History of Fish Keeping

Originally fish were kept in captivity not for pleasure but for practical reasons, as a food source. The development of fishkeeping as a hobby began when, out of curiosity, usually colored specimens were isolated from the main stock and then selectively bred. In China, particularly, early aquarist started to produce tank-bred carp in large numbers, not just with enhanced coloration but also with specific body and fin adaptations. By the 16th century, colored carp had been introduced to Japan. Within the next hundred years they had reached Europe, and by 1900 the Goldfish had made it to America.

THE BIRTH OF AQUARIA

It was probably in the early 19th century that the aquarium as we know it first came into being. Before then, there are only a few records of fish being kept alive for several years in glass jars. The turning point came in 1850, when a Mr R. Harrington presented a paper to the Chemical Society in London, England, describing how he had successfully maintained a stable aquarium. This sparked great interest, launching fishkeeping as a popular hobby.

In 1852, the London Zoological Society began building the first public aquarium, which was opened the following year. A second facility followed, in the Surrey Zoological Gardens, also in England, and before long public aquaria was established in all the major cities of Europe, their novel freshwater and marine exhibits drawing a steady stream of intrigued visitors.

The first amateur aquarist usually kept native fish. In coastal towns, people tried marine species, while in inland regions virtually all forms of freshwater live were introduced to captivity. Although freshwater fish were generally more accessible and far more widely kept, contemporary aquarium books focused mainly on coldwater marine fish. Many of the local aquatic plants described in some of these volumes are now rare - sad evidence of the long-term effects of pollution on our waterways.

The aquarium soon became a fashionable household item in Victorian England. There were no ready-made tanks for sale, however, and various books of the day give detailed instructions for constructing an aquarium. These structures were often more decorative than functional. A common design featured a glass front with the other three sides made of wood (coated in pitch to make it watertight) or often slate. Various glass containers and bell jars could be purchased, but tanks were usually oblong and handmade to fit an alcove in the home for prominent display.

Before long, fishkeeping had not only captured the public imagination, but was also posing new challenges for enthusiasts keen to develop ever more ambitious aquaria. In 1857, H.Noel Humphreys wrote Ocean and River Gardens - A History of Marine and Freshwater Aquaria, stating: “We shall yet have tropical aquaria, in which the temperature and qualities of the seas between the tropics will be successfully imitated.”

LEARNING BASIC PRINCIPLES

The far-sighted Mr Humpreys not only predicted the invention of the heater and thermostat, which would expand hugely the range of creatures that could be maintained in aquaria, but was also among the first to acknowledge the importance of water chemistry in keeping fish. Further, he recognized a principle that is often overlooked by aquarist even today - the critical factor of stocking levels. Commenting on a friend’s aquarium, he observed: “Although his interesting tank did not look too overcrowded, yet he soon discovered that a forbidden limit had been passed, and that creatures cannot accommodate themselves to an allotment system in the proportion of square inch to each individual.” As Humpreys foresaw, heating, lighting, and filtration systems for aquaria were gradually introduced, though these were initially quite crude. Many early tanks had slate bottoms, and were heated from below by a small burner. As more sophisticated heaters and thermostats were developed, tanks came to be made of glass in a metal frame.

NEW FISHKEEPING HORIZONS

While aquarium equipment continued to be developed and improved, aquarist began to look further afield for fish to keep. The hobby had declined somewhat as people tired of the fairly drab native species commonly available. Among the few non-native fish featured in early aquarium literature was Goldfish: an 1858 American publication and an English work dated 1890 both note that, although considered a coldwater species, the Goldfish originates from warmer climes and can survive at a temperature of 27C (81F). The revival of aquaria came with the introduction of highly colourful tropical species such as the Paradise Fish, which became known in Germany around 1876 and was recorded in England in 1890. From this point on, fishkeeping was to go from strength to strength. Aquatic societies became widespread, leading to the organization of competitive fish shows. Such events increased public access to the hobby, which the austere years of World War II. Yet there were still major advances to come. At this time, saltwater aquaria were nearly impossible to maintain, since the metal tank frame would corrode, producing toxins lethal to marine species. To combat this problem, frames were galvanized, polycoated, or made of stainless steel. The real breakthrough, however, came with the development of silicon sealant in the late 1960s. This allowed all-glass aquaria to be manufactured for the first time, and in a variety of shapes and sizes. Tanks could now be moved more easily, without fear of breaking the seal between the glass ans the putty. Frames became obsolete, though plastic ones were often added solely as a decorative feature.

MODERN AQUARIUM STYLES

Today, acrylic is used in place of glass to make aquaria in unusual shapes, such as hexagonal. As these “novelty” tanks become increasingly affordable, and as manufacturers produce harder, more scratch-resistant plastics, acrylic aquaria are likely to be regarded as an aesthetically acceptable, lightweight alternative to glass. Traditional angle-iron tank stands have been largely superseded by decorative and functional cabinets designed to co-ordinate with variety of decors.

Other tank components, such as heating, aquarium lighting, aquarium filtration system, and aeration sytems, have also been steadily improved for greater safety and efficiency. Apart from advancements in hardware, many species of fish have been “engineered” to have elongated fins, enhanced coloration, and altered body forms (though the ethics of such selective breeding remain debatable). There is now increasing concern for the welfare not just of individual fish but also of entire aquatic species. Many zoos and public aquaria run captive-breeding programmes for endangered species, often with the assistance of well-established home aquarists. Co-operative efforts such as this serve both to preserve aquatic life and to widen our knowledge and appreciation of it.

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