Aquarium Fish Facts

Keeping tropical fish is a popular hobby. If you have an aquarium, it is important to understand the dietary, environmental and other needs of your pets. Some species of fish are aggressive, so it is important to know which fish species can be housed together.

  1. Harvest

    • A very large number of the tropical fish sold to aquarists in the United States are caught in the wild in Africa, Asia, Central America and South America.

    Blinking

    • Fish do not have eyelids, so they can not blink. Yet many aquarium owners are certain that they have seen fish blink. This is because fish can spin their eyeballs, which can make it appear as though they are blinking.

    Sleeping

    • Fish do not sleep in the same way that humans do. They do, however, go through periods of rest.

    Seeing

    • Some fish can see colors, while others can discern only light.

    Hearing

    • Fish are able to use a part of their body called the lateral line to amplify and "hear" sounds in the water. Much of a fish's ability to hear comes from picking up on vibrations in the water, so you should never allow anyone to tap on the glass of your aquarium.

    Death

    • According to Doctors Foster and Smith, 95 percent of tropical fish deaths are a result of poor diet or environment.