Welcome to the Wonderful World of Fishkeeping...
A Brief History
There has been a phenomenal growth of interest in Freshwater
Tropical Fishkeeping in recent times. Although past history tells us
that there have been booms in the hobby before, only to be followed
by slumps. There was a boom in Great Britain after the Second World
War, when interest in the hobby increased, this was largely due to better
import facilities, which made more species available at lower costs,
but alas, this was followed by a slump in the 1950’s, probably due to
the many “dabblers” that found their interest waning, and consequently
gave up the hobby.
Fortunately there were enough dedicated enthusiasts
around to tide us over that difficult period. However, on the continent
of Europe, and in the United States at that time, the hobby was flourishing
and gathering momentum. Nowadays the aquarium hobby has re-established
itself world wide, with a vengeance, and the aquatic industry has become
highly organised. It produces a wide range of products and equipment
designed to ease the task of fishkeepers, and present day attitudes
towards the hobby indicate no sign of decline.
The history of fishkeeping dates back to antiquity,
and one can only speculate as to its exact origins. Could it be for
instance, that long ago in a distant land, possibly China, that a man
took a fish from a pond, or stream, and placed it in a container? Thus
becoming the first fishkeeper! Who knows for sure? I think anyone trying
to answer this question would only be forming an opinion. It is quite
probable that more than any one person was responsible for keeping fishes
in captivity for reasons other than for food.
Or maybe it was for this very reason that fishkeeping
came about, possibly people were keeping fishes captive prior to eating
them, and realised that a closer examination of these creatures afforded
them aesthetic pleasure because of their colour, shape, and movement.
It is more likely that it happened simultaneously in various places,
and over a period of time. Whatever the exact origins, the simple fact
remains that these first anonymous enthusiasts initiated a hobby that
was to extend its bounds far around the world.
Early records do exist, some of which indicate that
Chinese people were keeping Goldfish, as pets, as long ago as a thousand
years. One of the earliest formal essays on fishes, The Book of the
Vermilion Fish, was written in China in 1596; and somewhat later, Samuel
Pepys, in 1665, made a diary reference about the keeping of fishes in
the home. However, ichthyology goes back much further than that.
The science of ichthyology, the branch of zoology that
studies fishes, represents over 2000 years of observations. These observations
were carried out by thousands of dedicated men and women worldwide by
practical experience, in a scientific approach, and have been tested
over the ages using precision instruments, and mathematical analysis,
and are now presented in a structured and systematic manner.
*The written history of ichthyology coincides in general
with that of zoology, which takes its start with Aristotle (384-322
B.C.). He had a fairly accurate knowledge of the general structure of
fishes, correctly distinguishing them from the aquatic mammals and cetaceans.
Aristotle’s information on the habits of fishes, their special adaptations,
method and time of propagation has proved to be surprisingly accurate.
However, it is not easy to recognize the species with which he was dealing
because his idea of a species was vague. He adopted the nomenclature
of the local fishermen. It never occurred to Aristotle that local popular
names change from generation to generation and from one locality to
another. His world of ichthyology was limited to about 115 species,
all-living in the Aegean Sea.*
For almost two millennia, generation after generation
followed Aristotle’s observations. They copied his works, and lacked
any observant interpretations of their own. It was an era when revitalisation
was of the essence. This was to take place in the early 16th century,
when new and original observations were made, but even then works were
limited and confined to specific areas of the globe, and there was indeed
some speculation involved.
However, during the 17th century, a new perception
that abandoned speculation, and which only dealt with facts, was recognised.
This was to reveal that there were many similar anatomical structures
throughout the animal world; therefore, the first serious attempt at
untangling the chaos that existed was possible by arranging animals
into groups that were based on their structure.
It was during the 18th century that ichthyology was
to become of age, when the works of a Swedish man named Peter Artedi
(1705-1735) were to be recognised as having established the generic
concept. His concepts were that the genus represented a group of species
that was typically consistent with each other, although, having minor
characteristic differences. He then proceeded to group the genera into
the “Family” conceptualisation that we know of today.
Carolus Linnaeus (1707-1778) was a close friend of
Peter Artedi, and it was Artedi’s system of classification, as historians
will agree, that is reflected in the works of Linnaeus (his tenth edition
of Systema naturae in (1758), following Artedi’s death. This was to
identify every animal and plant by two names. The first was the generic
name, and the second one was to identify the species, it was this identification
of species that Artedi’s system was weak.
So now, with this new “binomial nomenclature”, every
living thing can claim a specific place in the system and be catalogued.
This was to be the most important event of the century. However, to
list all the names and great works that are accredited to the numerous
ichthyologists over time, and to the present day, would without doubt
burden most visitors to this web site, and its main concern is not the
scientific traits of fishes (albeit a very interesting subject), but
more the pursuit of aesthetic pleasure to be had from keeping them as
an aquarist.
The fountainhead of fishkeeping may not lie in Great
Britain, but the first scientific paper on the theory and practice of
the “balanced” aquarium was, it was published in England in 1850. Indeed,
in the Victorian era, it was considered quite the fashion to have an
aquarium in the home, and although public aquaria were being constructed
throughout Europe during this period, it was in England that the first
one was opened; this was the “fish house” at London Zoo.
However, by the end of that century Germany was firmly
established in the forefront of aquarium culture and was exporting tropical
fishes to the USA. This formed the foundation for a nation-wide interest
in the hobby that has flourished to this day. In-between the two World
Wars tropical fish aquaria became evermore popular, although it could
not have been an easy or affordable hobby for the less well off. Because
of importation difficulties only a limited number of species would have
been available, and these would obviously have been quite expensive.
However, the aftermath of the Second World War saw
significant changes, better facilities for import, especially by air,
meant that more species were obtainable, and at a more affordable price.
Aquatic Societies sprang up Countrywide; memberships of them increased
enabling them to have shows and exhibitions, both at National level,
as well as local; the number of serious breeders increased; all this
gave new momentum to the hobby.
Nevertheless, gloom was waiting around the corner.
During the 1950's the growth that was generated after the Second World
War was followed by a decline. Many amateurs, who were only superficially
involved with the hobby, saw their interest waning and consequently
gave up… however, on the continent of Europe, and in the United States
at that time; the hobby was flourishing and gathering momentum. Fortunately
there were enough dedicated enthusiasts around the United Kingdom to
tide us over that difficult period.
I’m glad to say those gloomy days have gone, and the
hobby enjoys a new lease of life, it has re-established itself world
wide, with a vengeance, gone are the days when one had to heat a slate
bottomed aquarium with candles, or aerate the aquarium water from an
old inflated car inner-tube, instead the aquatic industry produces a
wide range of products and equipment designed to ease the task of fishkeepers,
it has become highly organised, and present day attitudes towards the
hobby indicate no sign of decline.
Quite often fishes are regarded as “easy pets” to keep,
especially by amateurs only superficially involved, or uninitiated in
the hobby. Indeed it is true that fishes don’t need to be taken for
a walk, they don’t make a noise, and they don’t mess up the house, or
even bite the postman. This type of hobbyist thinks that they just need
to fill a fish tank (or the ultimate torture chamber, a goldfish bowl),
with water, put their newly acquired fish into it, and then feed them
a couple of times a day, and that’s all there is to it. They couldn’t
be further from the truth.
I’m not saying anyone needs to have a degree on the
subject, but the would-be fishkeeper does need an element of knowledge
on the “basic principals of aquarium life”. This won’t happen over-night,
but this is where this web site comes in, as well as the many books
on the subject . It cannot be emphasised enough that these must be read
and studied over and over until you have a good understanding of the
different aspects of the hobby, before any practical steps are taken.
It’s sad to say that many aspiring fishkeepers new
to the hobby assume that they know all there is to know and find it
hard to accept advice. As time goes by they find that things are not
quite going to plan, plants don’t grow, fishes die, they buy more fishes
and they too die, all for no apparent reason to the uninitiated hobbyist.
Do people realise that if they bought a puppy, and for no apparent reason
it dies, then go out and buy another puppy, and that also dies, and
so on, the animal welfare groups would have us locked up (to coin a
phrase), so why do people think fishes are any different. This form
of cruelty (albeit of ignorance, although this should not be an excuse)
is happening all over the world on a regular basis.
It seems to be the assumption (because they are cold
blooded creatures) that fishes can’t feel pain, however, they can, although
it’s likely that they perceive it differently. It is also regarded that
because fishes are relatively inexpensive, and can be readily replaced,
their lives are considered of little consequence. You may not be aware,
but it is illegal in the UK to cause stress and pain to fish, as it
is with other animals.
Each year up to 20% of us leave the hobby, many for
reasons given above. What one must realise is, that if things go wrong,
and they do, for the experienced as well as for novices, is that we
must learn from our mistakes, and not give up because of them. As an
animal lover it is a sad experience to lose a fish, as it is any animal.
Unfortunately, when a fish dies many hobbyists immediately think that
it must be of a pathogenic reason, when in reality one should not jump
to conclusions but first of all check out the quality of the fishes
environment.
It is far to easy to buy and set up an aquarium, but
if you want a “successful aquarium set up” then some knowledge of it’s
care is essential. This way the fishes can be kept alive and healthy
for many years. Kept properly your fishes should live quite happily
for up ten years (although some, by nature, only have short life spans),
and some even longer.
It would be far to easy for me to carry on with this
chapter, there is an abundance of matter I could relate to as an introduction,
but I think it best now to let you get on with the interesting features
that are to come from this web site. Anything else that I might say
here, I am sure, if you are keen enough, you will pick up yourself as
you delve further into the hobby.
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