3D aqua tanks main attraction at marine exposition

PUNE: Gone are the days when a fish tank sat quietly in a corner, awaiting its turn for your attention. Today, it's exotic specimens of marine life housed in a three-dimensional, wall-mounted state-of-the-art aqua tank replete with the latest accessories - both real and faux - which grab the eyeballs as soon as you enter the room.
A wide range and spectrum of fish, of both fresh and saltwater origins - as well as the latest technology to show off their colourful beauty is on display at the Aqua Life 2011, a marine expo that consists of stalls put up by various aquariums and fisheries in the city, currently on at the Yashwantrao Chavan auditorium.
The exhibit, which will continue till May 1, could serve as a one-stop arrangement for marine enthusiasts, even as it showcases not just the most varied species of fish from both India and abroad, but also has professionals dole out tips on which species can co-exist and the species that cannot, how and when to feed them, and other valuable pointers on housing them inside suitable aquariums. Those looking to accessorise their respective fish tanks at home can avail of the latest plants, filters and so on.
Swanand Raut, salesperson of a fisheries group, said: "Fish make great pets, as they help relieve you of stress. Generally speaking, freshwater fish are calmer than saltwater ones. This includes a variety of freshwater sharks, such as the Tigersharks. Other favoured options are Discus and Goldfish. However, despite their aggression, Piranhas also have many takers."
While another salesperson said: "Angelfish and assorted varieties of Goldfish, including Oranda, Fantail, Red Cap, Black Moor and Bubble-Eye are popular. They look lovely, and children love to feed them. However, one must take care not to keep Goldfish with Polonis as the latter are fast-moving and could kill the former. Similarly, Piranhas are so aggressive that if you don't feed them on time, they could even kill each other. So they must be kept by themselves."
A hybrid variety, which caught a lot of attention, was the Flowerhorn, a freshwater fish with coloured fins and a hump on the forehead. "The Flowerhorn looks very nice, and is quite interesting to observe for it is not a fish that naturally occurs in nature," said a visitor.
A visitor said: "I am looking to buy a bowl of goldfish, which I am going to ask my children to look after. Fish are a good choice of pets, for they teach you the values of patience and observance. Also, it is a responsibility to change their water, give them their correct feed on time and this will prove to be a great learning experience for children.'