Spider fish maw ranks third among the five famous fish maws. Fishermen in Malaysia and Indonesia call its fish species ikan Tirusan, and in Indonesian vernacular it is usually called Terusan or Titusan. Among the Chinese-descendant fishermen living nearshore in Southeast Asia, most hail from the Chaoshan or Fujian regions; the pronunciation of Titu is very similar to the word for spider in the Chaoshan dialect. Hence, this fish maw is named "spider fish maw."
Traditional practice attributes yin- and kidney-nourishing, stomach, lung, essence, spleen, blood and qi effects to spider fish maw, together with beauty and body-strengthening uses. The source also claims it treats bronchitis, cough and childhood asthma. These are traditional claims, not medical advice.
The source cites folk examples claiming that spider fish maw stops pulmonary or gastric bleeding and speeds recovery. These are unverified traditional treatment claims, not medical advice.
Identifying Features
1. The shape of an unopened spider fish maw is as described above and is significantly different from other types of fish maw, very unique and easy to identify. The entire shape is unforgettable, and one more point: its back often contains hidden fascia.
2. The trade classifies spider fish maw as 'male' or 'female.' The 'male' type has alternating thick and thin flesh and a concealed central tendon, while the 'female' type lacks that tendon. The source says Hong Kong buyers often prefer the 'male' type for its smoother texture, greater elasticity and toughness.
For decades, spider fish maw weighing more than 5 taels has been rare in the market, and pieces of 3–4 taels are already very uncommon, indicating a medium-to-small rather than large fish species. The source says market pieces have become smaller and scarcer, describes the species as near threatened, and notes that pieces over 1 tael are collected as premium items. It links declining wild supply with relatively high prices; this conservation and market status is the source's account.
Chaoshan buyers traditionally value Golden Coin Croaker fish maw with whisker-like features. Spider fish maw has two rounded lobes with about 2–6 short, fine whiskers and is therefore also called 'Little Golden Coin.' The source says its price rose over the preceding decade and reports that, at a 2012 international food expo in Hong Kong, a pair of arm-length 'male' spider fish maw was priced at 680,000; the currency is not stated in the source.
The spider fish maw on the market is mixed with various qualities. If the price is relatively cheap, it is often because some merchants are taking advantage of the fame of spider fish maw by passing off other types of fish maw (such as yellow croaker fish maw). To imitate its appearance, sometimes fishermen will cut two small mustaches from the head of yellow croaker fish maw when taking and drying the maw, making its shape more similar to spider fish maw.
Fish Maw Selling Service
Kam Hoi Shing is a professional buyback firm dedicated to buying back various rare and high-quality fish maw products.
Learn more about fish maw buyback
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- Want to compare cordyceps origins? See: Cordyceps as a Premium Dried Product: Traditional Claims and the Limits of Modern Evidence
- For checks before selling dried abalone, see: "Head Count" Determines Value: How to Calculate the Buyback Market of Idle Dried Abalone at Home?
Preparation of Information Before Selling Fish Maw
For a fish maw appraisal, photograph the thickness of the fish-maw body, colour, edges and any dampness, then send the images via WhatsApp for a preliminary indication of buyback grade.
Kam Hoi Shing dried-seafood buyback
WhatsApp: (852) 69035182
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