditional for the Chinese to plant flowers, raise birds, insects and fish to enrich their lives, which all can be found for sale in Hua Di Wan. The color red symbolizes many great things to the Chinese. In the US however, if you own a red car no matter how slow you drive you will end-up with a summons for speeding and higher insurance premiums. Nevertheless in China, red corresponds with fire, which symbolizes good fortune, good luck and joy.
Well it stands to reason, that many of the fish found at Hua Di Wan are red. Purchasing fish that are red in color is part of tradition, but more importantly what that color symbolizes. It was interesting to see that almost every freshwater fish known to man is now farmed in red. Also, every freshwater fish sold at Hua Di Wan are farm bred and raised. The shades of red are all over the board, from red to maroon to artificial looking bright red.
What I also found amazing to see was the amount of fish sold on a daily basis. Many store owners would complain that if they did not order fish on a weekly basis they would have empty tanks the following week. Fish were being sold and shipped constantly while we were there.
Seeing tanks loaded with healthy fish was shocking to me at first, but looking closely at the fish in those tight confinements proved that the Chinese know what they’re doing. Close observation verified clean water, smoothed breathing, no fin tears, every fish had all their scales and no sign of aggression. Something I had seen in photos and was excited not to see, was fish being displayed individually in plastic bags. Unfortunately, fish are kept in those plastic bags for days at a time, which is not healthy long term. Glad to see that type of selling behavior was not evident in Guangzhou.
However, stores that sold saltwater fish kept them in larger tanks, but with many more fish positioned together in one tank. So many fish in one tank may seem foreign to us in the US, but close observation demonstrated no aggression toward one another.
Most of the saltwater fish available for sale are commonly found at most of the local stores here in the US. A little disappointing, but it makes sense since the saltwater hobby is fairly new to China.
Fancy Clownfish are readily available in China.
Red Albino Oscar (Astronotus ocellatus).
Blood Red Parrot Cichlid is a hybrid of the Midas and the Redhead Cichlid (Amphilophus citrinellus x Paraneetroplus synspilus).
The Giant Gourami (Osphronemus goramy). This fish is a small one and can get quite large, about 28 inches, also used as food fish.
Flowerhorn Cichlid is also a hybrid cichlid of Red Devil Cichlid (Amphilophus labiatus) and Trimac Cichlid (Amphilophus trimaculatus) and the hybrid Blood Parrot Cichlid bred these fish together, marking the birth of the Flowerhorn.
Red-fin Fairy Wrasse, (Cirrhilabrus adornatus).
Seeing this in person is pretty cool.
Well it stands to reason, that many of the fish found at Hua Di Wan are red. Purchasing fish that are red in color is part of tradition, but more importantly what that color symbolizes. It was interesting to see that almost every freshwater fish known to man is now farmed in red. Also, every freshwater fish sold at Hua Di Wan are farm bred and raised. The shades of red are all over the board, from red to maroon to artificial looking bright red.
What I also found amazing to see was the amount of fish sold on a daily basis. Many store owners would complain that if they did not order fish on a weekly basis they would have empty tanks the following week. Fish were being sold and shipped constantly while we were there.
Seeing tanks loaded with healthy fish was shocking to me at first, but looking closely at the fish in those tight confinements proved that the Chinese know what they’re doing. Close observation verified clean water, smoothed breathing, no fin tears, every fish had all their scales and no sign of aggression. Something I had seen in photos and was excited not to see, was fish being displayed individually in plastic bags. Unfortunately, fish are kept in those plastic bags for days at a time, which is not healthy long term. Glad to see that type of selling behavior was not evident in Guangzhou.
However, stores that sold saltwater fish kept them in larger tanks, but with many more fish positioned together in one tank. So many fish in one tank may seem foreign to us in the US, but close observation demonstrated no aggression toward one another.
Most of the saltwater fish available for sale are commonly found at most of the local stores here in the US. A little disappointing, but it makes sense since the saltwater hobby is fairly new to China.
Fancy Clownfish are readily available in China.
Red Albino Oscar (Astronotus ocellatus).
Blood Red Parrot Cichlid is a hybrid of the Midas and the Redhead Cichlid (Amphilophus citrinellus x Paraneetroplus synspilus).
The Giant Gourami (Osphronemus goramy). This fish is a small one and can get quite large, about 28 inches, also used as food fish.
Flowerhorn Cichlid is also a hybrid cichlid of Red Devil Cichlid (Amphilophus labiatus) and Trimac Cichlid (Amphilophus trimaculatus) and the hybrid Blood Parrot Cichlid bred these fish together, marking the birth of the Flowerhorn.
Red-fin Fairy Wrasse, (Cirrhilabrus adornatus).
Seeing this in person is pretty cool.
OP
OP
Parrot Cichlid Face close-up.
Lowstorm
Well-Known Member
I suppose that when they are kept in that sort of stocking situation, it spreads out any aggression there is upon, instead of a few fish, all of them. Makes sense. I do want to see what the filtration systems are for those tanks, its gotta be impressive!
timkenagy
~Unashamed 116~
Kinda cute.. In that way a pug is kinda cute wayParrot Cichlid Face close-up.
nwkermit
Valuable Member
If they are selling out weekly, with new stock coming in daily, they are probably doing massive water change every shipment and might not need crazy filtration system. It is kind of awesome, in Hong Kong and China, you will have whole block or mall that is dedicated to one specific thing. Tons of competition equal to lower prices.
NanoDrummer09
Community Member
I wonder how much those LED fixtures would be over there. I've been wanting to visit and that could be a souvenir haha
maroun.c
Moderator
Staff member
Super Moderator
Excellence Award
Reef Of The Month
Photo of the Month
Article Contributor
My Tank Thread
Amazing thread. looking forward for the red Arowana pics 
Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for sharing.
OP
OP
I do have some video footage of my visit to Hua Di Wan, but they need some work and will not get to it right now. However, I will post it sometime in the near future. Lots to document about this trip. I started putting together a new presentation focused on this China trip that many will enjoy. I will share the Speaker Board soon with everyone on R2R.
OP
OP
One of the unique animals found at Hua Di Wan that I never thought I would find are gene spliced Axolotl (pronounced Ax-oh-lot-ul), scientific name Ambystoma mexicanum.
Axolotl are not fish but are amphibians. Another common misconception is that axolotls and other salamanders are lizards or reptiles, which in fact are amphibians and are a completely separate group of animals. There are differences, reptiles and human beings have a four-chambered heart. Were as, amphibians have only three chambered heart.
The Axolotl is a fascinating little amphibian for a number of reasons, its ability to regenerate, and the fact that it exhibits the phenomenon known as neoteny (the retention of juvenile features in the adult animal). Ordinarily, most amphibians undergo metamorphosis from egg to larva and finally to adult form. The Axolotl, maintains its larval form throughout its life.
The naturally colored axolotl from the "wild", can be near-black, chocolate brown, or even creamy in color, and anywhere in between. In captivity Axolotls come in various colors, which includes grey, shades of brown, white with black eyes, golden albino, white albino, as well as other varieties, such as the a near-black animal. However, to take things to the next level, here come gene spliced Axolotls. These in the photo are not injected nor dyed, these are gene spliced, adding six new colors for hobbyist to enjoy.
Axolotl are not fish but are amphibians. Another common misconception is that axolotls and other salamanders are lizards or reptiles, which in fact are amphibians and are a completely separate group of animals. There are differences, reptiles and human beings have a four-chambered heart. Were as, amphibians have only three chambered heart.
The Axolotl is a fascinating little amphibian for a number of reasons, its ability to regenerate, and the fact that it exhibits the phenomenon known as neoteny (the retention of juvenile features in the adult animal). Ordinarily, most amphibians undergo metamorphosis from egg to larva and finally to adult form. The Axolotl, maintains its larval form throughout its life.
The naturally colored axolotl from the "wild", can be near-black, chocolate brown, or even creamy in color, and anywhere in between. In captivity Axolotls come in various colors, which includes grey, shades of brown, white with black eyes, golden albino, white albino, as well as other varieties, such as the a near-black animal. However, to take things to the next level, here come gene spliced Axolotls. These in the photo are not injected nor dyed, these are gene spliced, adding six new colors for hobbyist to enjoy.
