Environmentally Responsible Fish Keeping
Samantha Lee N. Brown
Taking care of fish is a beautiful hobby. Watching your fish moving in their aquarium can give you piece and relaxation. In fact, you may find yourself more attracted to watching your fish than doing the other things you are used to like watching television after your work. Having an aquarium can definitely add beauty to your home, especially if you keep different kinds of beautiful colored fish.
Of course, many would-be aquarium owners are hesitant to buy a commercial fish tank and contribute their money to companies that practice destructive fish harvesting methods. Some companies capture tropical fish using cyanide to stun them, and because of this practice over half the fish captured ultimately die. In addition, the coral reefs in which these fish live are also damaged.
For this reason, you want to take pleasure from this soothing and delightful pastime in ways which do not cause damage to nature's delicate ecological balance. How do you ensure that your home tank is ecologically friendly? We have some suggestions so that you can populate a lovely aquarium and still not hurt either the environment or the amazing creatures which swim in it.
1) The fish you buy for your aquarium should be ones that have been bred in captivity, not caught in the wild. You can rest assured knowing that no damage to the fish's natural habitat was caused when your fish was brought to you. Many resources available on the Internet can help you find fish that are bred in captivity.
2) If you have a marine, or saltwater, aquarium, then contact a local aquarium hobby club. They can give you a lot of information about breeding plants and tropical fish. They can also help you find fish that were bred in captivity.
3) You might think about buying a freshwater instead of a marine aquarium. It is easier to care for a freshwater aquarium, and over 90% of freshwater aquarium fish are bred in captivity. Freshwater fish can be just as beautiful as exotic marine fish.
4) Prior to buying fish, it would be smart to find out where the fish came from. The pet store selling fish should be willing to provide this information. If not, you may want to consider buying fish from another pet shop or a specialty aquarium seller.
A most satisfying and rewarding hobby is keeping fish and having an aquarium. If you give your fish the proper care, they will give you countless hours of enjoyment and great relaxation. There have been studies which suggested that you can lower your stress level by spending time watching fish in an aquarium. It will be that much more relaxing to watch your fish and take care of them if you know they have been brought up in captivity.
By choosing fish that have been bred in captivity, you can be content with the fact that the natural habitats of fish have not been harmed, and your aquarium will give you extra pleasure. Have fun and enjoy your new pastime!
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