Taraporewala AquariumorTaraporevala AquariumisIndia's oldest aquarium and one of Mumbai's main attractions.[3] It hosts marine and freshwater fish. The aquarium is located on Marine Drive.
The aquarium has a 12-foot long and 180 degree acrylic glass tunnel.[4][5] The fish are kept in large glass tanks, which will be lit with LED lights.[3]
The aquarium is maintained by the Department of Fisheries. The aquarium's 16 seawater tanks and 9 freshwater tanks host 31 types of fish, while 32 tropical tanks contain 54 kinds of fish.[1] The tropical section of the aquarium features ecosystems such as the "moss aquarium" for pregnant fish, "plantation aquarium" that features imported varieties of water lilies and other aquatic plants and "island aquarium".[7]
Taraporewala Aquarium was built in 1951 at a cost of ₹800,000 (at the time equivalent to US$167,000 using the fixed exchange rate of ₹4.79 to 1 US$). It was inaugurated by India's first president Rajendra Prasad.[1] The aquarium is named after a Parsee Philanthropist D B Taraporewala, who donated ₹200,000 (at the time equivalent to US$41,754 ) for the construction.
The aquarium reopened after renovation on 3 March 2015.[8] It was renovated at a cost of Rs.22 crore (approx Rs 7.5 crore for aquariums and Rs. 16.5 crore for construction work done by the Public Works department).[9]
Inside View
New exhibits:
Oceanarium in the foyer with 22,000 L (5,800 US gal) water.
Amphitheater with 50 seats, screening documentaries on fish, marine ecosystems and environment conservation.
Touch pool, where curious visitors can touch star fish, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, and turtles.
Fish spa. You can dip your feet in one of ten tanks of Doctor fish (Garra rufa). The fish nibble and remove dead skin from your feet and legs.[6]
Coral and rocky ecosystems with aqua scaping and LED lighting.
Marine touch pool with sea cucumber, sea urchin, brittle star, tube worms, star fish and more
Groupers: sweetlip, panther, orange spot and black spot groupers
Tangs: yellow, powder brown, naso, orange shoulder, and powder blue
Unique species: oranda, stone, red cap, rukin, and black moor
Other species including bat fish, squirrel fish, golden travery, puffers, jelly fishes, kombada, lion and turkey fish, dwarf lion, whimple, moorish idol, marine coral reef, wrasse, sea anemone, negro, clarkii, and arowana
Paludarium aquarium with Indian carps: rohu, catla, mrigal
Tropical aquarium fishes, red tail, sucker, upside down and Asiatic cat fishes
