Photos by Nandini P.S.
Our very own Chennai, the hub of the aquaculture industry with the largest number of aqua farms and aquariums in the country, recently hosted the first ever aqua show of the country at the grand venue Valluvar Kottam, which itself has a great history and background, built to pay homage to the great classical poet and saint, Thiruvalluvar with his famous Thirukkurals encrypted on the front hall corridors.
The venue, Valluvar Kottam, bustled with thousands of people from various parts of the city all along the five-day period of the Aqua show, starting from October 1. The Lake First Main Road was jam-packed with vehicles right from 10am till 8 in the evening. The show was organised by the Chennai Aquarium Development and Traders Association (CADTA) and was sponsored by BOYU and co-sponsored by MPEDA.
This show was an excellent opportunity to educate oneself on the various types of fishes and also how to maintain fish tanks at home and office, so that one’s pets don’t die within a few weeks or months of purchase but live on. The show displayed around 100 stalls, all having different varieties of fishes. Fishes were not only displayed in fish tanks but some varieties were on display in tubs with little fountains, probably to keep the flow of water.
The fishes were of all types, sizes, each having its own distinct, special feature. The Black Phantom, Tiger Oscar, Silver Oscar, Senegal, Flower Horn or the Vaastu Fish, the snake–like, Albino Flower Horn, Telescopic Gold, Neon Texas were some fishes displayed in the first few stalls. Red Cap Gold, Bubble-eye Gold, Veil –Tail Gold, Blue Dolphin nose, Tricolor Angel, X-Ray Exhibitor Aqua star, Electric Eel were some of the varieties of fishes displayed, with marked distinct features as their names suggest.
Blue Aqua star(1ft), Heyfin Leopard Cat(1.5ft), Albino Devil(1.8ft), Red Oscar(2ft), Albino Cat Fish(3 ft), Aqua star(4ft) were some of the big-sized fishes. Tiger Shark and Albino Tiger Shark are each 3ft long.
Apart from fishes and sharks, the show also had The World’s Best Molded Aquarium on display and a LCD monitor was on, picturing different varieties of fishes with a little information no them too. Stalls of different breeding companies with aquarium plants, aquariums, water treatment equipment, backgrounds for aquariums, fish foods, health and treatment products (medicine, chemicals, drugs etc.), aquarium accessories, books and periodicals were put up for hobbyists.
The show proved to be a great success with people pouring in from every nook and corner of the city. I am sure it has made an impact on the ornamental fishing trade industry in Chennai, with the common man getting educated about aquaculture.
So, if you are crazy about fishes and would love to have an aquarium at home, then I am sorry to tell you that you have missed a truly golden opportunity to learn more about the various types of fishes and probably choose among them, which one you would prefer to have as a pet. Better luck next time!
Saniya joined the Team YOCee as Student Reporter for the year 2007 – 08. She continues to report for YOCee since then.
Saniya is a student of Padma Seshadri Bal Bhavan, Nungambakkam branch. She has a concern for the world around her. Protection of environment and making young people aware of the benefits of green and pollution-free environment is her mission. She writes on her blog – http://aspireblog.wordpress.com/