In their research entitled the "Production of Fish Leather from the Skin of Hypostomus Plecostomus" (suckermouth catfish or janitor fish), Manila Science High School seniors Enrico Ceguerra, Antonio Jose Damasco and Lowell Frederick Madrilleno said the skin of the fish could be made into coin purses, wallets and key chains, to name a few.

According to Madrilleno, the purpose of the project is for them "to find a use for the janitor fish" which is commonly regarded "as a pest."

As a backgrounder, Madrilleno said the fish did not originate in the Marikina River and was just introduced there by hobbyists. "Because of that, nasira yung ecosystem (of the river because) nag-multiply sila kung saan-saan and up to now, wala pa ring makitang gamit (for the janitor fish) even for food kasi very dirty sila so we made leather out of janitor fish," Madrilleno said.

The researchers said they used chemical and vegetable tanning to produce leather products from the janitor fish.

"We got help from a cannery to give us some ideas about the methodology applied," he said. "We also conducted tests at the Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI) of the Bureau of Standards and Testing and we found that the janitor fish scales are comparable to polyethylene or hard plastics."

The researchers admitted that the most difficult part of the project was catching the janitor fish. "A part (of it) is very sharp so when you use a weak net, it would tear it apart. Once you get the skin, it’s very easy. You just dip it at home, shake it once in a while, and after one week, when you put it out, (the leather is) very thick," said Madrilleno.

He said the skin is treated with oil to remove the smell because the fish’s scales smell bad just like the hide of a cow. But when the skin is treated with chemicals, the foul odor is removed, he said.

The researchers said unlike cow leather, the janitor fish leather did not take long to process since the fish’s skin is thinner.

But despite the thinness of the janitor fish skin, "kasing lakas nya yung polyethylene," Madrilleno said.

"It’s faster to prepare compared to cow leather, kasi cow leather must be tanned for two weeks to one month but this one, you can do it at home as long as you have the necessary chemicals for only one week," he said.

Aside from the production of leather out of janitor fish skin, the researchers said they are also looking at the possibility of conducting a research on the use of the janitor fish’s cartilage as glue.

For now, interested investors could already produce novelty items out of the janitor fish. "We are exploring its cartilage if it can be used as glue or as plastic," he said.

Madrilleno noted that "if you cut the fish, konti lang naman yung laman niya (inside), puro cartilage."

The researchers said the Marikina government uses the meat of the janitor fish as fertilizer after processing it.

"Our next step is to find use for the cartilage," the researchers said. "Okay lang siya for novelty items. We have not explored its (other) uses (since) the janitor fish only grows up from 25 to 30 centimeters (or from) 14 to 18 (inches) so it’s not that large compared to the standard cow skin. Small items (can be made out of it like) key chains, purses, and coin purses," the researchers said.

They said janitor fish leather is cheaper to make because it entails a shorter processing period. Even the chemicals used are in smaller amount compared to those used in processing cow skin, Madrilleno said.

The research project, which was entered in the Technology Application and Promotion Institute — Department of Science and Technology (TAPI – DoST)’s Luzon invention contest last year, was hailed as one of the finalists for the Sibol (Outstanding Student Creative Research) Award during the 2005 National Invention Contest, which coincided with the National Inventors’ Week.