At a time when the Indian market is dominated by over 300 exotic ornamental fish species, with an annual turnover of ₹20 crore, the Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (CIBA) has come out with five brackishwater ornamental fish species as an alternative.
“We have succeeded in captive breeding of these species and also developed the feed. We are also ready to offer assistance to develop aquariums and other hardware like water purifiers,” said K.K. Vijayan, Director, CIBA. Aquariums adorning the lobby of the CIBA are an envy of every ornamental fish enthusiast and occupying them are Spotted Scat, Silver Moony, Pearlspot (famous as kari meen), Orange Chromide and Crescent Perch.
The brackishwater ornamental fish offer an alternative since keeping many marine species is illegal and their maintenance is costly
Dr. Vijayan said juveniles of Chanos (milk fish) are also a brilliant choice because of their bright silver colour. Another option is Canara pearlspot.
Breeding more
“Research on breeding economically important brackishwater food fishes which can double up as ornamental species is on,” Dr. Vijayan said.
CIBA scientists - Krishna Sukumaran, Rekha M.U., Dani Thomas, S.N. Sethi, K. Vasagam and M. Kailasam - along with Dr. Vijayan have also prepared a paper on brackishwater ornamental fish species.
“The merit of the brackishwater ornamental species is that they are easily adaptable to freshwater, brackishwater and marine,” they said.
They can be kept in brackishwater or backwater or sea water diluted with fresh water in a ratio of 1:5. Keeping them is rewarding in terms of sustainable development of the local ornamental fish market. “Though India has enormous diversity and wealth of fish, its share in ornamental fish trade is just 0.1% of the global trade,” they said.