Have you ever heard of stone-sucking fish? This is a species of fish that looks terrifying but is extremely expensive and nutritious, usually only appearing at the luxurious parties of ancient kings. Join us to learn about stone-sucking fish in today’s article.
1 What is a Stone-Sucking Fish?
The stone-sucking fish, also known as the lamprey, is an ancient creature that has survived to the present day. They first appeared on Earth over 300 million years ago.
Stone-sucking fish are parasitic
The stone-sucking fish is also known as the ninja fish, with the scientific name Petromyzon marinus. It is a parasitic fish that attaches itself to other fish using its mouth.
Characteristics of Stone-Sucking Fish
The stone-sucking fish has a rather long body, with an average length of up to 90cm when fully grown.
Stone-sucking fish have smooth skin
The stone-sucking fish has smooth skin, a system that secretes mucus along the length of its body, a round and fat shape, and no bones—only white cartilage throughout its body.
The stone-sucking fish is usually brown-white or gray-black on its back and belly.
Where Do Stone-Sucking Fish Live?
Stone-sucking fish are typically found in the coastal waters of the Atlantic Ocean in Europe and North America, the western Mediterranean, and the Great Lakes.
They live at a depth of 4,000 meters below sea level and can tolerate temperatures between 1–20 °C. They like to dig holes and bury themselves in mud or sand.
Stone-sucking fish like to dig and bury themselves in mud or sand
What Do Stone-Sucking Fish Eat?
The stone-sucking fish feeds mainly at night, preying on small crustaceans, shrimp, fish fry, and other small deep-sea creatures.
Stone-sucking fish feed on small crustaceans, shrimp, fish fry, and other small deep-sea creatures
As a parasitic species, they can also absorb nutrients by attaching themselves to other fish and sucking out their nutrients.
Interestingly, they can go for months without eating and still survive due to their slow metabolism.
Are Stone-Sucking Fish Dangerous?
With their frightening appearance, they have earned a spot on the list of the top 10 ugliest fish in the world. Just hearing their name or seeing their picture is enough to make them seem dangerous.
Stone-sucking fish are not dangerous
In reality, they are completely harmless. Stone-sucking fish are extremely useful as they feed on dead marine animals, helping to clean up the marine environment.
2 How to Prepare and Cook Stone-Sucking Fish
Although stone-sucking fish have an unattractive appearance, when cooked, their flesh turns a beautiful pinkish-white color, and it is chewy, similar to chicken, with a delicate fragrance.
How to Clean and Prepare Stone-Sucking Fish
Since stone-sucking fish are a marine species, the process of removing their fishy smell is similar to that of other saltwater fish. You can use hot water to rinse the fish and then use a knife to scrape off the mucus.
Alternatively, you can soak the fish in a diluted salt solution or rice water for 15 minutes and then rinse it off. This will also help to eliminate any fishy odor.
Ingredients for cleaning and preparing stone-sucking fish
You can also use ingredients with a sour taste, such as vinegar or lemon juice. Soak the fish in vinegar or rub lemon on its surface to remove mucus and neutralize the fishy smell.
White wine is another useful ingredient in the cleaning process. Wine can dissolve the odor-causing compounds in the fish meat, so try washing and marinating the fish in wine.
Delicious Dishes Made with Stone-Sucking Fish
In countries like Japan, Korea, and Taiwan, stone-sucking fish are commonly consumed. However, in Vietnam, we have only been eating this fish for a few years. Here are some dishes made with stone-sucking fish for your reference.
Grilled Stone-Sucking Fish with Salt and Chili
Grilled dishes are always popular due to their enticing aroma and appealing appearance. When grilled with salt and chili, the fragrant fish meat combines with the spicy chili, creating a delicious and flavorful dish.
Simply clean the stone-sucking fish, marinate it with chili, chili powder, salt, sugar, monosodium glutamate, and seasoning powder, and then grill it to a golden color.
Grilled stone-sucking fish with salt and chili
Enjoying grilled stone-sucking fish with salt and chili on rainy or cold winter days will create a cozy and unique dining experience.
Stone-Sucking Fish Stewed with Banana and Tofu
The stewed fish broth is sweet and savory, rich in spices, and fragrant with perilla and herbs, making it irresistible to anyone who catches a whiff.
Stone-sucking fish stewed with banana and tofu
Marinate the fish with turmeric, ginger, shrimp paste, pepper, and shallots, and then stew it with green bananas. When serving, add fried tofu and herbs to create a dish that captivates both the eyes and the palate.
Stir-Fried Stone-Sucking Fish with Lemongrass and Chili
This is a familiar cooking method that stimulates the taste buds with the tingling spiciness of lemongrass and chili, combined with the chewy sweetness of the fish meat. It’s a dish that’s hard to resist.
Stir-fried stone-sucking fish with lemongrass and chili
Cut the stone-sucking fish into bite-sized pieces, marinate with spices, fry garlic and chili, and then stir-fry with the fish, seasoning to taste. Let it simmer for about 5 minutes over low heat, and then add some herbs before serving.
3 Where to Buy Stone-Sucking Fish and Price Range
Price of Stone-Sucking Fish
In the market, stone-sucking fish are typically sold at a price range of 150,000 – 300,000 VND/kg ($6.25 – $12.50). This is for fresh fish that has been cleaned and prepared, ready to be cooked and enjoyed.
Where to Buy Stone-Sucking Fish
In cities, if you want to taste stone-sucking fish meat, you’ll need to visit upscale restaurants that offer this delicacy.
To buy fresh live stone-sucking fish, you’ll need to contact fishermen specializing in catching them in the South-Central region of Vietnam.
Additionally, you can pre-order stone-sucking fish at large seafood markets in your area.
Stone-sucking fish are expensive and hard to find
So, through this article, you now know what a stone-sucking fish is and some interesting facts about them. Stay tuned for more informative articles like this one!
Frequently asked questions
The stone-sucking fish, also known as the lamprey or ninja fish, is an ancient parasitic creature with the scientific name Petromyzon marinus. It has a long body, smooth skin, and can attach itself to other fish to absorb nutrients.
Stone-sucking fish have an average length of up to 90cm when fully grown. They have smooth skin, a system that secretes mucus, a round and fat shape, and no bones—only white cartilage throughout their bodies. They are typically brown-white or gray-black on their backs and bellies.
They are found in coastal waters of the Atlantic Ocean in Europe and North America, the western Mediterranean, and the Great Lakes. Stone-sucking fish live at depths of 4,000 meters below sea level and can tolerate temperatures between 1–20 °C. They have a habit of digging and burying themselves in mud or sand.
Stone-sucking fish feed mainly at night, preying on small crustaceans, shrimp, fish fry, and other small deep-sea creatures. As parasites, they can also attach themselves to other fish and absorb their nutrients. They have a slow metabolism and can go for months without eating.
Despite their frightening appearance, stone-sucking fish are completely harmless. They are beneficial to the marine environment as they feed on dead animals and help clean the sea.
To prepare the fish, remove the fishy smell by rinsing it with hot water or soaking it in a diluted salt solution. You can also use ingredients like vinegar, lemon juice, or white wine to neutralize the odor. When cooked, the flesh turns a pinkish-white color and has a chewy texture similar to chicken.
In some countries, stone-sucking fish are commonly consumed. You can try grilling the fish with salt and chili, stewing it with banana and tofu, or stir-frying it with lemongrass and chili. These dishes offer a unique dining experience with a combination of flavors and aromas.
You can find stone-sucking fish in upscale restaurants or buy fresh live fish from specialized fishermen in the South-Central region of Vietnam. The price range is typically 150,000 – 300,000 VND/kg ($6.25 – $12.50) for cleaned and prepared fish.
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