Pingtung globally recognized for ornamental fish breeding

Pingtung globally recognized for ornamental fish breeding

2026-05-01

Pingtung has been developing its ornamental fish industry, carving out a place on the global stage. One of the most common species, the guppy, generates about NT$500 million annually in Taiwan, with Pingtung accounting for around 70 percent of production. With today’s advanced breeding techniques, features like tail shape, body length, and color can all be selectively bred. Pingtung recently hosted an international ornamental fish competition, welcoming competitors from around the world.

Guppies come in many colors—some solid red, others with a pink, transparent hue and blue-shimmering tails, and even some with zebra stripes. Because they have so many different looks, guppies are a very popular ornamental fish.

Kuo Tsung-chih
Pingtung Ornamental Fish Association chair
We have raised almost 300 kinds. The most popular domestically are the red and white ones and the blue tail suit, or sky-blue ones, because their colors are so vibrant. The industry’s output value is close to NT$500 million.

The guppy is the most popular ornamental fish in Taiwan. About 70 percent of Taiwan’s guppies come from Pingtung, where the hard water and tropical climate are especially suited for breeding them. Breeders have continued to refine their techniques, making it possible to tailor specific traits such as color, tail shape, and body form.

Hung Ming-chang
Pingtung Ornamental Fish Association director
These traits can all be improved through selective breeding. For example, a triangular tail might need to be at about a 65-degree angle, which isn’t something normally seen in wild guppies. So, breeders go through many generations, selecting and refining, to achieve that specific angle. Or if its body needs to be around 35mm, these are all special requirements.

These translucent tools show all kinds of guppies, carefully measuring their tail fin and body length. Only those that meet the standards are eligible to compete in international competitions. Pingtung hosted the 26th World Guppy Contest in late February and early March, solidifying its position as a major hub for the ornamental fish industry. The event welcomed competitors from around the world, with about 800 groups participating.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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#ornamentalfish #guppy #guppies #Pingtung #breeding #fishbreeder #WorldGuppyContest #fish #petfish

"屏東孔雀魚"人工育種技術驚奇業者:魚尾特定角度皆可打造

2026-05-01

屏東這幾年來積極研發培育觀賞魚，已經在世界上佔有一席之地，其中觀賞魚中最常見的孔雀魚，台灣一年5億產值，屏東就佔了七成，以現在的技術，魚尾想要有特定的角度、月型尾或小圓尾，以及顏色等特徵，都可以透過人工育種改良出來，還透過國際交流賽，來觀摩學習。

從全身搶眼的橘紅色，到魚身粉色中帶點透明、尾巴綻放藍色光芒；或是身上有著斑馬條紋的，這些都是孔雀魚，就是因為牠千變萬化的模樣，深受台灣水族愛好者喜愛。

[[屏東縣觀賞魚協會理事長郭聰智]]
"有配出來大概快接近300種。國內市場最受歡迎的就是全紅白子，跟一個藍尾禮服白子又叫天空藍，因為牠們的顏色非常討喜。產值大概有接近5億左右。"

觀賞魚種類眾多，在台灣又以孔雀魚最受歡迎，有七成的孔雀魚都是來自屏東，年產值高達五億元。因為屏東水質較硬，加上熱帶氣候，特別適合培育觀賞魚。這幾年來，業者不斷精進育種技術，不論是在顏色、尾形、腹鰭、體形等等特徵，都可以量身打造出想要的品系。

[[屏東縣觀賞魚協會總幹事洪明昌]]
"這些特徵都是可以透過，人為育種學上面去改良出來的。三角尾它可能要控制在，65度的這個角度，然後這個65度的角度，可能不是一般野生型的孔雀魚牠會長出來的角度，所以會透過非常多的這個子代，進行篩選跟改良才能夠創造出，這個特定角度的一個三角尾，比如說牠身體要佔35mm，這都是有特殊的規定。"

這些半透明的尺上頭，畫著各種品系的孔雀魚圖案，尾鰭要在幾公分內，體形多長，拿尺一量就知道，一釐一毫都不能偏差，十分嚴格，合格者才能獲得參賽資格。2月底3月初的孔雀魚世界盃國際交流賽，就是在屏東舉辦，參賽者來自全球各地，共有800組的觀賞魚同台較勁，這場盛會也再次肯定了屏東作為觀賞魚產業重鎮的領先地位。

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Former chief of general staff Shen ingrained an important principle in Tsao: Failure is not an option.

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One day we were flying a two-seater—he was in the front, and I was in the back. We were assigned a low-altitude mission in the mountains along the Xiugulan River. The scenery was beautiful, but the valley twists and turns and is difficult to fly through. During such a complex mission, he remained calm, telling me what to do in each moment. He was teaching me that when we serve as flight leaders, our greatest achievement is that our subordinates can complete the mission even when they have no clear understanding of the situation.

When Tsao was serving as a military representative in France, the Lafayette scandal broke out, severing military exchanges. But he found a way forward.

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At 2 or 3 in the morning I arrived in the office and completed all the work I had to do that day. Around 5am when the trains started running, I went to stations close to where French military officers lived, gathering information about what trains they took. I arranged chance encounters, using train rides as opportunities to exchange intelligence.

Shen gave Tsao courage during these deliberate “chance encounters” that went on for six months. Then on Jan. 2, 2020, they were both on board a Black Hawk helicopter that crashed in New Taipei. Shen and seven others on board tragically lost their lives.

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I visited him early in the morning on the anniversary of his death, when no one else was around. I had time to have a heartfelt conversation with him, letting him know that thanks to his guidance, the air force was continuing to grow strong.

Tsao has gone from soaring in the skies to leading AIDC. He keeps General Shen’s legacy alive as he continues to safeguard Taiwan.

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A man adjusts a machine with intense focus, looking like he has decades of experience behind him—maybe a senior instructor or a master technician.

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When I found out I passed, I almost cried. Seriously. I’m not joking. My grandson said he wants to keep at it, since he’s planning to take the Grade C exam this year.

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