Chinese pond owner feeds fish over 5,000kg of chilli peppers daily so they ‘taste better’
Owners say capsaicin in chilli peppers stimulates intestinal movements, promotes digestion, nutrient absorption which accelerate fish growth
A fish pond in southern China has gone viral online after its owner revealed that he feeds the fish 5,000 kilos of various chilli peppers daily, claiming this practice makes them appear more vibrant and taste better.
The fish pond, located in Changsha, Hunan province – a region renowned for its spicy cuisine – has recently become an online sensation after its owners were filmed feeding chilli peppers to the fish.
The pond is co-managed by Jiang Sheng, a 40-year-old experienced fish farmer following in his father’s footsteps, and his former secondary school classmate, Kuang Ke.
According to Kuang, the pond spans around 10 acres and is home to over 2,000 fish, which are regularly fed a variety of chilli peppers.
“At peak times, we feed up to 5,000 kilos of chilli peppers each day,” Kuang shared with Jiupai News.
“The same types of chilli that people eat can be used to feed the fish. We use cone peppers and millet peppers. After consuming them, the fish develop better body shapes, enhanced flavour, and even shiny, golden scales.”
Kuang added: “Initially, the fish were hesitant to eat the chillies. But now, when we toss in both grass and chilli, they actually prefer the chilli. When we eat spicy food, we drink water, right? Well, they live in water, so even if it’s spicy, they just drink more to counter it.”