Latest fad among Chinese teen girls - wearing live fish as jewellery!

Melbourne, July 26 : Forget gold, silver or diamonds, the latest jewellery fad among teenage girls in China's Chengdu is "live fish".

Much to the disappointment of marine biologists, the youngsters are standing in long queues to buy plastic pendants containing the small marine creatures.

Vendors say the fish can live up to three months in the sealed containers, which contain water, fish food and two solid oxygen balls.

After three months the fish can be released in ponds or tanks by breaking open the pendants, reports the Daily Telegraph.

The ornaments, which cost less than 50cents each, are popular as necklaces or bag decorations.

But an expert at the Sichuan Provincial Marine Life Research Center says the practice is cruel and should be banned.

ANI