On March 24, when the nation-wide lockdown was imposed to halt the spread of the Coronavirus, Vispi Mistry had an overriding concern: how would he get hold of the tetra bits, brine shrimp and bloodworms to feed his fish? "I have walked kilometres to source it," he tells us. "I'm just happy that all my fish survived the hardships."

Mistry, 68, is India's first discus fish breeder. His spacious home in Grant Road (East) doubles up as a mini-aquarium, where he and his wife Sumi tend to an impressive variety of angels, goldfish and discus. In fact, on the day of the interview, Mistry has a pair of Flowerhorns arriving from Thailand. The ornamental aquarium fish are popular for their vivid colours and the distinctive shape, which earns them the title. Thai culture, he says, has a longstanding love affair with the hump-headed hybrid fish, known the world over as Siamese fighters. They are an aggressive bunch, but Mistry is no stranger to temperamental breeds.