Unveiling the King of Top-Tier Seafood: Why is the Rarity and Value of "Spider Glue" Second Only to Golden Gizzard?
The Throne of Rarity – The Ranking and Origin of Spider Glue
In the world of seafood collecting, fish maw is strictly graded, and spider maw is among the five famous types of maw. Its rarity value ranks third, only after the legendary golden croaker maw (large yellow croaker maw) and house maw .
Spider glue is mainly produced in Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Its original fish species is the small-scaled boetoad ( Boesemania microlepis ), a fish classified as a high-value food fish. However, due to years of overfishing, the small-scaled boetoad population has drastically declined and is now considered near endangered . This has directly led to a year-on-year decrease in spider glue production, and the size and weight of the glue are also decreasing.
In the market, wild spider glue weighing over one tael (approximately 50 grams) has become a highly prized item among connoisseurs and is mostly collected. For decades, spider glue weighing more than five taels (approximately 250 grams) has rarely appeared on the market, and those weighing three or four taels (approximately 150-200 grams) are extremely rare. This characteristic of "rarity makes it valuable" has established the unshakeable top-tier status of spider glue, making it the most valuable fish glue for investment and collection after golden threadfin.
Key to identification – physical characteristics and the extraordinary value of the male's belly
For Jin Haisheng, a professional recycler, accurate identification is the core of assessing the value of spider glue. Spider glue got its name partly from its unique appearance, and partly from the fact that the Chaoshan or Fujian fishermen named it after the Chaoshan word "Titu" (a fish species name) which sounds similar to "spider."
1. The Origin of the Special Shape and the "Small Coins"
Unopened spider maw has a very distinctive shape, resembling a hammer or a T-shape . Its head has two outward-bulging, rounded sides, accompanied by two to six short, fine whiskers. Because the Chaoshan people highly value top-grade golden threadfin maw, which also has whiskers, spider maw is also known as "small golden threadfin."
2. The difference between male and female bellies
Spider worms come in male and female varieties, with Hong Kong people particularly favoring the male variety . The male variety is characterized by its **"thicker flesh" —the middle of the belly is thicker, while the sides are thinner, and a subtle, non-exposed tendon runs along the center . Conversely, the female variety lacks this tendon. Hong Kong people prefer the male variety because of its smoother texture and superior elasticity and resilience compared to the female variety.
Professional advice: Due to the high price of spider glue, many vendors on the market will try to pass it off as other fish glues such as yellow croaker glue. Some fishermen will even cut out "whiskers" to imitate the appearance of spider glue. Therefore, a professional eye for identification is crucial.
Investment potential – a testament to sky-high market prices
Spider glue enjoys a high reputation in Hong Kong and other places, and its price has been on the rise for the past ten years.
Its top value has been fully demonstrated on the international stage: In the VIP food area of the Hong Kong International Food Expo in 2012, a pair of spider-shaped male calves, each as long as an arm, were priced at RMB 680,000 (estimated at the exchange rate on that day, which is extremely valuable and reflects its collectible value).
The high price and continuous appreciation trend make spider glue a kind of "liquid gold" with investment value , worthy of being collected by experts and enthusiasts.
A Treasure Trove of Health Preservation – A Combination of Traditional Efficacy and Modern Science
The popularity of fish maw is largely due to its efficacy. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that fish maw can nourish the kidneys and strengthen essence, nourish tendons and veins, and nourish blood and stop bleeding .
Spider glue possesses various health benefits , including nourishing yin and kidneys, nourishing the stomach and lungs, strengthening the spleen and replenishing blood and regulating qi. It is not only a choice for beauty and health, but traditional medicinal experience also indicates that spider glue has excellent hemostatic effects on symptoms such as pulmonary hemorrhage and gastric hemorrhage , helping the body recover quickly. In the Chaoshan region, it is even known as the **"life-saving glue"**. Furthermore, it is remarkably effective in treating bronchitis, coughs, and childhood asthma.
Scientific endorsement: Analysis of amino acid composition
Modern scientific research provides a material basis for the nourishing effects of fish maw:
- High amino acid content: Fish bladders are very rich in total amino acids. The average total amino acid content of 16 batches of commercially available fish bladder samples reached $539.47 mg/g .
- Dominant amino acids: The five most abundant dominant amino acids in fish swim bladders include glycine (Gly), proline (Pro), arginine (Arg), glutamic acid (Glu), and alanine (Ala), which account for 60.42% to 69.61% of the total.
- Supporting traditional efficacy: Fish maw is high in arginine (average approximately $56.26 mg/g). Arginine can significantly improve sperm count and motility, consistent with the clinical experience of using fish maw to treat male infertility caused by oligospermia and low sperm motility.
In addition, the main protein in fish swim bladders is type I collagen , and as many as 11 other types of collagen have also been identified, as well as non-collagen proteins such as keratin that make up the cytoskeleton. This provides a scientific basis for their ability to nourish tendons and repair wounds.
Jin Haisheng's Professional Perspective: Consumer Safety and Seafood Recycling
As a professional seafood merchant, Jin Haisheng not only has expertise in identifying top-quality fish maw, but also focuses on the health and safety of the entire seafood industry.
According to the investigation and analysis of the heavy metal content of commercially available fresh aquatic products, although the total average values of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and methylmercury (Me-Hg) in the 250 aquatic product samples tested all met the then-current "Hygienic Standards for Aquatic Animals", the heavy metal accumulation patterns of different fish species were different.
- Methylmercury (Me-Hg) risk: Large pelagic predatory fish , such as sailfish (highest detectable value $0.83 mmol/L) and sharks, have the highest levels of methylmercury. This is because they are at the top of the food chain and accumulate high levels of mercury in their bodies.
- Cadmium (Cd) risk: Shellfish and cephalopods (such as squid, scallops, and oysters) have significantly higher average cadmium levels than fish. The highest cadmium level ever recorded in squid was $1.110 g/g.
Jin Haisheng's consumer advice: Although commercially available products meet standards, to protect their health, pregnant women and children , who are more susceptible to the effects of methylmercury, should pay attention to their intake and avoid consuming too much large predatory fish. Consumers who do not have a particular preference for shrimp, crab, or large predatory fish do not need to worry excessively about ingesting high levels of the metal.
Choose Jin Haisheng to realize its collectible value.
The exceptional value of spider maw stems from the rarity of the fish species it comes from, the superior taste of the male's maw, its long history of medicinal use, and its ever-increasing market price. Jin Hai Sheng, a professional Hong Kong-based buyback company, is dedicated to recycling various rare, high-quality fish maw products, including spider maw males. With our professional expertise, we ensure your collectibles (regardless of age, size, or condition) receive the fairest and most competitive buyback price.
Jin Haisheng Professional Recycling Service (Call to Action)
Don't let your prized seafood go to waste. If you have any unused premium spider maw, golden threadfin maw, or other high-quality fish maw, please contact Jin Haisheng .
We promise: professional valuation, immediate quote, and the best price.
Company Name: Jin Haisheng
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