Ornamental fish dying en masse due to lack of power

Typhoon Soudelor may have spared human lives when it hit Saipan on Aug. 3 but it has not been as forgiving with the island’s pet fish population, wiping out many koi fish, goldfish, and other ornamental fish.

The most destructive typhoon so far this year also caused extensive damage at Glory Pet Shop, the remaining pet shop on the island located in San Vicente.

With still no power and water supply, freshwater aquarium fish hobbyists and owners, who were unprepared for the destructive typhoon, looked in vain for battery-operated water pumps around the island to save their pets.

The lack of battery-operated water pumps has caused the deaths of many aquarium fish, particularly koi and goldfish.

Jinghai Jin of Glory Pet Shop points to the debris in front of their store after Typhoon Soudelor blew out the tin roof of their shop. (Ferdie de la Torre)

Jack Phan, owner of Dollar Days, which also sells ornamental fish, aquarium, and accessories, told Saipan Tribune that a few days after Soudelor, all their 15 battery-operated water pumps were sold out.

In fact, up to now, many customers are still coming to their store, looking for battery-operated water pumps, Phan said.

He said that over 30 kois at one hotel were wiped out, apparently due to insufficient oxygen in their water supply. Many other customers have informed him that their kois and goldfish died too.

“Kois and goldfish are sensitive because they need sufficient oxygen,” he explained.

Phan said other fish such as guppies, molly, and sword tails have survived because they don’t need much oxygen.

He said koi and goldfish would die after an hour or two if the tanks have no sufficient oxygen.

After the typhoon, Phan immediately put his kois and goldfish in their outdoor pond.

He advised fish lovers and hobbyists to prepare in case of typhoon such as Soudelor by purchasing battery-operated water pumps in case of a long power outage.

“Don’t wait for the last minute,” he said.

Phan said if fish owners need help to save their fish, they can contact him for a deal. He said he is willing to keep their fish alive because no one can tell how long this power outage would last.

For those who want to donate their fish, they can give it to Phan as he has a big pond.

Damage to pet shop

The powerful winds brought by Soudelor blew out the tin roof of Glory Pet Shop, killing seven kois that measured one and a half feet each and damaging small aquariums and aquarium accessories and food.

Jinghai Jin of Glory Pet Shop said one battery-operated water pump was sold after the typhoon while the last one got damaged.

Jin said they did not stock battery-operated water pumps because no one was buying it before the typhoon.

“After the typhoon, plenty customers are asking for battery-operated pumps because their fish are dying,” she said.

Jin said one customer lost one big koi.

Jin agreed with Phan that kois and goldfish easily died because they need sufficient oxygen.

At their shop, she said, some silver sharks died, while others have survived.

She said they didn’t have any goldfish when the typhoon struck.

Her husband, Jun Lee, has already cancelled their shipment from South Korea due to the typhoon.

Jin also advised fish owners to buy battery-operated water pumps to prepare in case of another disaster.