Academic hooked on breeding fighting fish

Pride and joy: Safial Eqbal showing his Betta fish, which has won various competitions. — Bernama

SEREMBAN: Dr Safial Eqbal Zakaria, 45, is so passionate about Betta fish, locally known as fighting fish, that he quit his job as Deputy Dean (operations) at Open University Malaysia (OUM) in Shah Alam five years ago, to transform his hobby into a full-time lucrative business.

Starting with four or five pairs of Betta fish, the Gombak-born entrepreneur now breeds about 20 to 40 pairs a month.