A pet shop sparked outrage with bikini-wearing models dancing in the fish tanks.

The Arowana Mall store hired dancers to stand inside the aquariums filled with tropical fish in a bizarre mermaid-theme for the opening of its shop at the Chatuchak market in Bangkok, Thailand, on July 20.

Shocked locals were concerned that the fish could be stressed by the presence of half-naked girls in their homes and be further hurt by the chemicals in beauty products used by the dancers.

In a video filmed by one of their confused customers, the models could only kneel inside the cramped glass structure as fish for sale swam around them and distracted shoppers stopped by to take pictures. The tanks were glowing with LED strips while club music was played in the background.

The women were supposed to dance inside the tanks but could only shake their bodies in the water while alternately posing for a picture with amused passersby.

Shocked resident Apichai Wong, one of those who saw the weird party, said: 'It was strange to see this at a pet shop. It's more like the kind of thing that happens in bars.

'I thought the music was too loud for the fish because they like quiet environments.'

Another local said they had already complained to the local council about the seedy performance. Writing online, they said: 'This is unhealthy and a danger to the fish.'

The shop owner claimed it was only a one-day event and the girls were inside the tanks for just ten minutes.

The owner Tong Attachai, 28, said: ‘The party was only held for one day. The models were in the fish tanks for only ten minutes so the fish's health was not affected. I also checked the health of our fish afterwards. I care about their health.'

Aside from the fish available at their stores, the shop also sells farmed dragonfish to South Korea, Japan, China, Vietnam, and Australia.

Thailand is arguably best known for its adult nightlife, which includes hundreds of thousands of dancers at bars across the country like those seen in the pet shop fish tanks. However, conservative locals regularly complain to police when it spills out into everyday life.