Aquarium fish in troubled water TURNING COSTLY: Decorative though, an aquarium at home may blow a hole in the purse. –An aquarium with colour fish to decorate the drawing room, earlier used to be the hobby of the elite and rich. Thanks to the increasing peer pressure, especially children, and the concept that aquarium can ward off evil eyes made more people go in for it.
The double digit inflation and the resultant price rise left a mark on this trade too. Random enquiries with aquarium sellers and those selling decorative fish, accessories and fish food, revealed that high income groups continue to spend on aquarium-related items. They never mind spending on fish tanks, air pumps, plants, fish food and other decorative pebbles or toys to be kept inside the tank. Whereas, the middle income groups that wanted to have small or medium fish tanks now find the going tough.
The sale of vasthu fish such as Aravana priced between Rs. 1,200 and Rs. 3 lakh remains the same since only the affluent classes went for it. The middle segment comprising fish varieties such as Discus, Parrot, Angel (high end varieties), flora and these varieties are priced in the range of Rs. 100 to Rs. 1,500 a pair.
These segments never compromised on the quality of air pump, plants, pebbles, toys or the fish food. The sale volume of these fish had witnessed only a marginal fall, says Ashiq and Kamal of Oscar Aquarium in Ramanathapuram.
Whereas the sale of mollies, guppies, platy and gold fish that were available at a price range of Rs. 5 a pair and Rs. 60 a pair has witnessed a fall in sale volume ranging from 20 per cent to 25 per cent. The other area was where new people going in for aquariums because of the insistence of children.
Instead of going in for a small or medium sized tank, more people take to glass jars and bowls priced at Rs. 25 to Rs. 150 and buy fish priced at a lowest range to satisfy children.
Similarly, middle income groups have compromised on the fish food such as blood worms, shrimps, flakes priced at Rs. 100 and up to even Rs. 450 and have started going in for local fish food items that were available at Rs. 10 or Rs. 20 a tin. The cost of aquarium materials such as tanks, air pump motors, food and fish had gone up by 20 per cent to 25 per cent, says Beena Chacko of Beena fish farm and Golden Aquarium.
“Since, our customers are largely serious aquarium lovers and affluent sections, the high end sale continues to remain the same despite increase in prices,” Ms.Beena added.
An aquarium is just not a one time spending, right from food, plants, cleaning of the tank, there had to be an allocation for the same every month, otherwise the aquarium never remained decorative and appealing, says Manju of Sreepathy Nagar in Ramanathapuram who has an aquarium.
Similar trend is witnessed in terms of those wanting to hear the chirping of love birds. Earlier, pet shops used to sell cases in all sizes for having love birds and parakeets and some even used to have doves.
The laborious task of cleaning the cage and the place forced many to give up the same. Whereas, people gave up rearing parrots and doves because of the fear of violation of Wildlife Protection Act since bird species came under the Scheduled list in the Act.
Even some varieties of love birds attracted legal provisions. A pair of love birds that was sold at Rs. 60 to Rs. 90 was today priced at Rs. 150. Above all, the price of feed for the birds are going up.
“Thinai” which was earlier sold at Rs. 12 a kg was now selling at Rs. 20. So are the prices of greens. Those having love birds should find substantial “Tulsi” every week since it was considered an anti-biotic, Ms. Beena added.
