Start your fishkeeping journey with my beginner-friendly guides and articles! Learn how to set up an aquarium step by step and how to take care of your underwater kingdom.
Fishkeeping is the practice of maintaining and caring for fish in a controlled environment, such as an aquarium or pond.
It involves creating and sustaining a balanced ecosystem that caters to the specific needs of different fish species.
This hobby is not just about keeping fish alive but ensuring their well-being, which includes monitoring water quality, feeding, and maintaining the correct habitat conditions.
Fishkeeping is as much a science as it is an art. Scientifically, it requires an understanding of biology, chemistry, and physics to create a stable environment.
Fishkeeping allows enthusiasts to design aesthetically pleasing underwater landscapes, often referred to as aquascaping.
While some engage in fishkeeping for decorative purposes or as a leisure activity, others pursue it for breeding rare species, educational purposes, or even therapeutic benefits.
Fishkeeping also plays a role in conservation efforts, particularly for species that are endangered in the wild.
The history of fishkeeping traces back to ancient civilizations, where early forms of the hobby were seen in various cultures around the world.
Fishkeeping dates back to ancient times but initially served as a food source.
The appearance of the fish intrigued the Chinese, which led to the breeding of goldfish 1,500 years ago.
Modern fishkeeping began in China around 600 years ago.Interest in aquariums spread around the world with the first aquarium shop in the 1500s.
In the following years, paradise fish began to be imported to the market, which led to the establishment of more aquarium shops.
Today, fishkeeping is more than just a hobby. It’s a window into a world vastly different from our own.
It offers a peaceful retreat from the hustle and bustle of daily life and provides an opportunity to learn about and appreciate the incredible diversity of fish life.
Maintaining an aquarium is a continuous learning experience.
It requires patience, care, and a willingness to understand the complex interplay of the living organisms within it.
A well-maintained aquarium is not only a beautiful addition to any space but also a thriving ecosystem that reflects the dedication and knowledge of the fishkeeper.
Maintaining the health and welfare of fish is a multifaceted responsibility that requires careful attention, knowledge, and compassion.
If all the previous points are correctly implemented, you do not have to worry about the condition of your fish.
I think so, as long as aquariums meet certain ethical standards. I mean, for example, the appropriate size of the tank or appropriately selected species.
Your job is to make a good home for the fish and fix anything that might make them unhappy. If you think about these things, your fish will be happy.
I think there are scarier things in nature than walls, like predators that fish need to defend against.
I think most people who have fish tanks understand what it takes to care for fish and what conditions they need. If you’re new to it, the first thing you should do is learn about it.
Taking care of them isn’t hard if you make sure to meet the fish’s needs well.
On this site you will find all the information that will help you learn how to care for your fish tank.
There are some species of fish that may be more difficult to keep, but with the right knowledge it won’t be that difficult at all
Overall, taking care of freshwater fish needs attention and regular care.
Absolutely! Aquariums are really relaxing. They help you feel less anxious and stressed.
For many people, watching fish relieves stress and provides a mesmerizing experience.
Experts have also discovered that watching fish in an aquarium can help lower blood pressure.
So, having an aquarium isn’t just a hobby, it’s like having a special tool to help you feel better mentally and physically.
The fish may show signs of boredom or simply stress.
If your fish keeps swimming up and down the tank, it might mean it’s bored or stressed. It’s like when a tiger paces in captivity—it shows they need more stimulation.
Of course, you won’t have fun with your fish, but if you provide the right environment and the right tank mates in the aquarium, the fish won’t be bored.
So, if you understand what fish need and how they act, you shouldn’t see them showing these worrying signs.
You might not realize it, but the fish you keep in your aquarium can be smarter than you think.
They can have abilities comparable to, or even better than, many other animals.
Fish possess a significant level of intelligence that might challenge your common perception of their cognitive abilities.
If you have freshwater fish, don’t put table salt in their tank.
Usually, it’s not necessary, but sometimes salt is used to treat certain parasites.
However, you need to be careful and know what you’re doing if you use it.
And for saltwater tanks, table salt isn’t good because seawater already has important minerals like calcium and magnesium.
It all depends on what you mean by dying fish. If your fish gets sick and dies, it’s hard to make it better.
But if you see signs of sickness, you can do stuff to help. First, check the water quality using a testing kit. It’s important to keep the water clean.
Maintaining optimal water conditions is essential for keeping fish alive and healthy.
It’s hard to say if freshwater fish feel love like humans do, but we can see some signs of close relationships and social bonds in their actions.
Certain fish, like cichlids, which mate for life, show behaviors that suggest they form strong connections with each other.
Scientists like Pete Hurd have noticed that these fish take care of their mates and offspring with a level of dedication that implies a deep connection.
They protect and nurture them for a long time, sometimes even more than what dogs do with their puppies.
Yes, fish can hear you when you talk, but they’re not great at hearing sounds from above the water.
The sounds we make above water aren’t strong enough to go through the surface very well, so fish might not hear our normal talking very clearly.
Even if you shout, fish might hear you a bit, but if you’re just talking normally from a distance, like on a boat, it probably won’t bother them much.
Basically, fish aren’t as affected by human voices as some people might think.
Sure, fish can make great pets. People sometimes call them “petfish.” But owning a pet fish means committing to taking care of them for a long time because they can live for several years.
It’s important to regularly clean their tank to keep them healthy. If you can’t care for them properly, you need to find someone else who can or consider other options.
Being a responsible pet owner means making sure your fish are well taken care of.
Yes, fish can become friends with people, like the story of scuba diver Hiroyuki Arakawa and his fish friend Yoriko.
They’ve been friends for more than 30 years, showing that fish can recognize and enjoy being around humans.
This special friendship suggests that fish can act like they’re friends with people in certain situations, showing they can recognize and feel comfortable with individual humans.
You can also have this happen with the fish you keep in your aquarium. Some types really like being around people. You might even become close with your fish.
Most fish don’t use lungs to breathe. They use gills, which take in oxygen from water and release carbon dioxide.
Fish draw water in through their mouths, and it passes over their gills for this process.
Some fish, like lungfish, have developed lungs and can breathe air when there’s not enough oxygen in the water.
But for most fish, gills are their main way of breathing.
Fish don’t cry like humans because they can’t produce tears. It would be a bit strange in an aquatic environment.
Also, their brains are different from mammals’, so they don’t feel emotions the same way.
This means the idea of fish crying, both physically and emotionally, isn’t the same as it is for humans and other mammals.
Scientists are still trying to figure out if fish can dream. They’ve noticed that fish sleep in a way that’s similar to how humans have REM sleep, which is when we often dream.
This doesn’t mean fish definitely dream like humans, but it hints that they might experience something similar during sleep.
This similarity in sleep patterns could have started more than 450 million years ago, before fish and humans became very different through evolution.
Fish can feel stressed and anxious, kind of like how humans do. Things like a dirty tank, too many fish in one place, or mean tank mates can make them stressed out.
They show signs like changes in behavior or appearance, just like humans do when they’re stressed.
So, it’s important to take good care of fish and give them a nice home to keep them healthy and happy.
Certainly, scientists confirm that fish are capable of feeling and possess a certain level of intelligence.
They can experience a state similar to depression. Of course, it is challenging to equate this sadness to human sadness due to differences in brain structures that process emotions.
However, changes in behavior and physical health that can indicate a feeling of sadness or anxiety are observed in captive fish, such as decreased activity or a lack of interest in eating.
These symptoms are often interpreted as signs of a depression-like condition. Therefore, it is essential to provide your fish with the right environment to maintain their health.
As I wrote earlier, the degree to which large fish hear sounds above the water is significantly limited.
Of course, sounds such as conversation are audible to them, but the sounds generated above the water often lack the strength to penetrate the surface tension of the water significantly.
As a result, ordinary conversation is usually inaudible to fish. So, you don’t have to worry about whether your conversation might scare the fish away or affect their behavior.
Fish, like mice and other animals, can feel stressed and scared, kind of like how humans with PTSD feel.
Scientists have noticed that chemicals in the brains of fish in dangerous situations are similar to those in rodents with PTSD.
Even though fish think and feel differently from mammals, they can still get scared, feel pain, and learn from good and bad experiences.
They can remember these experiences and react to them, whether they’re in a lab or in the wild.
But their experience might not be exactly the same as human PTSD.
New studies show that fish are smarter than we thought. They can tell each other apart and even recognize human faces.
This ability to recognize individuals is based on their unique facial features. We used to think only smart animals could do this, but fish can too.
For example, cleaner fish can even see themselves in a mirror and understand it’s their reflection, just like humans.
This means fish have better memory and understanding than we gave them credit for.
As you read earlier, fish hear sounds that come from above the water surface.
While they certainly respond to sounds, their reaction to their name is probably the result of associating the sound with positive experiences, such as feeding or social interaction. Fish do not understand their name as a personal identifier.
Fish often swim up when their owner says something; however, this behavior is not related to the name.
Dr. Baker says fish can hear underwater. So, even though fish don’t understand names like people do, they can connect sounds to things happening around them.
Fish can live without a bubbler, but they do need constant oxygen, which often comes from moving water. A bubbler helps move air at the water’s surface in the tank.
However, the most crucial part of an aquarium is the filter, which can also help stir the water.
Deciding to use a bubbler depends on the type of fish, tank size, water temperature, and the current oxygen level in the water.
Fish can survive without a heater, depending on their species’ preferred water temperature. If we can keep the water at the right temperature naturally, it’s ideal.
Some fish can survive for a short time in temperatures that aren’t ideal, but being in those conditions for too long isn’t good for them.
However, tropical fish need a heater. It’s important because cold water slows metabolism, while too much heat can cause overheating.
Keeping the water temperature right is vital for fish health.
Fish can see and understand what’s outside their tank with their limited eyesight.
They can hear better than humans and recognize the person who feeds them, like how dogs or cats recognize their owners.
This helps them interact with the outside world, including noticing and reacting to people near their tank.
Guppies can survive in tap water. They need their water treated to get rid of harmful chlorine or fluorine, which can hurt their gills.
They like water that’s a bit harder or slightly salty. But the most important thing for them to live happily is having a tank that’s cycled properly, so they have a stable and healthy home.
I’ve already answered this before. For guppies, it’s straightforward: if we keep the water moving, we don’t need an air pump.
Guppies can do fine without one, especially in a well-kept tank with natural conditions where water movement provides enough oxygen.
But the tank’s size and the number of fish are important factors to consider if you’re thinking about using an air pump.
Just like people, pet fish can feel lonely when alone. It’s best to keep them with other fish to keep them company.
Studies of fish in tanks reveal they interact with each other, and solitary fish might show signs of feeling down and being less active, showing how important socializing is for their happiness.
Certain types of fish can form bonds with their owners, with bonding levels differing between species.
For example, Oscars are more likely to bond if they receive good care.
The strength of this emotional connection relies on both the species of the fish and the environment created by the owner, showing the possibility of meaningful relationships between fish and humans.
Fish do rest, but they don’t sleep like animals on land.
They become less active and slow down their metabolism but stay ready for any threats.
Depending on the type, fish may rest by staying still in the water, tucking themselves into a safe spot, or settling in a nest.
This resting is important for their health.
Fish can be happy in aquariums if they have what they need.
Even though aquariums are smaller and less diverse than their natural habitats, they provide safety from predators, which can help fish live longer.
Instead of happiness, we might think of fish in aquariums as feeling content.
How they feel mostly depends on how well they’re taken care of and their environment’s quality.
I believe that when the aquarium is well taken care of, the fish are happy.
To support this, I can mention that my cardinal tetra, which typically live for 5 years, have been thriving in my aquarium for 8 years.
Fish display play-like behaviors, such as interacting with objects, which are not random but rooted in their evolutionary history.
These actions reveal aspects of their psychology, including emotions, motivations, and intellect, indicating that fish are capable of complex behaviors like play.
You might not be able to play with your fish, but any form of interaction can still be enjoyable.
Fish can feel pain because they have special sensors called nociceptors that react to things like sharp hooks.
This shows they can feel something like pain, helping them avoid danger.
Fish kept in aquariums can get stressed, which can harm their health and looks.
Stress weakens their immune system, making them more likely to get sick and even die.
Although stress is normal for fish in the wild, it’s a big problem for aquarium fish and requires careful attention to keep them healthy.