Aqua mania: When fashion meets passion.

Ever thought what could make your neighbors’ eye pop out with envy? Ever dreamt of decorating your drawing room with a Mercedes, nay, a Maybach? Maybe sporting your very own Kohinoor in your bedroom is also your fantasy? Welcome to the world of aquariums, where today, hobbyist (aquarists) sport so much more, with the wide collection of exotic fish available in India, in recent times.

One such fish, the Flowerhorn, represents a class of its own. Flowerhorns are ornamental aquarium fish noted for their vivid colors and the distinctively shaped heads for which they are named. This fish does not exist in nature but it is a hybrid result of various cross-breeding of South America cichlids. Flowerhorn breeding dates from 1993, in Malaysia. The fish has a hump known as “Kok” on its forehead, similar to the forehead of the Chinese God of Longevity.

The high forehead of a Flowerhorn also symbolizes a cool, calm and stable mountain. A fully developed hump on the Flowerhorn's head is believed to bring its owner prosperity, luck and longevity. The black markings on the fish’s body known as flower or “hua”, resembles Chinese characters. According to the Malaysian-Chinese tradition, its red eyes are believed to ward off evil. These superstitious, its relative exoticness in terms of availability and its highly aggressive yet playful nature made it an instant favorite among mature hobbyist.

In their childhood, looking at the fish makes one reflect upon the “ugly duckling story” where the ugly duckling on growing up becomes the elegant and beautiful swan. The same can be said of the Flowerhorn who when juvenile are not too attractive, but will catch the fancy of every eye once they mature. The Flowerhorn is a rather hardy fish, but to bring out the best of looks, a lot of care and cash needs to be invested. Frequent water changes, proper diet (high quality fish pellets and periodic treats of beef liver, prawns and live fishes).
Maintaining the perfect water conditions (filtration, aeration, Ph level, temperature) become crucial to bring out the beauty in the fish.
Of course, not only care, but genes also play a huge role in the beauty of the fish, especially in the beauty of its Kok. The overall beauty of the fish can create an adult(12-15 inch) with a price tag of Rs. 20,000 to over a Lakh while quality juveniles (1-2 inch) are available for around Rs.1000. Males being more beautiful, are costlier.

Today the aquarium hobbyists of Kolkata have matured. More and more hobbyists are exchanging the accumulated knowledge forming social groups. The largest and most active group by far, the Kolkata Aquarium Club (KAC), aims to make fish keeping more popular in the city. As an online forum that started in Orkut, KAC has over the last 2 years guided many hobbyists to successfully develop a plethora of knowledge and expertise in the hobby.

According to the initiator, Tirthankar Chattopadhyay, “KAC is a group of hobbyist whose only intention is to spread the fish keeping hobby in a scientific manner and raise consciousness among people to preserve our native water bodies and fishes.” With their tagline, “Fish keeping simplified”, KAC does, what it promises. Few hobbyists who have successfully bred the Flowerhorn in Kolkata are Walter Chen (9830888873), David Lee (9830090982), Ranjan (9331292592). These exotic fish, besides others, are also available at the following fish stores.

ENTALLY FANCY FISH EMPORIUM
P-48, C.I.T Road, Schm 52, Kolktata - 700 014
Phone: (033)2244-3398

HOBBY CENTRE
58/1N/1C RAJA Dinendra Street, Kolkata 700006.
Phone : 23509354

AQUARIUMS INDIA
Belilious Road, Howrah 711 101
Phone : +919230822854 / 98315 555411
 

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.

abar tui r ami mukhomukhi

abar onek din por tui r ami mukhomukhi
tor mukhe hasi amar chhokhe anondo
tor chokhe mone korar chesta
amar thonte asonka....... "ki re chinte parchhis?"
abar onek din por tui r ami mukhomukhi
jogajoger sutro mone korate jabar agei chinte parli....
amar thonte sostir sobdo....tor thont bondho hasi
"kemon achhis?"..... "kothay achhis?"
abar onek din por tui r ami mukhomukhi
prosner uttore prosno korli tui.... "ki korchhis ekhon?"
tokei akhono khujchhi
abar onek din por tui r ami mukhomukhi
bastobe ami r kolponay tui
~Duronto kobir moner kotha

Bangali theke Bong

Ek kaale chilo ballot paper, ekhon EVM
Ekhon chalu live together, aage lajuk prem..
Daakbakshe asto chithi hothat diner sheshe
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Agey chilo polaash shimul, fagoon diner rong,
Aagey chilam damaal chele, ekhon holam Bong..
Piyal sakhar faake tokhon ek faali chand aaka,
Tokhon kotto bondhu chilo, ekhon bhison eka..
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Bus stop ey aj hothat dekha, hoito moner bhool..
Durga apu kash ful ey, ar Ku-Jhik-Jhik rail..
Ekhon boli phone kor ma, noito koris mail..
Tai aj sob bangali-ke janai pronam bhalo basha..
Bangla thakuk, Bangla bachuk, eitukui thak asha..