Resources

Aquariums have many advantages, especially in medical settings such as hospitals or any type of doctor’s office.

 

Researchers have compared the effects of hypnosis vs. an aquarium, fishless vs. fish filled aquariums, and no aquarium vs. having an aquarium. In all cases, having some sort of aquarium reduced blood pressure. Interestingly enough, greater reduction in blood pressure occurred when there were fish in the tank, vs pleasingly decorated, but fishless, tanks.

 

Studies show that aquariums lower blood pressure. Studies have also shown that Alzheimer patients have an average weight gain of 6.5lbs when an aquarium is present in the dining area and aquariums keep Alzheimer patients occupied. Additionally, tanks in office waiting areas lower perceived wait time as clients or patients have something interactive to do while waiting. 

At Purdue University, researchers have found that displaying tanks of brightly colored fish may curtail disruptive behaviors and improve eating habits of people with Alzheimer's disease. A Purdue News August 1999 Report states that Nursing Professor Nancy Edwards tracked 60 individuals who resided in specialized units in three Indiana nursing homes. She found that patients who were exposed to the fish tanks appeared to be more relaxed and alert, and they ate up to 21 percent more food than they had before the introduction of the fish tanks. The average increase in food consumption was 17.2 percent."

 

Children love aquariums thanks to the movie "Finding Nemo". Fish are fun, interactive pets that require little maintenance on your part with Scooter's Aquatics & Exotics care.  The Mystic Aquarium in Mystic, Connecticut has a program designed to help children with learning and developmental challenges enhance their social skills. The program uses "touch and learn" sessions with aquatic invertebrates to facilitate relaxation and development of social skills.

 

Have you heard of dolphins helping children with emotional disorders? Studies have shown that watching fish in an aquarium calmed children diagnosed with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, ADHD. Virtually any aquarium, from large to small, will have a benefit. A large aquarium is wonderful, but if space is limited, a mini-aquarium will do the trick.
 

Besides an aquarium's obvious beauty (when well taken care of) fish tanks can improve your life in many other ways. When you come home from work, or when you finally put the kids to bed... prop your feet up and watch your fish swim serenely through your aquarium, watch the plants or the coral swaying rhythmically under the aquarium lighting... relax and enjoy.

 

In feng shui, moving water is considered beneficial in balancing chi, and a well maintained aquarium in the right location increases wealth and luck.

 

Taking time to watch and interact with pets provides a welcome break from the stress of daily cares and concerns. Aquariums are ideal for creating a soothing, tranquil, meditative place to relax and connect with nature, in your home or office. They can even pull your kids away from mindless TV to learn about prehistoric species and the cycle of life. They're great conversation starters and provide entertainment for guests. For business owners, they can make those waiting room times fly by for your clients. For busy people who want to experience the joys of pet ownership, but are concerned that they don't have enough time to care for them, tropical aquarium fish are a great choice. They are easier to take care of than dogs, cats, and many other animals, and take up very little space. With the wide variety of aquarium shapes and sizes, they can fit in virtually any home or office

 

About the Hobby
 

• Fish have been on the earth for more than 450 million years, whereas mammals have only been on earth for roughly 200 millions years.
• There are over 27,000 identified species of fish on the earth and an estimated 15,000 fish species that have not yet been identified.
• There are more species of fish than all the species of amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals combined.
• Sailfish, Swordfish, and Marlin are the fastest fish in the ocean, reaching speeds of up to 70 mph, which is faster than the speed limits on most highways!
• Many Rockfish can live hundreds of years. Rougheye Rockfish are the longest known living fish on earth and can live over 200 years! That means that a Rockfish on your dinner plate tonight could have been alive when Meriwether Lewis and William Clark set out on their famous expedition in 1804 to explore unknown territories in the United States.
• Out of more than 360 species of Sharks, only a handful of species pose a potential threat to humans. Did you know? Elephants (~500) and deer (~100) kill more people every year than Sharks (~10)!
• A female Sunfish may lay 300,000,000 eggs at a single spawning season.
• A male Bangaii Cardinalfish will hold both eggs and babies in his mouth until the young are ready to swim on their own. This process is known as "mouth brooding." Although it takes several weeks, the male fish will not eat until the eggs hatch.
• Catfish have over 27,000 taste buds, whereas humans have only 9,000.
• African Lungfish are capable of living out of water for up to two years. They hibernate underground and wait for the water level to rise.
• Goldfish can live for decades. The oldest known Goldfish, "Goldie," died in 2005 at 45 years of age. The second oldest Goldfish was "Tish" who died at 43.
• The largest fish in the world is the Whale Shark. The largest recorded Whale Shark was 12.6 m (41.5 ft) long, had a girth of 7 m (23 ft), and weighed more than 21,500 kg (47,300 lbs).
• Whale Sharks also lay the largest eggs of any animal. A Whale Shark egg measuring 35.6 cm (14 in) long was found in the Gulf of Mexico in the 1950s.
• The largest predatory Shark is the great White Shark. The largest one ever caught was 11.3 m (37 ft) long and weighted over 10,909 kg (24,000 lbs).
• It takes approximately seven years for the average American Lobster to reach one pound.
• The largest Octopus in the world is the Pacific Giant Octopus. Although it is only about the size of a pea when it is born, by the time it is two years old it can be 9.1 m (30 ft) across and weigh 68.2 kg (150 lbs).
• The Giant Squid is the largest creature without a backbone. It grows up to 16.8 m (55 ft) across and weighs up to 2,722 kg (5,000 lbs). The Giant Squid also has the largest eyes of any animal on earth, as they are sixteen times wider than human eyes, or more than 30.5 cm (1 ft) in diameter
• The Spotted Climbing Perch is able to absorb oxygen from the air and can crawl over land using its strong pectoral fins in search of water.
• Some fish, like Sharks, do not have an air bladder to help keep them afloat. They must either swim continually or rest on the bottom.
• Fish have a specialized sense organ called their lateral line, which works much like radar and helps them navigate in dark or murky water.
• It wasn’t until 1853 in London when aeration and filtration of water was understood, that people were able to keep fish as indoor pets.
• The first public aquarium was opened in London (1853), and by 1856 New York also had an aquarium.
• The Great Barrier Reef Aquarium is the world’s largest living reef aquarium with 2.5 million L (660,430 gal) of water! It is located in Queenshead, Australia.
• Today, fresh and saltwater aquarium fish are the most popular pets in the U.S. Approximately 12 million households own aquariums.
• The world’s tiniest fish is the Stout Infant, which is about 0.6 cm (0.25 in) long.
• The largest fish fossil found to date is from the Leedsichthys problematicus , which lived 150 million years ago. It was found in England in 2003 and measured 22.0 m (72 ft) long.
• Cavefish have no sight, but can detect movement and odor through what?.
• American Lobsters have longer life spans than both cats and dogs, living over 20 years.
• A person who studies fish for a living is called an ichthyologist.