The health benefits of animal ownership can be enormous. Several studies done on heart-attack victims link living longer to companion animal ownership. There has also been recent documentation on the benefits of animals visiting nursing homes and hospitals. But did you know that if you watch fish swim peacefully in an aquarium that it could reduce your blood pressure? Research has shown that you can reduce potentially dangerous blood pressure levels and high heart rates if you watch fish swim in an aquarium.
Dr. Aaron Katcher and psychologist Alan Beck from the Center for the Interaction of Animals and Society at the University of Pennsylvania did a study with adult patients waiting to have oral surgery at the university's School of Dental Medicine. Most people become anxious when faced with getting a painful cavity filled or a tooth pulled. Researchers found that the highest levels of relaxation were achieved by patients who watched an aquarium before treatment. There is only one way for most people to enjoy the relaxation and many health benefits of watching a tank full of fish, and that is to get one!
Setting up and maintaining a tank of tropical fish is a pleasant pastime for millions of people throughout the world. To enjoy your fish, here are some simple rules to follow:
Bigger tanks are better - When it comes to choosing the right aquarium, remember that bigger is better. The more water you have in any aquarium, the easier it is to keep the temperature constant and the water from becoming polluted.
Maintain the right temperature - This requirement is easily met with modern aquarium heaters.
Provide plenty of oxygen.
Make frequent partial water changes - Aquariums should rarely have to be completely torn down and cleaned. Many hobbyists keep them clean and the fish healthy without any major changes for a year or longer. But they have learned the importance of replacing some of the old, dirty water with fresh water every two weeks.
Clean your gravel - Use a siphon hose or a tank cleaner that hooks up to the sink to take old water out of the tank. And while you're doing that, suck up the top layer of gravel in the tank, which holds solid wastes and uneaten, spoiling food.
Underfeed rather than overfeed - Uneaten food falls to the bottom of the tank, spoils, and creates high ammonia levels and a breeding ground for harmful bacteria and other parasites.
If you need assistance with your aquarium, always ask your professional fish and aquarium retailer for more tips on becoming a successful hobbyist. Once you get your aquarium set up you can just sit back, relax, and enjoy those health benefits. If you have a question about health, behavior problems, laws, etc., regarding wild or domestic animals, please write Humane Education Department, Salt Lake County Animal Services, 511 W. 3900 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84123 or call 264-2247.