There is something truly special about wild fish from the Amazon.
The rivers and tributaries of South America are home to some of the most incredible freshwater fish in the world. From beautifully patterned Corydoras and unusual plecos to rare tetras and other species that we may only encounter occasionally, the diversity coming out of the Amazon never ceases to amaze us.
For us, importing these fish has never been simply about bringing another shipment into Singapore. It is about having the opportunity to work with species from one of the most biodiverse freshwater ecosystems on Earth, and eventually being able to offer these amazing fish to our clients.
But over the past year, getting them from South America to Singapore has become increasingly challenging.
A 3–4 Day Journey to Singapore
By the time a wild fish arrives in Singapore, it may have already spent approximately 3–4 days travelling from the exporter's location.
Their journey can involve collection from remote areas, transportation to holding and export facilities, preparation for international shipment, multiple flights and transit points, before finally arriving in Singapore.
And getting the fish here is only half the job.
After such a long journey, proper acclimatisation becomes extremely important. The fish have experienced prolonged transportation, changing environments and considerable stress along the way.
Once they arrive, we take the time to carefully acclimatise them and monitor their condition. Administering the appropriate medication when required is also an important part of the process.
With wild fish especially, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Understanding the species, observing their behaviour and condition, and providing the right care during those first few days can make a huge difference in helping them settle into their new environment.
A Difficult Year for South American Imports
Over the past year, several events beyond our control have made importing from South America considerably more difficult.
Rising fuel and shipping costs have been one of the biggest challenges. With ongoing wars and geopolitical tensions affecting global fuel prices and aviation costs, international freight charges have surged. For live fish shipments travelling such a long distance, these increases can have a significant impact on the overall cost of bringing a shipment into Singapore.
Then came disruptions in air transportation.
The Lufthansa strikes created additional uncertainty for shipments travelling through Europe. When dealing with live animals, a flight cancellation or delay is very different from a delayed shipment of ordinary goods. Every additional hour matters, and alternative routes have to be considered carefully to minimise unnecessary transit time.
At the source, we also faced another major challenge — the IBAMA strike in Brazil.
Brazil's environmental authorities play an important role in regulating the legal trade and export of wildlife, including ornamental fish. Disruptions involving IBAMA affected the processing and movement of exports, adding another layer of uncertainty to an already complicated supply chain.
Sometimes the fish are available.
Sometimes the shipment is ready.
But that does not necessarily mean they can leave Brazil — or reach Singapore according to plan.
Why Do We Still Do It?
With rising freight costs, strikes, regulatory disruptions and the risks involved in transporting live fish halfway around the world, importing wild South American fish has certainly not become easier.
But every time a shipment arrives and we open the boxes, we are reminded why we continue doing it.
Seeing a species that we have been waiting months for finally arrive in Singapore is still exciting. Watching the fish recover from their journey, settle down, start feeding and eventually display their natural colours and behaviour makes all the challenges worthwhile.
More importantly, it gives us the opportunity to offer our clients something genuinely special.
Despite all the challenges over the past year, we still love bringing in these amazing South American fish.
It takes patience, careful planning, proper acclimatisation and sometimes quite a bit of persistence. But as long as we continue discovering incredible fish from the rivers of Amazonia, we will continue doing our best to bring them to Singapore.
Because sometimes, the most amazing fish are worth the journey. We did a short video with ShrimpMania, and you can find out more about us through his video here.