Bachok Youth Turns Social Media Tutorials Into Successful Angelfish Venture

BACHOK, June 7 (Bernama) -- A youth from Kampung Chap here has turned his childhood passion for ornamental fish into a lucrative source of income by mastering freshwater angelfish breeding techniques solely through social media.

Wan Mohd Hazran Wan Rohim, 35, affectionately known as 'Chu' said his fascination with ornamental fish began in his teens, driving him to turn his hobby into a serious breeding venture after spotting its commercial potential.

He said all his knowledge of breeding, care, and stock selection came from instructional videos, forums, and online communities, which he followed closely for about six months.

"Initially, keeping ornamental fish was just a childhood hobby. However, the interest stayed with me, prompting me to delve deeper into breeding and nurturing as I saw potential in this field.

"Without any formal course or training, I learned the techniques for breeding, caring for, and selecting angelfish broodstock through social media and online communities over a period of about six months," he told Bernama recently.

The second of four siblings said he started the business two years ago with about RM60,000 capital but faced initial challenges, including high fry mortality, deformities, and difficulties producing premium breeds.

He continued upgrading his knowledge through social media until he mastered proper breeding techniques, eventually producing a wide variety of angelfish with unique patterns and colours.

Wan Mohd Hazran said angelfish breeding requires meticulous attention, including identifying fish maturity, checking reproductive organs, and selecting the right breeding pairs to ensure optimal reproduction.

Armed with experience and skill, he is now able to produce seven varieties of angelfish, namely smokey, chocolate, tricolour, silver zebra, white platinum, light blue pinoy, and marble, available in various sizes according to customer demand.

"Usually, within about two months, these fish will start attracting demand, while they reach full maturity at around six months. The selling price depends on the size, ranging between RM3 and RM35 per fish," he said.

Wan Mohd Hazran now has over 6,000 angelfish in stock and sells around 400 to 500 fish a month, generating a four-figure monthly income.

Apart from angelfish, he also breeds GloFish in eight different fluorescent colours, namely green, red, blue, orange, yellow, white, purple, and pink, to meet the high demand from ornamental fish enthusiasts.

He added that GloFish hold their own appeal due to their striking fluorescent hues and easier maintenance, whereas angelfish offer higher breeding value and a wider diversity of varieties.

"I sell around 1,300 to 2,500 GloFish a month, depending on stock and demand," said Wan Mohd Hazran, who also runs an ornamental fish shop in Bachok.

He said social media served as his primary learning tool and a vital marketing platform, enabling him to expand sales nationwide.

He hopes more young people will use social media positively to explore aquaculture, as the industry holds vast potential for sustainable income.

Wan Mohd Hazran also hopes to secure support from various quarters, particularly for equipment and high-quality broodstock, to boost his production capacity and livestock quality in the future.

-- BERNAMA