Know Your City: Cubbon Park aquarium revamped, re-opened as Namma Bengaluru Aquarium

Other freshwater displays are tilted towards an array of species amid simulations of their natural habitats through the use of aquatic plants and rock hardscapes. Dozens of display tanks include species from across the globe – arrivals from the Amazon river system, such as cardinal and neon tetras, cichlids such as angelfish and others, from Africa and South America, while Asia is well represented by the gourami family and barbs, to name but a few.

Display tanks and ponds host an array of starfish and reef-based fish, such as the blue tang, made famous as “Dory” in the animated film Finding Nemo.

The aquarium also boasts an array of algae-eating fish, from various species of Plecostomus, panda garras, as well as the delicate and diminutive Otocinclus catfish. Previously, large tanks were set into the walls of the aquarium building. Apart from a few exceptions, most of the fish are housed in separate aquarium displays mounted on podiums. QR codes pasted next to the tanks link to descriptions of their occupants (the scan must be done using the Aquarium’s own app.)

According to Likith Nandakumar, one of the directors of Namma Bengaluru Private Limited (which renovated and manages the aquarium), “Due to maintenance issues, there were a lot of rain and leakage problems throughout the building. It was in quite a poor state… the buildings and state-of-the-art features that have come up are all additions.”

He added, “In terms of displays, we have gone for a more aesthetic approach even in smaller displays. They were designed keeping in mind the species that were going into them. We are hearing back from visitors that they want some big species as well, so soon we will be expanding another portion on the ground floor where some bigger species will be on display as well.”

Tickets at the aquarium are priced at Rs 95 and Rs 30 for adults and children.

Explaining the care regimen for the various fish housed here, he said, “We ensure that all water parameters, the amount of dissolved salt and PH are always right. Each aquarium has its own filtration system, so there is no dependency or exchange of water that ever happens. So even if there is an infection in one display, it is isolated and can be immediately treated. All our equipment is also world-renowned – from Japan, Germany, and Taiwan. Also, when these fish are in the kind of environment they are supposed to be in, it becomes much easier to care for them, and their health is much better because of it.”

Tickets at the aquarium are priced at Rs 95 and Rs 30 for adults and children, respectively, while these rates are raised slightly on weekends. An additional charge of Rs 25 is levied for photography, while the koi fish housed in a pond here can be fed for a fee of Rs 30.