India – Kolkatta, 18-20 February 2009

This years Indaquaria 2009 – its 3rd edition organized by the MPEDA – (Marine Products Export Development Authority) – took place at Kolkata’s Science City and was an incredible success. It is Indias largest International Ornamental Fish exhibition & Conference and Heiko Bleher was invited with Natasha and their Aquapress Publishing Company, Italy. Below some photos and comments (including some suggested improvements from Heiko for the Indian exhibitors and people of the fisheries departments and governmental organisations).

_{Peter Günnel, the world famous neon tetra breeder was invited from Germany and here seen (f.l.t.r.): the sun of Mehmood Syed, well known ornamental fish exporter from Mumbai; Hans-Georg Evers, Chief editor of Germany’s most famous Aquarium Fish magazine Amazonas; Peter Günnel; Mehmood Syed; Leena Sane, daughter of the late pioneer of ornamental fish export from India, Heiko and Natasha (not shown)}

_{MPEDA had their own exhibition stand (left) with some poorly decorated aquariums and Hans shows their great News Letter (right)}

_{Indus Marketing had the best stand and won the 1st prize (judged by Joseph from Israel and Heiko from Italy) and they had also a well decorated Goldfish aquarium (as it should be). And there were more than 50 stands in total…}

_{There was Nemo’s world from West Bengal with (from top) a Flower Horn Cichlid aquarium; a nice guppy tank; and a marine Aquarium without fish}

_{Loknath Ornamental Fish Firm had aquariums which hardly were built to hold fishes, rather only for a home decoration purpose. The few fishes placed got lost in it and were hardly seen (and I think they not only felt misplaced – like on another planet…)}

_{…also Aqualine from Ernakulam, near Kochi, Kerala, had a nice aquarium decoration…}

_{…and there were some interesting native fishes on displayed, specially species from West Bengal, like Mystus vittatus, Parambassis sp. (they luminate in the darkness – to attract prey?) Beautiful Chela dadyburjoi (with fantastic gold stripes), as well as Ompok malabaricus (luminating gill platter – also to attract prey!). There was a member of the marine family Serranidae in freshwater found and also the most northern member of the family Datnoididae, Datnoides palota, which enters brackish habitat but is a freshwater species. The family is found all the way south to New Guinea}

_{The Department of Fisheries from the Government of West Bengal displayed very sad  looking aquariums, goldfish mixed with native fishes (something should never be done) and without any decoration – who would want such an aquarium…}