Welcome to the Wonderful World of Fish keeping hobby.. 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 many enthusiastic individuals 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.
