Kerala housewife turns ornamental fish entrepreneur, earns Rs 50,000 monthly profit

Parvathy Vinod had never imagined she would be a successful ornamental fish entrepreneur one day. She had no knowledge about fish when she got married 18 years ago into a family involved in the edible fish business in Kollam, Kerala. Today, Parvathy runs Devu's Aquafarm, an ornamental fish hatchery that has established her as an entrepreneur and also boosted her family business.

Ornamental fish farming is also called aquariculture where colourful and decorative fishes are bred in a controlled aquatic space.

"I graduated in Sociology and had no idea about fish farming. But when I saw my husband's family doing it, I got interested. It took me years to learn. Initially, it was tough because we deal with lives and breeding fish is risky. There were days when fishes in an entire tank would die, resulting in losses," Parvathy tells 30Stades. 

Despite these early struggles, her perseverance and quest to learn kept her going. She now earns an average monthly profit of Rs 50,000 and also provides training at her hatchery.

Also Read: Single mom starts fish farming at 47; clocks Rs45 lakh annual turnover

The ornamental fish market in India is growing, with a domestic trade of about Rs 500 crore and a potential to grow to Rs 1200 crore, according to the Union Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying.

From edible fish to ornamental varieties

The family was focused on breeding edible fish in eight natural ponds, with a small assortment of ornamental varieties such as Guppy, Angel, and Koi Carp. At this point, Parvathy saw the growth potential. She suggested expanding the ornamental fish business, leading them to construct cement and glass tanks. 

"I began breeding ornamental fish in small numbers in unused rooms inside the house and handled it well. About three years ago, we set up a dedicated hatchery." 

The hatchery was supported by the PMMSY (Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana) scheme. She took a loan and used savings to set up the hatchery with an investment of Rs15 lakh.

The hatchery has 21 cement tanks of varying sizes, and another seven tanks placed outdoors. "Breeding tanks are usually big, but we keep the baby fish in separate smaller tanks," Parvathy explains. 

There are two tanks, measuring 3 metres in length and width, and 1.5 meters in height. Another 18 tanks, with slightly smaller dimensions, are used for specific fish varieties. One of the cement tanks, for example, holds around 1 lakh Koi Carp babies, a delicate process that requires constant attention. The hatchery also contains 150 glass tanks dedicated to breeding Angelfish, with a capacity of up to 500 fish each.

Also Read: Ornamental fish farming emerges as a source of income for women in Kultali-Sundarbans

Hatchery routine

A typical day for Parvathy begins early, with the cleaning of tanks being the first task on the list. Any dead fish must be removed immediately. 

"It’s important to feed them just the right amount, as leftover food can mix with the water and lead to ammonia problems," she notes. 

Fish waste is removed using tubes, and any remaining feed is cleaned out to maintain water quality. After this, feed is provided. "Every day, there are new tasks—sometimes, tanks need to be thoroughly cleaned, which means transferring fish to other tanks temporarily. So it is a very time-consuming work," Parvathy adds.

Currently, Parvathy's fish farm has Koi Carp, Morph, Kribensis, Julidochromis, Buticafuri, Frontosa, Zebra Danios, Rainbow Cichlid, Heckelly and Moonlight Gourami which aren’t commonly available.  

Over time, she shifted away from commonly bred species like Angel, Guppy, Fighter, and Goldfish, in favour of more unique varieties. "

We now focus on market trends, speaking to retailers to understand customer preferences. If we breed the same old varieties, they won’t sell, and we’ll incur a loss," she says. 

The hatchery updates its stock yearly, keeping up with changing demand. They usually source and exchange varieties with fellow fish farmers, leading to building a healthy and supportive community.

Also Read: How fish farming is boosting paddy harvest in Bihar

Breeding ornamental fish

She states that the breeding process varies depending on the species. "For the Morph variety, the female lays eggs, which the male holds in its mouth. We can tell when it happens and transfer the male fish to another aquarium,” she says. 

The male keeps the eggs in his mouth for a few days until the babies hatch. These male fish don’t eat during the incubation period, so they can become weak. As the baby fish near hatching, Parvathy carefully presses each male fish's mouth to release the babies, which are ready to swim. “Once the babies are out, the male fish can eat again," Parvathy explains.

Koi Carp and Goldfish are given hormone injections, after which the fish need very cold water to lay their eggs. Some fish tend to eat their eggs, so Parvathy separates the eggs into different tanks using a tool called a spawning mop. The eggs are collected from the mop and moved to separate tanks, ensuring their safe hatching.

Market and Revenue

Parvathy sells these fish to retail stores. The hatchery has clients in Kollam, Alleppey, Kottayam, Thiruvananthapuram, Pathanamthitta, and some parts of Northern Kerala. Financially, the business sees its ups and downs.

“On average, our monthly profit is around Rs50,000, but sometimes, it can go up to Rs1 lakh and it can go as less as Rs 15,000 also, depending on the season," Parvathy says. 

“During a good run, we have had an annual production of 3 lakhs to 5 lakh fish, mainly Koi Carp and Goldfish varieties,” she points out.

"Koi Carp are priced at Rs 1.50 per inch; white and banana Morphs at Rs 40 for two inches and blue Morphs at Rs 20 each. The albino Cribensis, with red eyes, is sold at Rs500 per piece," she says.

The operational costs are significant. The feed costs around Rs20,000 monthly, and electricity adds another Rs5,000 to the expenses. The input costs for medicines and maintaining the broodstock also add up.

"There are times when we suffer losses, but we manage to push through,” she says.

She observes there’s a promising future in this field, as many people are now incorporating aquariums and ponds into their new homes and office spaces for aesthetic purposes. This shift creates a demand for new varieties, and the trend continues to evolve.

Expansion Plans

Looking ahead, Parvathy plans to expand into ornamental fish ponds. They currently have natural ponds of various sizes, spread over 5-cent, 6-cent, and 10-cent.

Parvathy has also developed an emotional bond with the fish. "Like any other pet, they recognize me. Spending time with them has a calming, therapeutic effect. The emotional attachment I've developed keeps me motivated, even on the dull days when some fish don’t survive," she adds.

Parvathy’s biggest achievement, though, is proving those who looked down on her endeavour, wrong. "When I first started, many people criticized me but I faced the challenges and proved myself. My husband always had my back and he is the main reason for me to have reached this position," she says with a smile.

Learning and teaching

Parvathy’s expertise is a combination of hands-on experience and formal training. "My husband taught me the basics of fish farming, but I’ve also attended classes," she shares. One of her most significant learning experiences came from Anna Mercy at Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies, Panangad, a researcher with extensive knowledge in this field. 

This commitment to learning has led Parvathy to share her knowledge with others. Since 2014, she has been conducting classes for students from College and Fisheries School, who also visit her hatchery for field training. "When students call me ‘teacher,’ it gives me a lot of contentment. I can share my knowledge...what more can I ask for," Parvathy says, her voice filled with emotions.

(Chandhini R is a Kerala-based journalist specialising in human interest, entertainment, and art and culture stories)

Also See: In pictures: Empowered & financially independent Koli fisherwomen of Mumbai

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