1

AQUARICULTURE AS AN ALTERNATIVE LIVELIHOOD TO FISHERFOLK

Notes of class on 28.11.2013 - Thursday - 10.45 AM

N.U. S.Veeramaindhan,
President, kofcos Chennai
kofcos2012@gmail.com
Cell: 98844 21155
Types of Ornamental Fish Farms / Collection Centers
1. Freshwater Ornamental Fish Breeding Farm
2. Freshwater ornamental Fish Rearing Farm
3. Marine Ornamental Fish Breeding Farm
4. Freshwater Ornamental Aquatic Plant Culture Farm
5. Freshwater Wild Ornamental fish collection centre
6. Brackishwater wild ornamental fish collection centre
7. Marine Ornamental fish collection centre
Fresh water Ornamental Fishes and their families
Captive breeding of Fresh water Ornamental fish are more popular in India
They mostly belong to 15 families. They are:
1. Cyprinidae
2. Characida
3. Cobididae
4. Siluridae
5. Callichthyidae
6. Loricaridae
7. Melanotaenidae
8. Cyprinodontidae
9. Poecildae

10. Hemirhamphidae
11. Cichlidae
12. Belontidae
13. Anabontidae
14. Notopteridae
15. Mastacembelidae
Types of Ornamental fish Trading
1. Ornamental fish breeding and whole sale trading
2. Retail aquarium shop keeping
3. Ornamental fish feed production and trading
4. Ornamental fish medicines and additives production and trading
5. Aquarium furniture manufacturing
6. Aquarium servicing and maintenance
7. Whole sale trading of Aquarium accessories
8. Natural collection, culture and trading of live feeds
Cyprinids and their breeding characteristics
The family Cyprinidae is more popular in India. It includes more than 1000 species .The
important groups include
1. Koicarp
2. Gold Fish
3. Barbs
4. Danios
5. Rasboras
6. Labios
Environment for Breeding
GH 150 mg,

PH- 7.0 - 8.5

Temperature: 26C.
Farm Status
Medium to large
Feeding
Live, Frozen and artificial Dry feed
Breeding Type
Adhesive egg layer Koi and Gold
Non adhesive egg layer - barbs
Egg scatter- lebio shark
Breeding Behavior and Season
Non - pairing and Year round breeding
Breeding Status
Easy
Fry Rearing
Easy to moderate
Availability of breeders in India
Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa and West Bengal
Characids and their breeding characteristics
Members of the family Characidae are more popular in India. It constitutes more than 300
species. The important groups are:
1. Neon tetra
2. Cardinal tetra
3. Phantom tetra
4. Lemon fin tetra
5. Hockey stick tetra

6. Emperor tetra
7. Rosy tetra
8. Serpae tetra
9. Boenus aires tetra
10. Rummy nose tetra
11. Black tetra
12. Congo tetra
Breeding Environment
Gh 50 ppm, 2.Ph- 6.5 -7.0, 3.Temp. -25c
Farm Status
Small to medium
Feeding
Live, frozen and artificial dry feed.
Breeding habit and requirement
Adhesive egg layers live plants
Breeding behavior and season
Non pairing and the season is winter (year round in some species)
Breeding Status
Moderately risky and rare
Fry rearing
moderately risky and photosensitive
Breeder availability in India
Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Maharashtra
Cichlids (South America)
Memebers of the family Cichlidae are very poular in India. It constitutes more than 300 species.
The important groups are:
1. Discus

2. Angel
3. Oscar
4. Chevron
5. Texas
6. Salvini etc.
Breeding environment
Gh 50-150 ppm, 2.Ph- 5.5 -7.5, 3.Temperature: - 25-28c
Farm status
Small, medium and large
Feeding habitat
Live, frozen and artificial dry feed.
Breeding Habit
Egg depositor with parental care
Breeding behavior and season
Pairing and the season is year round
Breeding status
Easy and moderate
Fry rearing
Easy and moderate (Some spp. Difficult e.g. Discus)
Breeder availability in India
Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra and West Bengal
Cichlids (South Africa)
The South African Cichlids are poular in India. There are more than 250 species of African
Cichlids in India. Some important groups are:
1. Lemon Cichlids
2. Duboisi

3. Moorii
4. Venus
5. Malawian Cichlids
6. Peacock Cichlids
7. Juli Cichlids
8. African dwarf Cichlids etc.
Breeding environment
Gh 150 ppm, 2.Ph- 7.5-8.5, 3.Temp. -25-28c
Farm Status
Medium and large
Feeding habitat
Live, frozen and artificial dry feed
Breeding Habit
Egg deposition and mouth brooding
Breeding behavior and season
Round the Year: on pairing
Breeding status
Easy and moderate
Fry rearing
Easy and moderate
Breeder availability in India
Tamil Nadu
Anabontids and Belontids
Members of the family Anabontidae and Belontidae are more popular in India. It constitutes
more than 300 species. Some important groups are:

Fighter Fishes
Gourami
Paradise fish
Breeding environment
Gh 50-150 ppm, 2.Ph- 6.5-7.5, 3.Temp: -25 - 28c
Farm Status
Small and medium
Feeding habitat
Live, frozen and artificial dry feed
Breeding Habit
Bubble nest breeder
Breeding behavior and season
Non pairing and year round
Breeding status
Easy and moderate
Fry rearing
Moderate and difficult
Breeder availability in India
Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and West Bengal
Melanotaenids
The members of the family Melanotaenidae are popular in India. It constitutes more than 50
species.
Some important groups are:
1. Australian Rainbow fish
2. Basemans Rainbow fish
3. Neon Rainbow fish
4. Madagascar Rainbow fish

5. Red Rainbow fish

6. Feather fin Rainbow fish etc.
Breeding environment
Gh 150 ppm, 2.Ph- 7.5-8.5, 3.Temp. -25 - 28c
Farm Status
Small to Medium
Feeding habitat
Live, frozen and artificial dry feed
Breeding Types
Egg adhesive on live plants
Breeding behavior and season
Non pairing and year round
Breeding status
Easy and moderate
Fry rearing
Moderate and difficult
Breeder availability in India
Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra Orissa and West Bengal
Cyprinodontids
Members of the family Cyprinodontidae are popular in India. It constitutes more than 100
species .Some important groups are:
1. American flag fish
2. Walker killie fish
3. Blue killie fish
4. Larytail killie fish
5. Clown killie fish

6. Golden killie fish

7. Striped panchax
8. Dwarf panchax
Breeding environment
Gh 150 ppm, 2.Ph- 7.5-8.5, 3.Temp. -25-28c
Farm Status
Small and Medium
Feeding habitat
Live, frozen and artificial dry feed
Breeding Habit
Egg deposition over live plants and in mud
Breeding behavior and season
Non pairing; seasonal
Breeding Status
Moderate to difficult
Fry Rearing
Moderate to difficult
Breeder availability in India
Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra
Poecilids
Members of the family Poecilidae families are more popular in India. It constitutes more than
500 species. Some important groups are:
1. Guppies
2. Mollies
3. Platties
4. Sword tails

10

Breeding environment
Gh 150 ppm, 2.Ph- 7.5-8.5, 3.Temp: -25-28c
Farm Status
Small and medium
Feeding habitat
Live, frozen and artificial dry feed
Breeding Type
Live bearer
Breeding behavior and season
Non pairing and year round
Breeding Status
Easy
Fry Rearing
Easy
Breeder availability in India
All over India
Marine Ornamental Fishes
Successful captive breeding in India.
1. Pomacentridae (i. Clown Fishes ii. Damsel fishes and iii. Chromis)
2. Pseudochromidae (Daty back)
3. Apogonidae (Cardinal fish)
Breeding environment
1. Salinity 30 - 35 ppt, 2.Ph- 8.2 - 8.5, 3.Temp: -25-28c
Farm Status
Small and medium

11

Feeding habitat
Live, frozen and artificial dry feed
Breeding Type
Egg depositor
Breeding behavior and season
Pairing and year round
Breeding status
Easy
Fry Rearing
Difficult
Standardized breeding Techniques for Marine ornamental fishes are available at
(i) Fisheries College and Research Institute, Thoothukudi.
(ii) Central Marine fisheries research Institute, Mandapam and Cochin
(iii) Annamalai University, Chidambaram
Fresh water Ornamental Plants
Aquatic plants are cultivated more than 15 families and two hundred species.
It is cultivated by specialist in farms of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra and West
Bengal. The following are some impoortant families:
AMARANTHACEAE
Alternanthera reineckii (pink)
Alternanthera reineckii (purple)
ARACEAE
Anubias angustifolia
Anubias barteri
Anubias caladiifolia
I) APONOGETONACEAE

12

1. Aponogoton boivinianus
2. Aponogeton crispus
3. Aponogeton ulvaceus
II) AZOLLACEAE
1. Azolla caroliniana
III) SCROPHULARIACEAE
1. Bacopa australis
2. Bacopa caroliniana
3. Bacopa monnieri
IV) LOMARIOPSIDAE
1. Bolbitis heudelotii
V) COBOMBACEAE
Cabomba caroliniana
VI) BRASSICACEAE
Cardamine lyrata
VII) CERATOPHYLLACEAE
Ceratophyllum foxtail
VIII) PTERIDACEAE
Ceratopteris thalictroides
IX) CLADOPHORACEAE
Cladophora aegagropila
X) AMARYLIDACEAE
Crinum calamistratum
XI) ARACEAE
1. Cryptocoryne petchii
2. Cryptocoryne parva

13

3. Cryptocryne undulata
XII) CYPERACEAE
1. Cyperus helferi
XIII) ALISMATACEAE
1. Echinodorus aquartica
2. Echinodorus x barthii
XIV) HYDROCHARITACEAE
Egeria densa
XV) ASTERACEAE
Gymnocoronis spilanthoides
XVI) ACANTHACEAE
1. Hygrophila corymbsa
2. Hygrophila difformis
XVII) LOBELIACEAE
Lobelia cardinalis
XVIII) MONOSELERIACEAE
1. Monosolenium tenerum
XIX) LYTHRACEAE
Nesaea pedicellata
XX) NYMPHAECEAE
1. Nymphaea lotus
XXI) HYDROCHARITACAEA
1. Vallineria americana
2. Vallisneria caulescens
3. Vallisneria nana
XXII) LYTHRACEAE

14

1. Rotala wallichi
2. Rotala rotundifolia
3. Rotala mayaca
4. Rotala green
Resource of Marine Ornamental Fishes in Gulf of Mannar and other Indian Coastal
Regions
1. There are more than two hundred species in Gulf of Mannar and Indian coastal region.
2. 98% of Marine ornamental fishes are caught from wild
3. Only 2% of the Marine ornamental fishes are utilized for aquarium trading
4. Marine ornamental fish trading can be an alternative occupation to fisherfolk.
5. 98% of marine ornamental fishes are highly valuable for export.
Some of the marine ornamental fishes identified in Gulf of Mannar and other Indian Coastal
regions
CHAETONDIDAE
1. Vagabond butterfly fish
2. Threadfin butterfly fish
3. Chevron butterfly fish
4. Black baned butterfly fish
5. Spot tail butterfly fish
6. Redfin butterfly fish
7. Blue spot butterfly fish
8. Raccoon butterfly fish
9. Saddled butterfly fish
10. Lined butterfly fish
11. Saddleback butterfly fish
12. Eight banded butterfly fish
13. Longfin banner fish

15

II) POMACANTHIDAE
1. Emperor angel
2. Blue ring angel
3. Yellow pigmy angel
4. Midnight angel
5. Black angel
6. Koran angel
7. Yellowtail angel
III) ACANTHURIDEAE
1. Powder blue surgent
2. Blue lined surgent
3. Clown surgent
4. Fine lined surgent
5. Convict tank
6. Sailfin tang
IV) POMACENTRIDEAE
1. Sebae clown
2. Saddle back clown
3. Clarki clown
4. Two band clown
5. Blue damsel
6. Surgent damsel
7. Three spot damsel
8. Yellow tail damsel
9. Jewel damsel
10. Three band damsel

16

11. Indian dascyllus

12. Blue green chromis
13. Black axil chromis
14. Stak horn chromis
SERRANIDAE
1. Blue spotted grouper
2. Blue lined grouper
3. Leopard grouper
4. Larytai anthias
5. Randalls anthias
6. Hawk fish
7. Dwarf hawk fish
8. Flame hawk fish
9. Sweet lips
10. Wrasses
11. Parrot fish
12. File fish
13. Gobi
14. Fourline wrasses
15. Hogfish
Other groups
1. Sea anemone
2. Star fishes
3. Sea urchin
4. Lobster
5. Grab

17

6. Shrimps
7. Slug
8. Tube worms
9. Oyster
10. Clam
11. Nudibranch
12. Sea shell
13. Snails
Wild caught Ornamental Fishery Resources of India
1. There are more than three hundred species in inland region.
2. 98% of fresh water ornamental fishes are caught from Eastern Ghats, Western Ghats, and
Northeast region.
3. Only few ornamental fishes are utilized for aquarium trading.
4. The ornamental fish trading is an alternative Occupation through backyard hatcharies.
5. 98% of Marine ornamental fishes are highly valuable for export.
Some wild caught Inland Ornamental Fishes of India
I) CYPRINIDEAE
1. Denisoni barb
2. Aurlieas barb
3. Filamentusesbarb
4. Rosy barb
5. Malabar danio
6. Redfin danio
7. Blue danio
8. Rasboras
9. Lemon fin barb

18

1o.Ruby barb
11. Flying barb
12. Pearl danio
II) COBITIDAE
Loaches
III) BAGRIDAE
Cat fishes
IV) CYPRIONODONTIDAE
Panchax fishes
V) CICHLIDAE
1. Orange chromide
2. Pearl spot fish
VI) ANABONTIDAE
1. Dwarf Gourami
2. Paradise fish and
3. Honey Gourami
VII) MASTACEMBALIDAE
Eels
CENTROPOMIDAE
Glass fishes
VIII) NOTOPTERIDAE
Indian knife fishes
IX) HEMIRHAMPIDAE
Half beaks
XC) POECILIDAE
Mosquito fishes

19

WILD CAUGHT BRACKISH WATER ORNAMENTAL FISHERY RESOURCES OF INDIA

1. There are five families and more than twenty species found distributed in inland brackish
water regions of India.
2. More than 60% of brackishwater ornamental fishes are caught from South Indian region
3. Most of the ornamental fishes are utilized for aquarium trading
4. The ornamental fish trading can be an alternative occupation for people living near brackish
water region
5. More than 90% of brackish water ornamental fishes are fit for export.
Wild caught Brackish Water Ornamental Fishes
1. Monodactylidae Mono Angel
2. Scatophagidae Scat fish
3. Tetradontidae Buffer fish
Practical Tips:
* Aquaculture as an alternative livelihood for fisher folks.
* Aquaculture is now technology oriented.
*Ornamental Fish Farming demand is more nowadays.
* Basic Essentials.
1. Study the availability of water in your area and its parameters.
2. Select the right fish for your water quality.
3. Selective feeding.
4. If necessary, modify and monitor the water quality for your fish but keep in mind the cost
factor.
* He expressed the present scenario of Kolathur in respect of the market trend and change of
environment.
* 10 years ago the TDS (Total Dissolved salt) in Kolathur area was in the range of 180 - 200 but
now it has gone to 800 TDS. The TDS above 250 is detrimental for fishes.
* He is trying to establish an Aquarium Park at Kolathur, Chennai segregating 500 1000
species.

20

* Marketing avenues are plenty for Breeding Farm, Rearing Farm and Aquatic Plant Culture
Farm.
* Captive breeding and conditioning of marine Fishes nearly 300 species.
* There is an extensive marketing potential available for ornamental fish breeding, production of
feed, medicines, feed additives etc.
* Agriwater algae = 6 10 g of Urea, 15 G of Super Phosphate, 250 G of Groundnut Cake in
1000 L of water. Mix well with smashed potato. Collect larva daily after a week.
* Medium level farm: 250 tons of production.
* As a beginner try the following species: 1 Guppy 2.Molliy 3. Plotty 4. Sword Tails.
* In Kerala Danisoni barb is available and to be cultured. The export marketing is more for this
species.