The journey of aquarium fish
Keeping aquarium fish as pets is popular in Sweden. According to a survey conducted by Novus in 2017, there are approximately 81,000 aquariums around Sweden. Keeping an aquarium is popular abroad as well. Every year, approximately 1.3 billion aquarium fish are moved around globally.
There are laws for how aquarium fish are transported. The animals must not suffer or be bothered during transport. The fish are usually transported in plastic containers or bags with a little water and plenty of air. This is so that there is enough oxygen during transport, which is usually by plane, or if shorter distances by truck. The containers are also thermally insulated to keep the water at an even temperature for the fish. When the fish arrive in Sweden, they first arrive at a supplier who keeps the fish in quarantine for a few weeks, before they are sold to aquarium retailers. Sick fish may not be resold.
The first glass aquariums in people's homes date back to the 19th century, but as early as the 14th century, porcelain bowls were already being made to hold goldfish.
The most common home aquariums house tropical freshwater species.
Aquarium store.
Photo: Joanbanjo-CC-BY-SA
Aquarium fish are transported in plastic bags within insulated styrofoam boxes.
Photo: Moaurpoe-Tusiwm-CC-BY-SA
In Hong Kong, there is a huge goldfish market.
Farmed aquarium fish
Most of the approximately 5000 species of freshwater fish within the aquarium hobby are bred – farmed – in aquariums. In Israel, the Czech Republic and Singapore, for example, there is large-scale breeding of aquarium fish. In the case of salt-water fish, only about 10% are farmed, the rest are caught in the wild. Most of the time, farmed fish is much cheaper than fish caught in the wild. A small part of the aquarium fish sold in our stores are farmed in Sweden. Swedish-farmed aquarium fish have been adapted to Swedish conditions over time, and tolerate our water better than fish that are used to other types of water.
However, farmed fish are more likely to be inbred, as genetic diversity decreases over time. Then the risk of diseases and physical defects is greater. Some breeders deliberately try to change colour and appearance of the fish through breeding. Some varieties of goldfish and fighting fish are so heavily bred that they no longer have much in common with their counterparts in the wild. Such fish can both display problems with natural behaviour and suffer from various diseases.
The original goldfish, Carassius auratus, is closely related to the Swedish species known as crucian carp. It also shares many similarities in appearance with the crucian carp.
Photo: H.T.Cheng-CC-BY-NC
Some of the many cultivated forms of goldfish include bubble eyes and telescope eyes. Many of these cultivated forms have been heavily criticized by animal welfare organizations.
Photo: Adao-CC-BY-SA, Lerdsuwa-CC-BY-SA, Benson-Kua-CC-BY-SA, 31kiwi-CC-BY-SA
Even guppies are a species that humans have bred into many different forms. Below is a wild form of the guppy.
Photo: Stacky7-CC-BY-SA, Per-Harald-Olsen-CC-BY
The breeding and keeping of fighting fish have also been criticized for many years by animal welfare organizations, among others. The species is often kept in small containers, and breeding gives them an appearance that differs greatly from the original form.
Fish caught in the wild
Most freshwater aquarium fish caught in the wild come from South America. They are transported by air. In South America, more than 100,000 people make a living catching aquarium fish in the Amazon. For many smaller communities, it is a very important part of their economy. The income from fishing contributes to fewer people having to cut down the rainforest for cultivation and livelihood. Fishing takes place on a small scale, and does not affect nature to any great extent. Large-scale fishing often leads to overfishing and habitat destruction.
Project Piaba
Piaba is a project that was started in the Rio Negro area of the Amazon in 1991, to preserve rainforest and biodiversity. When scientists investigated the fishing of the popular aquarium fish cardinal tetra in the Rio Negro River, it turned out that it was done in a sustainable way. Fishing helped to preserve the forests and ecosystems in the area. Project Piaba wants to protect local fisheries, and educate fishermen on how to fish and trade in a sustainable way. The project also works to improve the international trade in aquarium fish. The project has had a great impact and the local fishermen have improved their living conditions and education.