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Exotic Aquatic Organisms - International Development Research ...

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appreciated in the context of the widespread poverty and hunger, which were the aftermath of the<br />

war.<br />

Other specimens were imported in 1981 from the Republic of South Africa (RSA) for the<br />

purpose of studying cross-breeding. In Taiwan, this species was initially crossed with 0.<br />

niloticus male. The result is a popular hybrid with rapid growth, large size and much better<br />

appearance (Kuo 1969). The Taiwanese call this hybrid "fu so yu", fu so meaning "lucky,<br />

longlife".<br />

Salmo gairdneri<br />

Salmo gairdneri or rainbow trout was first introduced from Japan in 1957. Three thousand<br />

fertilized eggs of this species were released into a reservoir, where most probably perished. In<br />

1959 and 1960, 200,000 'eyed' eggs were introduced (each year), but again, all perished. Finally,<br />

in 1961, 50,000 'eyed' eggs were imported, hatched and reared to adult stage at Ma-Lin, a<br />

research station of the Lukang Branch of the Taiwan Fisheries <strong>Research</strong> Institute TFRI) (Chen<br />

1976). This hatchery has been in operation from that time until the present. Aside from this<br />

research hatchery, a number of commercial hatcheries for this species also currently exist in<br />

Taiwan.<br />

The difficulties encountered in its culture in Taiwan have to do mainly with the need for an<br />

adequate cold water supply. It commands a good price, but the volume of production is limited<br />

by the lack of appropriate culture areas, i.e., those with abundant supply of cold water, and this<br />

also limits expansion.<br />

Tilapia zulu<br />

Introduced from RSA in 1963 by Tang, Tilapia zulu or redbelly tilapia never gained much<br />

popularity due to its small size, slow growth and aggressive behavior towards other fish (Chen<br />

1976; Liao and Chen 1983). Also, it does not taste very good and is not suited for polyculture.<br />

The main reason for its introduction was to cross-breed it with 0. rnossambiciis. T. zulu is<br />

relatively cold-resistant as compared with 0. mossambicus, and it was hoped that a more coldresistant<br />

hybrid would result. Sixteen fish had been introduced but the species never did become<br />

popular for culture.<br />

0. niloticus<br />

0. niloticus or Nile tilapia was introduced from Japan by Yu and Imai in 1966 (Chen 1976;<br />

Liao and Chen 1983). Fifty-six individuals were originally introduced. By itself, 0. niloticus<br />

makes a fine culture species, and it also produces good results when crossed with 0.<br />

mossambicus. But so far, the best result is achieved when it is crossed with 0. aureus males;<br />

predominantly male and much larger offspring are produced.<br />

103

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