Indian beauties for foreign glass tanks

Chennai: India is waking up to yet another business opportunity — aquariums. The global trade in the ornamental fish that people like to see floating around glass tanks in homes, offices, hotels and public places is estimated at Rs 5,000 crore, of which India has a minuscule Rs 2 crore. This is despite the country's tropical climate, varied freshwater sources, and 7,000-km coastline.

But all this may change soon. Because of the initiatives to take advantage of the global demand for tropical fish and the growing interest in aquariums among consumers in India. Today, one can see aquariums inside and outside offices, hospitals and airports; aquariums have become the in thing for plush interiors.

Aquariums are becoming popular inside homes too, with fish being considered agreeable pets. “Unlike dogs and cats, these are not messy, nor costly, to maintain. Moreover, you don't get emotionally attached to them. If one of them dies, you just throw it out and replace it,“ says a hobbyist. And except for changing the tank water, there is no major labour involved.

Harmless pets
“Watching them soothes my frazzled nerves. It is the only way of having silent pets,“ says S Sumathi, a 45-year-old housewife. The import of aerators and other tank accessories in recent times has made the hobby even more popular, adds Rabi Venkatesan, a Chennai-based fish farm owner.

On the commercial front, the ornamental / tropical fish trade is a growing business with Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai and Kochi turning out to be the major hubs. Industry players indicate Goa is also set to join the big league. By rough estimates, there are 150 fulltime and 1,500 part-time breeders. And the tribe is growing.