Back to my childhood, I was fortunate enough to live in the house nearby a small canal. Every rainy season, the canal would flood over my house for at least 1 or 2 months long. That period of time was the fish’s mating season as well. As children, therefore, it’s the most enjoyable time for us, too. I and my brother wandered here and there to catch various kinds of fish. We caught them all no matter what species, sizes and shapes they were, but none of them could grab my attention so long like “plagud”. With a distinctive shape, agile movement as well as active and aggressive character, I was passionate.

For me, plagud was the most beautiful fish in the world. Everyday after school, I would hurry back home to watch them.

Because of our youth and curiosity, we had taken plagud to fight as other adults did. Suddenly, I had to be astonished with their courage and resilience which made them best fit to the name, “Siamese fighting fish” given by foreign observers. And this was the charm that had lured me to plagud ever since.

One afternoon at Jatuchak Weekend Market, I accidentally passed by plagud zone where one of my old friends opened a shop. Therefore, I decided to visit him.
I had to be astonished again. This time I was surprised by the evolution of their modern appearances and innovative colors. Not only the shapes but the varieties of species of plagud had also been developed.

That day I spent the whole afternoon at plagud shops and finally bought two male plaguds for my boys.
The two flaming-red plaguds did not disappoint me because both of my boys, Kwan (12 years old) and Saran (2 years old) kept staring at them intently for more than an hour before they could leave. But, then, it was me who watched them all night long after that.

The passed time couldn’t change my mind. Instead, I became even more committed to seriously study Thai plagud. I commenced from reading a lot of textbooks and then tried to gather as much information as possible by searching any written articles available and inquiring the specialists, such as marine professors, farm owners and plagud sellers. After studying, I found that to own and raise plagud in a sanitary and hygienic environment is so simple. All I need is just a small jar of clean water, ten grains of fish food daily, and weekly water changing. It is almost budget-free when compare to other ornamental fish that require a big tank together with filters, electric oxygen and other fancy trappings like colorful seaweeds, stones, pebbles and so on.
I had fed and tested them for some time until I reached the level of an amateur breeder. The fish I could breed are struck in both shape and color, and soon they become too numerous to be fed in my condominium.

To share life with plagud by raising and breeding them is great fun. It is quite exciting and challenging activity. Everyone who is interested in them can feed or breed them easily at your house like I did.
This book has a lot of interesting plagud knowledge. You can find all the necessary information needed to start raising plagud as well as everything that you want to know about them. This book can provide you a brief history of the evolution of Siamese fighting fish from the earliest time. You can learn the relationship between Siamese fighting fish and Thai culture, and you yourself will find out that plagud has played an important role in Thai culture for a long time.

This book will show you the pictures of various authentic species and newly-developed species, as well as Thai breeding plagud methods that has been developed gradually until they are standardized and have high quality enough to export. These Thai methods presenting in the book are so easy that you can apply them to your own home.
Moreover, this book also includes other knowledge like the diseases of plagud and the ways to cure them as well. It also provides you the information about the criteria used to judge plagud in plagud contests, the lists of Thai plagud exporters, and finally, the pictures of rare and extraordinary plagud species in Thailand.

It is the greatest honor for me to have a chance to share my impression in plagud with all of you who are the plagud-lovers like me. I do hope you find this book informative and inspired.

*The book is available now!!