Scientists in the Philippines had planned to breed a rare “golden” bangus, but the lone specimen has died due to an equipment malfunction.
Chief of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Dagupan City, Dr. Westly Rosario believes that the rare golden bangus succumbed to a lack of dissolved oxygen, caused by a clog in the pump intake that was continuously feeding seawater into its holding pond. Rosario said that the filter had filled with sand, preventing water from entering the pond.
The plan for the rare golden fish was to breed it with the common silver bangus when it turned five years old, which is the age of sexual maturity for the species. Unfortunately, the golden bangus was only 16 months old and had only been in the facility for 40 days when it died.
According to Inquirer News, this specimen was the only golden bangus ever documented in the Philippines, where it was hailed as a sign of good luck.
The yellow color of the fish was believed to be similar to albinism, in which a congenital variation causes the pigment of the skin to appear milky or yellowed.
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