What Is So Special About The Milkfish?

The milkfish is placed in a family of its own in the classification system although it is related with the herrings and the carps. It is special because of its versatility. It can live almost anywhere, in conditions that other fish would never survive.

It is able to live in water that is low in oxygen, high in salt and very warm. It is happy living in temperatures as high as 41 degrees Celsius. It is found spread over a large part of the tropical world.

The milkfish looks rather like a herring and grows to a good size. Adults can be up to two metres long. It is an important source of food in South east Asia, particularly in the Phillipines and Indonesia, where it is reared in large fishpond nurseries for the local markets. Milkfish thrive in captivity – and they are easy to keep as they can live in such a range of temperatures and water qualities.