Visakhapatnam: Concerns are being raised over aquarium fish being sold on roadsides in Visakhapatnam, including goldfish, angelfish, bettas, guppies and catfish. However, what has caught attention is the sale of fighter fish, like red dragon, full moon blue, white moon and candy beta. Imported from countries like Thailand and China, apart from states like Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, the aquarium fish species are being sold packed in plastic covers. Deccan Chronicle spotted two friends selling fighter fish at Sagar Nagar. They revealed that they entered the business after losing their regular jobs. One of them, Abhijeet, in a conversation with DC, said, “It is our first day. We are offering the entire set, including a glass container and fish food, for ₹500. It costs us ₹350.”Abhijeet revealed that they source their stock from local wholesale vendors and are also breeding fish at home.Fish experts warn that selling aquarium fish on the roadside poses a threat to the well-being of fish. Fishery Survey director D. Bhami Reddy said that the health of fish sold on the roadside gets affected due to dust, air and noise pollution. He pointed out that sale of fish at aquarium shops is regulated. Roadside vendors have no knowledge about how these fish are to be kept.Vinokata Hari, an aquarium owner at the RTC complex, voiced similar sentiments. “The conditions in which roadside vendors are selling fish is unsafe. We sell imported fish legally, keeping them in the stipulated environment,” he pointed out.Roadside vendors, however, maintain that they have turned to selling aquarium fish on the roadside after losing their jobs. “We are not in a position to afford a retail shop,” one of the vendors said. But the manner in which the fish are stored on the roadside is a matter of concern for aquarium fish enthusiasts.
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