Rows of plastic bottles and glass jars filled with vividly coloured fish line the courtyard of a home in Patuakhali town, creating an unusual sight in the neighbourhood.
Red, blue, yellow and multicoloured bettas, mollies, guppies and swordtails dart through the water. Behind the colourful display is a young entrepreneur whose hobby has grown into a thriving business earning him more than Tk 100,000 a month.
Meherab Emon started breeding ornamental fish in 2021, shortly after completing his studies.
What began as a personal interest soon became a commercial venture, despite a difficult start in which most of his first fish died.
Nowadays, his home-based farm in Kalatala area of Patuakhali municipality houses thousands of ornamental fish of different varieties.
Emon's interest began during a visit to his sister's home in Dhaka, where he saw betta fish in different colours. Fascinated by them, he borrowed money from friends to buy his first five pairs and began breeding them.
But the venture almost failed at the beginning.
With little knowledge of fish care, Emon lost most of his initial stock. Instead of giving up, he turned to online videos and other sources to learn about water quality, feeding, temperature control and breeding. He then began conducting his own experiments.
“At first, I knew very little about fish farming. I started with five pairs simply as a hobby, but many of the fish died,” Emon said.
“I realised that keeping fish is not just about buying them. You have to understand everything from water quality and feeding to temperature and breeding. I started learning online and experimenting myself. Gradually, the mortality rate fell and production increased,” he said.
A colourful business
Emon's farm now produces several varieties, including fighter bettas, moon-tail mollies, rose-tail and feather-tail varieties, goldfish and half-moon bettas.
It takes about four months for fish to grow from eggs to a size suitable for sale, he said.
Depending on species and quality, a pair can fetch between Tk 500 and Tk 1,500. At wholesale rates, 100 fish can sell for around Tk 12,000 to Tk 13,000.
Emon spends approximately Tk 10,000 to Tk 12,000 a month on fish feed. He produces a substantial portion of the feed himself, helping reduce costs while ensuring a steady supply.
“The most important thing in ornamental fish farming is regular care. Water quality must be maintained, fish have to be fed on time and separate arrangements are needed during breeding,” he said.
From Patuakhali to markets across Bangladesh
Emon's customers are no longer limited to Patuakhali. Through online sales, he now receives orders from Dhaka, Chattogram, Sylhet, Khulna, Bagerhat, Bogura and Rajshahi, among other places.
The fish are transported alive to customers across the country through courier services, requiring careful packaging and handling.
“Online sales have made the business much easier. Previously, I could only sell locally. Now customers from different parts of the country place orders online and I send the fish by courier,” Emon said.
“However, shipping live fish requires great care in packaging and transportation.”
The farm has also attracted customers of different ages, particularly children and teenagers.
Twelve-year-old Hasan is among them.
“I really like colourful fish. There are so many varieties and colours here, and they look beautiful. That's why I came to buy some,” he said.
Hasan said his parents initially did not support his interest in keeping ornamental fish but later changed their minds after seeing him spend less time on his mobile phone and more time caring for the fish.
Local customer Asaduzzaman Milon said residents previously had to travel outside Patuakhali to buy ornamental fish.
“Now we can find different varieties in the town itself. I like Emons initiative, and the fish are good quality. I was also inspired by him to start keeping ornamental fish,” he said.
Neighbour Monir Gazi said ornamental fish had become increasingly popular as a hobby.
“If more such initiatives are developed locally, the growing demand can be met more easily. Ornamental fish farming could also help create employment opportunities for unemployed people,” he said.
Family joins the venture
Emon's father, Mofazzal Hossain, witnessed the struggles of the business from its earliest days.
He recalled how almost all of the first fish died after his son borrowed money to purchase them.
“We were worried when almost all the fish died at the beginning. But Emon did not give up. He kept trying and learning,” Mofazzal said.
“Now he has become self-reliant. Emon's mother and I are also involved in the fish farm. The income from the business is now enough to support our family comfortably,” he said.
