Why is spider glue so valuable?

Spider glue, also known as small-scaled croaker croaker, is mainly produced in Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam. However, products from Thailand and Indonesia are relatively rare, making them scarce and expensive in the market. In contrast, Vietnam is one of the main producing countries, and most spider glue found in the market is from Vietnam, which is relatively more affordable.

Spider glue is renowned for its remarkable therapeutic effects, showing significant efficacy in treating respiratory ailments such as bronchitis, cough, and asthma. Furthermore, it possesses multiple benefits including nourishing yin and kidneys, strengthening the stomach and lungs, invigorating essence and spleen, and replenishing blood and regulating qi. It is not only a precious medicinal material in Traditional Chinese Medicine but also an ideal choice for beauty, skin care, and overall health. Spider glue can enhance the body's immunity, prevent loss of appetite in children, and even play a positive role in treating diseases such as tuberculosis.

According to folk remedies, spider glue is effective in stopping bleeding in cases of pulmonary hemorrhage and gastric hemorrhage, and can also help the body recover.

Boesemania microlepis (Bleeker, 1858) is a species of fish belonging to the genus Boesemania in the family Sciaenidae.

The small-scaled croaker (Totoaba) is a relatively small but highly valuable fish. They are delicate in appearance, reaching up to 100 cm in length and weighing up to 18 kg. This small fish primarily inhabits brackish waters at river estuaries, feeding mainly on small, hard-shelled shrimp and crabs. The small-scaled croaker is migratory, able to live in various waters, and is commonly found in Asia, such as the Mekong, Chao Phraya, and Bang Pa-Kong rivers in Thailand.

Due to its delicious and tender flesh, this fish is rich in nutrients, especially its swim bladder, which has extremely high nutritional value. However, due to overfishing, this fish is now near endangered. Wild species have become rare, and the size and quantity of spider maw available on the market are gradually decreasing.

Only a few collectors still possess pure wild spider glue, and with each one consumed, the supply dwindles. As a result, the price of spider glue has skyrocketed, and many buyers and collectors are simply hoarding it.

Spider glue has a unique shape. Its tubular part without a swim bladder is shaped like a hammer (T-shape), its abdomen is bulging like a "poop," and its head has two protruding, round sides with two to six short "antennae" of different lengths. Its overall appearance is like that of a spider, hence the name "spider glue."

Because spider fish maw has "small whiskers" on its head, and because Chaoshan people highly value the golden threadfin maw which also has whiskers, spider fish maw is also known as "small golden threadfin maw".