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Parlor Ponds: The Cultural Work of the American Home Aquarium, 1850–1970

Parlor Ponds: The Cultural Work of the American Home Aquarium, 1850–1970

The welfare of ornamental fish in the home aquarium

The welfare of ornamental fish kept in aquariums or ponds has historically been taken for granted by fish keepers, the ornamental fish industry and animal welfare organisations. This is attributed to the low cost of many ornamental fish, lack of reliable information about their health care, or a perceived lack of veterinarians with skills in aquatic animal health. Moreover, it is not uncommon for our veterinary colleagues to refer potential fish clients to fish stores or pet stores, as had been done in the past with less commonly seen species like birds and ‘pocket pets’. Slowly, veterinary surgeons and veterinary organisations are increasingly becoming involved in aquatic veterinary medicine to help improve the welfare of pet fish. This article presents the current status of ornamental fish welfare, the issues and their causes, and provides further sources of information.

A Case of Palytoxin Poisoning in a Home Aquarium Enthusiast and His Family

Inhalational exposure to palytoxin is an extremely rare cause of respiratory distress. This little-known marine toxin has the potential to cause significant morbidity and mortality. Toxicity has been best documented in cases of ingestion but has also been seen in cases of dermal exposure and inhalation of vapors. Palytoxin has been found in several coral species, some of which are favored by home aquarium enthusiasts and are commercially available. We report a case of a family who were exposed to the aerosolized toxin following the cleaning of a coral in their home aquarium. It is important that clinicians be aware of this source of toxic exposure to provide necessary care to these patients.

A novel method of drug administration to multiple zebrafish (Danio rerio) and the quantification of withdrawal.

Anxiety testing in zebrafish is often studied in combination with the application of pharmacological substances. In these studies, fish are routinely netted and transported between home aquaria and dosing tanks. In order to enhance the ease of compound administration, a novel method for transferring fish between tanks for drug administration was developed. Inserts that are designed for spawning were used to transfer groups of fish into the drug solution, allowing accurate dosing of all fish in the group. This increases the precision and efficiency of dosing, which becomes very important in long schedules of repeated drug administration. We implemented this procedure for use in a study examining the behavior of zebrafish in the light/dark test after administering ethanol with differing 21 day schedules. In fish exposed to daily-moderate amounts of alcohol there was a significant difference in location preference after 2 days of withdrawal when compared to the control group. However, a significant difference in location preference in a group exposed to weekly-binge administration was not observed. This protocol can be generalized for use with all types of compounds that are water-soluble and may be used in any situation when the behavior of fish during or after long schedules of drug administration is being examined. The light/dark test is also a valuable method of assessing withdrawal-induced changes in anxiety.

On the natural history of an introduced population of guppies (Poecilia reticulata Peters, 1859) in Germany

Artificially heated water bodies represent unusual habitats in temperate regions and form a refuge for exceptional fish communities. The Gillbach, a tributary of the river Erft in Germany, receives thermally polluted cooling water from a power plant. Here, we present data on the composition of the fish community in the Gillbach and found a high abundance of invasive species from all over the world, mostly introduced by releases from home aquaria. We found a species composition that is dominated by invasive species containing the same species as 15 years ago. We focused on guppies (Poecilia reticulata) and determined population size using the mark-recapture method. Furthermore, we investigated the lower thermal tolerance limit (CTmin) to determine if Gillbach guppies have already adapted to colder conditions compared to ornamental and Venezuelan wild type fish. We caught guppies of all sizes, and densities of 3.6 adult guppies per square meter were comparable to densities found in their natural distribution area, pointing toward a self-sustaining population in the Gillbach. The CTmin varied between populations and was significantly lower in ornamental and Gillbach guppies compared to guppies from Venezuela. Despite differences in CTmin and their well-known potential to adapt to new environments, guppies originally stem from the tropics, and a further spread will likely be restricted by low winter temperatures. Thus, P. reticulata in the Gillbach might not represent a threat for local fauna in Central Europe, but provide a unique semi-natural experiment for various questions related to local adaptation of invasive species, as well as ecological interactions with indigenous species.

Evolutionary developmental biology: Dynasty of the plastic fish.

Ambitious experimental and morphological studies of a modern fish show how developmental flexibility may have helped early 'fishapods' to make the transition from finned aquatic animals to tetrapods that walk on land. See Article p.54 Bichirs (genus Polypterus) are primitive ray-finned fish found in Africa — and sometimes in home aquaria — that have functional lungs derived from the swim bladder and powerful pectoral fins that provide support during occasional forays ashore. This study takes Polypterus senegalus as a model for the immediate ancestors of tetrapods and quantifies the anatomical and behavioural changes that occur when these fish are 'terrestrialized'. When raised on land, bichirs lift their heads higher off the ground, deploy their forelimbs closer to the midline and slip around much less often than those raised underwater and prompted to walk ashore for the first time. These observations, together with changes in bone structure and musculature, suggest that some of the postural changes seen in the earliest tetrapods, or rather their immediate antecedents, might have been made in response to the environment and assimilated by developmental plasticity.

Inner workings: Raising yellow tang.

Chatham Callan squints into a 200-liter tank of water. “You have to really look hard to see the little specks in there,” he says. “Those guys just hatched yesterday.” White dots the size of a pinhead float in the water; they’re day-old yellow tang, saltwater fish that are among the most popular for home aquariums. Adult yellow tang collected from the oceans around Hawaii over 8 years ago are used as …

Trade of Seahorses, <I>Hippocampus</I> Spp. (Actinopterygii: Syngnathiformes: Syngnathidae), on the East Coast of the Gulf of Thailand

Background. Live seahorses are traded mainly for ornamental markets owing to their unique features whereas dried seahorses are mainly traded for use in traditional Chinese medicines. Increased seahorse trade globally has posed a threat to seahorse populations worldwide. Thailand has been reported to be one of the major seahorse exporter countries, but study on seahorse fisheries and trade is limited. The presently reported study surveyed seahorse trade on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand. Materials and methods. A total of 23 fishing ports, docks, and villages along the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand were surveyed from March 2011 through November 2012. The fishermen and primary traders were interviewed and samples of captured seahorses were examined aiming to assess the trade species and volumes, fishing method used, prices, trade routes, and the destinations of the trade. Results. Live seahorses were obtained solely from artisanal fisheries and were mainly supplied for domestic, public, and home aquaria through primary and secondary traders. Live trade comprised 4 species, Hippocampus mohnikei Bleeker, 1854, H. kuda Bleeker, 1852, H. spinosissimus Weber, 1913, and H. trimaculatus Leach, 1814. The prices varied dependent on size and species. The majority of seahorse trade was from the dried trade, originating mainly from non-selective trawlers in middle scale fisheries. Three species, H. kuda, H. spinosissimus, and H. trimaculatus, were found in the dried trade. Dried seahorses were mainly exported for their use in traditional Chinese medicine. The prices of dried seahorses depended on their size and fishing method used. Trade routes of both live and dried seahorses involved several levels of traders; more levels of traders were involved in the dried trade. Conclusion. Non-selective trawlers were the main source of seahorse supply along the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand. Restriction of fishing equipment used or defining protection areas may help conserving the seahorse population in Southeast Asia. Further surveys of seahorse distribution and trades covering Thai waters will provide complete information of trades in Thailand.

A comparison of two pH‐stat carbon dioxide dosing systems for ocean acidification experiments

As the oceans acidify due to increasing atmospheric CO2, there is a growing need to understand the impact of this process on marine organisms. Field observations are difficult because of multiple covarying factors (e.g., temperature, salinity). As such, there is interest in conducting controlled, laboratory experiments to best understand how changes in acidity will affect marine organisms. We tested two intermittent CO2 dosing systems, a “home aquarium hobby” grade pH controller and an industrial process control platform. We assessed stability, accuracy, and precision over 7‐d experimental periods as well as relative cost of the two configurations. We also compared three laboratory‐grade pH electrodes to the hobbyist electrode to further evaluate electrode quality on systemcontrolled pH stability and drift. Whereas the industrial system offered some benefit with regard to autonomy, our results show that the low‐cost hobbyist system can be modified appropriately to provide comparable pH control. We provide a detailed list of procedures and software developed for the implementation of a cost‐effective, precision‐controlled CO2 dosing system to support laboratory‐based ocean acidification experiments.

Die Hygiene der Stadtfische und das wilde Leben in der Wasserleitung. Zum Verhältnis von Aquarium und Stadt im 19. Jahrhundert

AbstractHygienic Domestication of Urban Fish and the Wild Life in the Water Pipes. Home Aquaria and the City in the Nineteenth Century. The paper focuses on the interrelations between the domestic aquarium and its urban environment in the second half of the nineteenth century. It argues that the city plays a crucial role in the invention and history of the aquarium. Not only is the material culture of the aquarium a product of urban technologies and infrastructure; the aquarium's early definition as a confined and closed, self‐contained and purified space can be seen as a response to increasing environmental problems, particularly urban water and air pollution. The paper describes how the aquarium and the city together form a laboratory for the exploration of new sanitary and climatic techniques in terms of ventilation and water supply. Furthermore, the paper stresses the crucial role that early amateur aquarium‐keeping plays in the practical construction and regulation of artificial environments as well as in the historical and theoretical reformulation of fundamental notions such as dynamic balance and models of circulation. Getting more and more intertwined on a material and discursive level, the aquarium and its urban environment not only provide specific habitats where the living conditions of humans and animals can be studied. In fact, both become objects and simultaneously media of sanitarian programmes in the name of public health.

Case Series: Inhaled Coral Vapor—Toxicity in a Tank

Palytoxin (PTX) is considered a severe marine toxin. Although rare, reports of human exposure from consumption of PTX have described significant morbidity and mortality. PTX is the suspected agent in Haff disease, in which rhabdomyolysis occurs within 24 h of eating contaminated fish such as buffalo fish. PTX is primarily present in soft corals or in dinoflagellates, and it can contaminate crustaceans and other fish as it bioaccumulates up the food chain. Only 23 cases have been reported in the USA, including two recent cases in New York City. Reports of inhalational exposure to PTX are uncommon. We describe a case series of six patients, including four adults and two children, with inhalational exposure to PTX aerosolized from Palythoa corals. Their symptoms included some degree of respiratory involvement, myalgias, paresthesias, low-grade fevers, and gastrointestinal symptoms. Fortunately, there were no serious outcomes and all patients survived without sequelae. Although rare, exposure to palytoxin is not restricted to people visiting marine environments because of Palythoa coral in some home aquariums. Routes of exposure go beyond consumption of fish that feed on the coral and include dermal as well as inhalational exposure. Palytoxin exposure should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients who own or work with fish tanks and present with symptoms that include respiratory complaints, myalgias, neuromuscular dysfunction, hemolysis, and cardiac toxicity. There is no known antidotal therapy and treatment should focus on meticulous supportive care.

Erythema elevatum diutinum

A 58-year-old man was referred to our clinic with an 8-month history of red-brown nodules on the dorsal surface of his left hand. He reported that he collected fish in his home aquarium as a hobby. On this basis, a prior diagnosis of nontuberculous mycobacterial infection was made, but systemic clarithromycin was ineffective. The patient also reported a constant painful sensation, which worsened in the evening and after exposure to low temperatures. Dermatologic examination of the left hand revealed two large, tender, red-brown skin nodules on the extensor surfaces of the second and third metacarpophalangeal joint, one of which was partially covered by a hematic crust …

Aquatic dermatology: encounters with the denizens of the deep (and not so deep) – a review. Part II: the vertebrates, single‐celled organisms, and aquatic biotoxins

Numerous aquatic vertebrate species are known to cause cutaneous injury. While many of the injuries occur in regions that harbor such organisms, with the ability of people to travel long distances in short periods of time, these injuries may be seen worldwide. Also, with the increasing tendency of people to keep home aquariums, these injuries may occur anywhere. The majority of such injuries are minor and most go unreported. Some, however may be associated with morbidity and loss of life. Along with such injuries comes the potential for infection by bacteria, algae, or fungi. Some of these organisms are ubiquitous, others are specific to the aquatic environment. Toxins may be transferred from the offending organisms into the wound. Interestingly, some of these same toxins may be beneficial to treating some disease states in man.

Aquatic dermatology: encounters with the denizens of the deep (and not so deep) a review. Part I: the invertebrates

Aquatic dermatoses encompass a broad spectrum of cutaneous injuries. These injuries may present through contact with invertebrate organisms such as jellyfish, sea urchins, corals, and molluscs. Each organism is equipped with a unique method of causing harm to man, therefore a myriad of presenting signs and symptoms should be recognized in order to initiate treatment. Aquatic injuries are not limited to areas of the world where these species originate. With the advent of rapid world travel and the hobby of home aquariums, dermatologists play a key role in the early diagnosis and treatment of such injuries. The method of injury, including a discussion of organism identification will be presented. Additionally, treatment of injuries caused by aquatic life will follow.

Clinical Pearls in Dermatology

Clinical Pearls in Dermatology

Zebrafish Resources on the Internet

The use of the zebrafish, Danio (Brachydanio) rerio in research laboratories, teaching curricula, and home aquariums has exploded over the past two decades. They have been used to study embryology, developmental and reproductive biology, behavior, neurobiology, immunology, toxicology, oncology, teratology, stem cell and regenerative biology, and a wide range of human diseases and disorders. This has been paralleled by a corresponding increase in the amount of information and literature about this species on the Internet. This overview of Internet resources is intended to aid both beginning and experienced individuals in the search for such information.

Opportunities for Public Aquariums to Increase the Sustainability of the Aquatic Animal Trade

The global aquatic pet trade encompasses a wide diversity of freshwater and marine organisms. While relying on a continual supply of healthy, vibrant aquatic animals, few sustainability initiatives exist within this sector. Public aquariums overlap this industry by acquiring many of the same species through the same sources. End users are also similar, as many aquarium visitors are home aquarists. Here we posit that this overlap with the pet trade gives aquariums significant opportunity to increase the sustainability of the trade in aquarium fishes and invertebrates. Improving the sustainability ethos and practices of the aquatic pet trade can carry a conservation benefit in terms of less waste, and protection of intact functioning ecosystems, at the same time as maintaining its economic and educational benefits and impacts. The relationship would also move forward the goal of public aquariums to advance aquatic conservation in a broad sense. For example, many public aquariums in North America have been instrumental in working with the seafood industry to enact positive change toward increased sustainability. The actions include being good consumers themselves, providing technical knowledge, and providing educational and outreach opportunities. These same opportunities exist for public aquariums to partner with the ornamental fish trade, which will serve to improve business, create new, more ethical and more dependable sources of aquatic animals for public aquariums, and perhaps most important, possibly transform the home aquarium industry from a threat, into a positive force for aquatic conservation.

FishPEST: an innovative software suite for fish parasitologists

Fish Parasite Ecology Software Tool (FishPEST) integrates fish parasite information from scientific literature, internet databases and museum collections with phylogenetic, biogeographical and ecological host data coming from Fishbase (http://fishbase.org). FishPEST is a dynamic web-based system using the open source scripting language Python [1xInteractively testing remote servers using the Python programming language. van Rossum, G. and de Boer, J. CWI Q. 1991; 4: 283–303See all References][1] and the Python-based web framework Django [2xThe Definitive Guide to Django: Web Development Done Right. Holovaty, A. and Kaplan-Moss, J. CrossrefSee all References][2]. Users do not need to download software and are free to use FishPEST without fee or login.FishPEST has three sections, namely Parasite Niche Modeler (PaNic), Parasite Co-occurrence Modeler (PaCo) and Parasite List Generator (PaL). PaL creates lists of known parasites per host, lists of known hosts per parasite and lists of host/parasite records. PaL is innovative in its input and output. It allows users to filter the internal database according to parasite (taxon, area of distribution) and host features (phylogeny, habitat, ecology), making it easy to test biogeographic, co-evolutionary and ecological hypotheses. Additionally, PaL can create presence–absence matrices to be used for further analyses. PaL provides basic statistical information for each generated list. Although there are many ways to generate lists of known parasites or hosts, it has, as yet, not been possible to systematically propose probable lists of parasites or hosts. PaNic generates a list of probable hosts for a parasite [3xSee all References][3], whereas PaCo generate lists of probable parasites for a host (G. Strona and K.D. Lafferty, unpublished). These tools are based on complex and flexible algorithms.FishPEST uses an internal database including more than 16 000 validated host/parasite records for the Acanthocephala, Cestoda, Monogenea, Nematoda and Trematoda. The host–parasite records of the FishPEST internal database derive from a much bigger list containing more than 64 000 host–parasite online records, which was reduced to a quarter during the validation process.The fact that we were able to validate only 25% of the collected data emphasizes the need for a comprehensive, peer-reviewed archive of host–parasite records. FishPEST aims to be that archive and also offers researchers a rich set of statistical tools for analyzing host/parasite relationships. Researchers can easily upload their peer-reviewed records to FishPEST.FishPEST was designed to be easy. Although it is a powerful tool for researchers, its user-friendly interface makes it possible for a non-specialist to quickly obtain useful information, allowing an occasional user to hypothesize what is going on in a home aquarium or helping a fish farmer to protect stocks from potential diseases. FishPEST can be accessed at http://purl.oclc.org/fishpest.

The effects of mixed-species assemblage on the behaviour and welfare of fish held in home aquaria

While there is growing scientific research into the welfare of fish held under aquaculture conditions, there has been little research into the welfare of ornamental fish kept in home aquaria. With the ever increasing popularity of home aquaria, there is now an urgent need to address our current lack of knowledge regarding welfare of mixed-species assemblages. Here we investigated the welfare of four commonly kept species of ornamental fish held in different species combinations and group sizes. Specifically we asked two questions (1) whether the presence of angelfish ( Pterophylum scalare) altered the behaviour of a mixed group of white cloud mountain minnows ( Tanichthys albonubes), neon tetras ( Paracheirodon innesi) and tiger barbs ( Barbus tetrazona) and (2) whether group size affected behaviour and welfare in a mixed group assemblage of angelfish, white cloud mountain minnows and neon tetras. Behaviours including intra and interspecific interactions (darting and aggressive attacks), shoaling, and use of environmental enrichment were measured. Angelfish appeared to have a beneficial effect on the welfare of small shoaling species by reducing aggression but had little effect on other behaviours. For white cloud mountain minnows and neon tetras, larger group sizes resulted in increased natural behaviours (i.e. a tendency to shoal). Interestingly, the present study highlighted the problems in predicting the effects of environmental enrichment with both species and group size altering the way enrichment was used (e.g. as shelter from competitors or as a resource worth aggressively defending). Setting scientifically determined guidelines on appropriate species assemblages or stocking densities for ornamental fish is challenged by the plethora of group sizes and combinations found within home aquaria; research as in the present study serves to provide insights into welfare issues which may not become apparent within unrepresentative, single-species studies.

Choice in the bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus)

To study matching in a species distantly related to mammals and birds, seven bluegill were trained to break a photobeam using a nose-poke response for access to pelleted food in their home aquaria during one-h sessions. Reinforcer ratios available from the two response alternatives varied among the following: 16:1, 8:1, 4:1, 1:1, 1:4, 1:8, and 1:16. The overall reinforcement rate was held at 0.8/min. All experiments were conducted in a closed economy, i.e., the fish's daily food ration was available only during experimental sessions. Matching functions are reported for each fish using all combinations of scheduled and obtained reinforcer ratios as the independent variables and response and time ratios as the dependent variables. All matching functions had slopes less than 1.0 and r(2) values above 0.70. Overall response rates were unrelated to the reinforcer ratios but, as with other species studied, changeover rates were highest for the 1:1 condition and lowest for the 16:1 conditions. These results are consistent with data obtained from more traditionally studied taxa (e.g., birds, mammals, and primates), and similar previous studies with fish, suggesting that matching has been conserved since fish, birds, and mammals evolved from a common ancestor over 400 million years ago.