Lahore Zoo aquarium welcomes 100 fish from 15 species

Lahore Zoo's fish aquarium has been enriched with around 100 fish belonging to 15 species, including rare and colourful marine and freshwater varieties, attracting visitors, particularly children. The newly introduced aquatic collection includes Green Bird Wrasse, Mono Angelfish, various species of Damselfish, Squirrelfish, Red-toothed Triggerfish and Lyretail Wrasse. Starfish, sand-sifting starfish and different types of corals have also been added to the aquarium. The fish can be seen swimming in glass tanks of different sizes, with some species moving swiftly through the water while others remain among corals and artificial reef structures, offering visitors a closer look at aquatic life. A visitor, Fatima, said she was visiting Lahore Zoo for the first time and was surprised by the variety of fish on display. She said she had previously seen some of the species only in documentaries. Another visitor, Ammara, said she had brought her children to the zoo, adding that they were particularly excited to see the colourful fish and starfish and were also learning about aquatic life. Lahore Zoo Veterinary Officer Dr Muhammad Azhar said the zoo was expanding its aquatic collection alongside its existing collection of wild animals and birds. "Both marine and freshwater fish have been introduced in the aquarium, and more species will be added in phases," he said, adding that the health of the fish and water quality were regularly monitored to maintain suitable conditions. Fish aquarium caretaker Adnan Shah said marine and freshwater fish required different methods of care. He said maintaining appropriate salinity, water quality and cleanliness was essential for marine species, while temperature and water quality were particularly important for freshwater fish. Shah said ornamental fish owners sometimes overfed their fish, resulting in increased organic waste and ammonia levels in the water.