When hobby turns trade venture 

Increased demand for ornamental fishes among cross-section of people and high profitability in its farming inspired many youths across Bangladesh to go for commercial farming of such fishes which once was merely a bobby.

Aquarium fish business results in rapid cash generation and it is relatively easy to start as a hobby or small scale farming enterprise and its handling cost is low, said the breeders.

Keeping colourful ornamental fishes in an aquarium became a part of the luxury lifestyle and psychologists say the culture of ornamental fishes in household aquariums is expected to provide psychological advantages in terms of reducing stress.

The global ornamental fish market size was valued at $5.0 billion in 2018, according to Grandview Research. It is considered the second most popular hobby across the globe and the most popular type of pet.

Few years ago, farming for selling aquarium fish was centred in hardly the capital or the divisional headquarters but now the business is rapidly expanding to district towns, even in some upazilas.

SM HasanurRahaman started the aquarium fish business with only Tk 1,500 three years ago after losing his job from a mobile phone customer care centre.

As his initial venture became successful, Hasanur decided to go for full-fledged farming and gradually increased investment in it.

Now his total investment stands at Tk 8 lakh and the market value of his current stock of ornamental fish is more than Tk 90 lakh.

Hasanur has 63 species of ornamental fish in his farm now and two more species would be added soon.

“In my three-year career in this business, I have earned the ability to supply aquarium fish anywhere across the country, a confident Hasanur told The Business Post.

Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute data shows still 50 per cent of the ornamental fish breeders are hobbyists, 33 per cent have a family business or previous experience of breeding, and the remaining 17 per cent are influenced by friends.  

Md Azizul Haque, deputy director (fisheries cultivation) at the Department of Fisheries, said there was no official data on how many people are involved in the aquarium fish business and how many hatcheries of ornamental fish are there. A committee has been working in this regard to find out the actual scenario of aquarium fish, he added.

Md Farhad has a small shop of ornamental fish at Jatrabari and his monthly turnover is between Tk 60,000 and Tk 70,000. Farhad said there are 10 companies in the country who import ornamental fish.

The main hub of ornamental fish shops is at Kataban in Dhaka. There are 35 to 40 shops of ornamental fish and their combined sales amount to nearly Tk 4 crore a month.

“I have been working there for five years and every day I sell more than Tk 25,000. Most of the buyers come here with their children and in most cases children choose fish for their aquariums,” said Arif Hossain, salesperson of a shop at Kataban.

Arif said that most of their customers were fanciers.

Md Hasan, a student, came to the Kataban to buy Gold Fish, and Koi Carp, and some fishmeal for his aquarium at his home. “It gives me great pleasure. I always take care of the fishes alongside my studies,” he said.    

Around 80 species of ornamental fish are available at Kataban market and among them, 15 are indigenous species. Gold Fish, Comet Fish, Koi Carp, Angel Fish, Platy, Guppy, Fighter Fish, Parrot Fish, Kissing Gourami, and Zebra Fish are among the most demanded species among the customers.

According to a research on ‘Present Status, Challenges and Scope of Ornamental Fish Trade in Bangladesh and Development of Breeding Techniques of Some Commercially Important Species” implemented by the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council and the National Agricultural Technology Program – Phase II Project, around 80 per cent fish in the market are collected from local sources such as Kamrangir Char, Feni, Jashore, Chattogram and Bogura while about 20 per cent are imported from Thailand, India, Malaysia, Singapore and Australia.

The price of a pair of ornamental fish at different markets ranges between Tk 20 and Tk 1,00,000 depending on species and sizes. Red parrot, Black Ghost, Discus Fish, Knife Fish and Golden Arowana were found to be more expensive.

The number of shops in Dhaka is much higher than in any other place.

Wasaf Faisal, a student of Jagannath University, is now a successful businessman of ornamental fish though he started this farming as a hobby. During the Covid-induced lockdown, he sold ornamental fish worth Tk 40,000 per month.

Professor Dr Nirmal Chandra Roy of Sylhet Agricultural University said there was no proper information on the status of ornamental fish species currently traded in Bangladesh. The same goes for research on the behaviour and feeding of ornamental fish and their breeding technology.

Breeding ornamental fish is rapidly increasing in Bangladesh as there is a huge opportunity to earn foreign currency through the export of ornamental fish. So it is high time to nurture this sector, he said.

Bangladesh is a riverine country endowed with vast aquatic resources and all these resources are enormous with a variety of ornamental fish species, he said citing Zebrafish which is an ideal ornamental fish but that has also demand as a research model in laboratories worldwide.

Popular agriculture development activist Shykh Seraj said the aquarium fish business has huge economic potentials. Many of the youths in Bangladesh became successful through framing and breeding ornamental fishes. Someone can start the business with little amount money and it yields huge benefit,’ he added.

Aquarium, food, and accessories 

Chinese and locally homemade aquariums are available at Kataban market normally of three sizes — small, medium, and large. Prices of aquariums depend on the quality and

sustainability and their strength. A small aquarium is sold at Tk 100 to Tk 1,000, the medium ones are at Tk 500 to Tk 5,000, and the large ones Tk 1,000 to Tk 15,000.

Though most of the breeders feed their fish with the usual fishmeal available in the local markets, but amateur people prefer some ready food, mostly imported, which costs Tk 100 to Tk 150 per 100mg pack.

Breeding and culture of ornamental fish require some accessories such as air pump, natural and artificial plants and stones for decoration and creating a suitable environment for the fishes.