Rahul Sharma (Editor)

Taraporewala Aquarium

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Date opened
  
1951

No. of species
  
400

Annual visitors
  
400000

Phone
  
022 2282 1239

Number of species
  
400

Location
  
Marine Lines, Mumbai

Volume of largest tank
  
22,000

Opened
  
1951

Function
  
Aquarium

Taraporewala Aquarium

Address
  
Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Road, Marine Drive, Near Charni Road Railway Station, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400002

Hours
  
Closed today MondayClosedTuesday10AM–8PMWednesday10AM–8PMThursday10AM–8PMFriday10AM–8PMSaturday10AM–8PMSunday10AM–8PMSuggest an edit

Similar
  
Hanging Gardens of Mumbai, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Kamala Nehru Park - Mu, Jijamata Udyaan, Rajabai Clock Tower

Taraporewala Aquarium is India's oldest aquarium and one of the city's main attractions. it hosts marine and freshwater fishes. The aquarium is located on Marine Drive in Mumbai..

Contents

It was re-opened after renovation on March 3, 2015. The renovated aquarium has a 12-feet long and 180 degree acrylic glass tunnel. Another attraction is the special pools, where children can touch fish which are harmless. The fish will be kept in large glass tanks, which will be lit with LED lights.

2,000 fishes of over 400 species and has been 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 Public Works department) . The exotic fish from overseas has been introduced at the new aquarium the number of new varieties of marine fish at 70. Helicopter,Arowana,Gruppen,yellow-striped tang, blue-spotted stingray, star, clown, hark, trigger, Grouper, Moorish idol, Azure Damsel, Blueline Demoiselle, Purple Firefish, Cloudy Damsel, Copperband Butterflyfish, Schooling Bannerfish, Raccoon Butterflyfish, White Tail Trigger, Clown Triggerfish and Blue Ribbon Eel. The 40 new varieties of freshwater fish would include Red Devil, Jaguar, Electric Blue Jack Dempsey,Frontosa and Catfish. These fishes will be housed in larger tanks than before with imported flexi glass for better visibility. It also has sharks, turtles, rays, moray eels, sea turtles, small starfish and stingrays.

The Aquarium is maintained by Department of Fisheries itself. In the aquarium's 16 sea water tanks and nine sweet water tanks, there are 31 types of fish, while 32 tropical tanks contains 54 kind of fishes. The tropical section of the aquarium already feature different ecosystems such as the “moss aquarium” for pregnant fishes, “plantation aquarium” that features imported varieties of water lilies and other aquatic plants and “island aquarium”.

Visit Schedule & Fees

  • Aquarium is open for visitors From 10:00 am to 1:00pm and 2:00pm to 5:00pm for Ground Floor only, except Monday
  • Adults Rs.60/- Kids below 12 yrs Rs.30 Govt Employees Rs 30/-

  • Additional charges for photography
  • New attractions

  • Oceanarium in the foyer with 22,000 l (5,800 US gal) water.
  • Amphitheatre 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.
  • Coral and rocky ecosystems with aquascaping and LED lighting.
  • Semi-circular tank housing jelly fish.
  • Species of fishes

  • Damselfishes: territorial fish species including golden damselfish, moon tail, cocoa, striped, electric blue, talbot, and sergeant major damsel
  • Butterflyfishes: chevron, copper band, long-nose, eight band, red perl
  • Angelfishes : blue ring, regal, wraft and emperor angel fishes
  • Triggerfishes : undulated, bluetooth, picasso and clown triggers
  • Marine eels: yellow head, white ribbon, black ribbon, blue ribbon and moray eel
  • 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
  • Other species include: octopuses, seahorses, alligators, catfishes, giant gourami, cichlids, koi, gold fish, sea turtles, red-eared slider and Singaporean turtle
  • History

    Taraporewala Aquarium was built in 1951 at a cost of 800,000 (US$12,000). It had been inaugurated by India’s first president Rajendra Prasad. The aquarium is named after a Parsee Philanthropist D B Taraporewala who donated 200,000 (US$3,000) for the construction.

    References

    Taraporewala Aquarium Wikipedia