DETAILED SYLLABUS OF 1ST SEMESTER
Course Code : SEC130
Title of the Course : Aquarium Fish Keeping
Nature of the Course : Skill Enhancement Course (SEC)
End Semester : 80 Marks
In Semester : 20 Marks
Total Credits : 03
COURSE OBJECTIVE:
1. To impart hands on training on construction of aquariums and maintenance of
commercially important ornamental fishes.
2. To provide entrepreneurship opportunities in the ornamental fish sector to
graduates of biological sciences.
TOTAL
UNITS CONTENTS L T P
HOURS
Introduction: 6 - - 6
1.1 History of Aquariums
1.2 Types of Aquariums and their significance
1.3 The potential scope of Aquarium Fish
1
Industry as a Cottage Industry
(15 marks)
1.4 Prospect of aquarium fish industry in NE
India
1.5 Exotic and Endemic species of Aquarium
Fishes
Biology: 10 - - 10
2.1 Common characters and sexual dimorphism
of Fresh water and Marine Aquarium fishes
such as Guppy, Molly, Sword tail, Gold fish,
Angel fish, Blue morph, Anemone fish,
2 Butterfly fish, Botia, Gourami, Channa
(15 marks) bleheri, Channa barca .
2.2 Ornamental fishes endemic to NE India-their
habitat and biology
2.3 Biology of important exotic ornamental
fishes found in India
Feeding and Transport: 7 - - 7
3.1 Food and feeding-
Use of live organisms as fish feed.
Principle of fish feed formulation
Preparation and composition of
formulated fish feeds
3
3.2 Live fish transport –
(15 marks)
Transportation of seeds
Transportation of breeders
Fish handling, packing and forwarding
techniques
Factors influencing fish transport
Fish mortality during transportation
Maintenance and Commercialization: 7 - - 7
4.1 General Aquarium maintenance
Size and structure of different tanks
Accessories for different tank types
Water quality and treatment
Cleaning and monitoring
4 Natural Aquarium Cleaners
(15 marks) Selection of fish and acclimation;
significance of acclimation.
Common diseases of ornamental fish and
prophylaxis.
4.2 Budget for setting up an Aquarium Fish
Farm as a Cottage Industry
4.3 Challenges of ornamental fish trade in India
Practicals: - - 30 30
1. Introduction to Aquarium accessories
and equipments.
2. Identification of ornamental fishes.
5 3. Acclimatization of fish.
(20 marks)
4. Preparation of formulated fish feed.
5. Identification of ornamental fish diseases and
prophylactic measures.
6. Identification of aquarium plants.
TOTAL 30 - 30 60
Where, L: Lectures T: Tutorials P: Practicals
MODES OF IN-SEMESTER ASSESSMENT: 20 Marks
One Internal Examination - 10 Marks
Others (Any one) - 10 Marks
o Collection of Ornamental Fish
o Project Report Submission
o Presentation
LEARNER OUTCOMES:
Students completing this course will be able to:
1. Prepare and manage aquariums.
2. Identify and maintain different species of common ornamental fishes
3. Prepare ornamental fish feed
4. Take prophylactic measures to prevent fish diseases
SUGGESTED READINGS:
1. G. Helfman, Bruce B. Collette, D.E. Facey, B. W. Bowen: The Diversity of Fishes: Biology,
Evolution, and Ecology, John Wiley & Sons
2. R. J. Wootton: Fish Ecology, Springer
3. W. Vishwanath, W.S. Lakra and U.K. Sarkar: Fishes of North East India, NBFGR Publication,
Lucknow
4. Handbook of Fisheries and Aquaculture – ICAR
5. A. D. Dholakia: Ornamental Fish culture and Aquarium Maintenance , Daya pub. House, New
Delhi
6. A. Saxena: Aquarium Management. Daya pub. House, New Delhi
7. C.B.L. Srivastava: Aquarium fish keeping. Kitab Mahal, Allahabad
8. K. Rataj, and R. Zukal: Aquarium Fishes and Plants. Spring Books, London,
9. [Link] and A.A. Rao: Ornamental aquarium fishes of India. TFH United Kingdom
