‘Janitor fish’ harmless, says PCAMRD

"The ‘janitor fish’ is harmless to man and other fishes."

Thus assured the Los Baños-based Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technologgy (DOST-PCAMRD) as it allayed fear of the possible harmful effects of this imported fish species on fish cages in Laguna de Bay.

Alarm has been raised on the possible ecological damage that it can infflict on river systems such as that of Marikina City.

PCAMRD headed by Executive Director Rafael D. Guerrero III said that the "janitor fish" is harmless to man and feeds only on algae and small crustaceans. It added that its spines are not poisonous and its flesh is edible.

Scientiffically called Hypostomus plecostomus, the fish is an imported species of freshwater catfish native to South America.

Introduced in the Philippines in the 1990s by the local ornamental fish industry, it is used by aquarists for cleaning up the algae growing on the sides of aquaria which the fish feeds on, hence, its popular name.

The "janitor fish" has been bred in ponds in Laguna and has escaped into Laguna de Bay and nearby river systems where it has become established.

It breeds by digging holes on the pond dikes and river embankments for its nests in breeding. It can grow to 30 centimeters.

"While not valued as a food fish, the ‘janitor fish’ can be utilized as a fishmeal source and for fish leather making with its unique and hideous looking skin," PCAMRD concluded. – Rudy A. Fernandez