"Treasure in Fish" refers to the Zhanggong fish, which is a highly nutritious ingredient and also a traditional Chinese medicine. It has the effects of nourishing yin and tonifying deficiency, and strengthening bones and tendons. It is mainly used to treat liver and kidney deficiency, lumbago and weakness of the limbs. Can we still eat the Zhanggong fish if its body turns black?
[Can we still eat the Zhanggong fish if its body turns black?]
If the body of the Zhanggong fish turns black, it is suffering from melanic headstand disease.
Symptoms: In the early stage of the disease, the fish stops eating, its body turns black, and it gathers in the corners of the pond.
In severe cases, the fish will swim rapidly in the water, struggle violently or swim in circles, and then sink to the bottom of the pond and die. The cause of this disease has not yet been clarified.
Harm and prevalence: This disease is most common in the fry of Zhanggong fish before they reach a body length of 4 cm. The peak season is from March to July, with a major outbreak in April and May.
This disease develops rapidly, spreads quickly, and has a morbidity and mortality rate of over 90%. It is the most harmful acute fish disease during the juvenile stage of Zhanggong fish.
Prevention and control methods: There is no specific treatment for this disease. The following preventive measures are mainly used:
This disease spreads quickly, and if not treated in time, the mortality rate will be over 50%, so it is also known as the "red plague".
This disease can be triggered by unfavorable conditions such as fish injuries, high stocking density, deteriorating water quality, or large fluctuations in water temperature.
[Original morphology of the Zhanggong fish]
The Zhanggong fish has a slightly cylindrical body shape, with a flattened posterior part, and an overall length of about 30 cm. Its head is slightly pointed, with relatively large scales and a large, terminal mouth. The lower jaw is slightly protruding and has large teeth. It has 59-62 lateral line scales.
The dorsal fin and anal fin are both long, with 47 and 29 rays respectively, and there is no pelvic fin. The caudal fin is elliptical in shape. There are 11 V-shaped black stripes on the body side. There is a large black spot at the base of the caudal fin and above the pectoral fin. On each side, there are two black stripes from the gill cover to the back of the eye.
Habitat distribution:
The Zhanggong fish inhabits areas with abundant aquatic plants in freshwater rivers and feeds on small fish. It is distributed in various regions south of the Yangtze River.
[Benefits and effects of the Zhanggong fish]
Nourishes yin and tonifies deficiency; strengthens bones and tendons. Mainly used for liver and kidney deficiency, lumbago, and weakness of the limbs.
"Luchuan Materia Medica": "Sweet and neutral in nature. Nourishes yin, strengthens bones and tendons. Treats yin deficiency and weakness of the limbs."
Application of the Zhanggong fish in traditional Chinese medicine:
1. For yin deficiency, weakness of the limbs, post-illness physical weakness, and post-surgery blood deficiency: Cook 100-200 grams of Zhanggong fish meat with seasonings and consume it cooked or as a porridge, 1-2 times a day. "Guangxi Medicinal Animals"
2. For insufficient postpartum milk production: Take 1 Zhanggong fish (about 500g), 250g of pig trotters, 30g of Codonopsis pilosula, and 30g of peanuts. Simmer the fish meat, pig trotters, and peanuts in water, and drink the soup. Take once a day for 7 days as one treatment course. "Diet Therapy and Medicinal Animals"
