Netizens shocked by man who ate a $900 aquarium luohan fish that he bought

This man surely has an expensive and strange taste.

Mr Muhammad Firdaus Othman from Perak had no qualms about blowing RM2,845 (S$909) on an aquarium flowerhorn fish - popularly known as the luohan, and prized for its colourful beauty and supposed ability to bring good luck.

What the 28-year-old motoring re-styling businessman did subsequently sparked outrage and disgust online.

In a short video posted on his Facebook page on July 12, he showed how he prepared the fish to be cooked, showing off the distinctive hump on its head, which he had trimmed away because it was just "fat".

He then seasoned the fish with turmeric before frying it. Next, he and his friends digged in.

The thought of eating an animal that is widely kept as a pet might cause many people to lean over the sink, but not Muhammad. To him, a fish is a fish.

His verdict of the exorbitant meal? "Super delicious", "tasty, sweet and juicy" and nicer than tilapia, he declared.

[embed]https://www.facebook.com/ausoth/posts/1555835804490909[/embed]

He told the Sinar Harian newspaper he "didn't think anything strange" about eating the fish, adding that they have not had any side effects so far.

In another post on July 14, Muhammad listed several points as an apparent response to his critics who thought what he did was cruel and bizarre.

"What do u mean cannot be eaten (sic)? Fish is (a) kind of food, that vivid and beautiful look doesnt mean you can't touch it...Why eat this fish? What?..why not..lol," he wrote.

There was talk about people eating Arowana, another ornamental fish, in the past.

The video of Muhammad preparing the fish for cooking was viewed over 4 million times since last Wednesday and his post on the flowerhorn experience has been shared more than 23,000 times.

If attention was what he wanted to seek with his post, he certainly has got it.

chenj@sph.com.sg