Study Finds Aquarium Fishes Are More Aggressive In Reduced Environments 
US Source: underwatertimes 9/23/2011

An angry glare from the family goldfish might not be the result of a missed meal, but a too-humble abode. Fish in a cramped, barren space turn mean, a study from Case Western Reserve University has found. Ornamental fishes across the U.S. might be at risk, all 182.9 million of them.

"The welfare of aquarium fishes may not seem important, but with that many of them in captivity, they become a big deal," said Ronald Oldfield, an instructor of biology at Case Western Reserve. Why, then, has the welfare of pet fishes been overlooked among the scientific community?

Oldfield is the first to scientifically study how the environment of home aquariums affects the aggressive behavior of ornamental fishes. The results are published in the online Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, volume 14, issue 4.
 

Oldfield compared the behavior of Midas cichlids (Amphilophus citrinellus) in a variety of environments: within their native range in a crater lake in Nicaragua, in a large artificial stream in a zoo, and in small tanks of the sizes typically used to by pet owners.

The study focused on juvenile fish to remove aggressive behavior related to mating. Also, resources such as food and shelter were removed prior to observation to eliminate direct competition.

Along with environment size, Oldfield tested the complexity of an environment and the effects of number of fish within tanks.

The addition of obstacles and hiding places using rocks, plants, or other similar objects can increase the complexity of the aquarium environment.

He found that an increase in tank size and complexity can reduce harmful aggressive behaviors, and make for healthier fish at home.

 
Continue...

News Id SourceStampcountry
4926Man faces animal cruelty charges 'for abandoning pet fish'independent2019-04-04US
4927Deformed fish hatched in bitumen-rich water can grow out of some defects: studyCBC News2019-05-17CA
4928Fish with HUMAN teeth found by stunned mum on US beach – 'never seen anything like it'dailystar2019-05-17UK
4929Stoddard County angler state record for black buffalooutdoornewsdaily2019-05-16CA
4930Young Huntsville angler catches first state-record yellow perchFishing News2019-05-16CA
4931One Reply to “Long Mountain Lake, British Columbia”Fish'n Canada2019-05-17CA
4932Swing-jig walleyeoodmag2019-03-14CA
4933National Lifejacket Day – Is It Time for Change?Fish'n Canada2019-05-16CA
49347 Reasons Why Size Matters for Halibutnoaa2019-03-14CA
4935Ancient fish ponds in the Bolivian savanna supported human settlementPLOS2019-05-15BR
4936Walleye, sauger in danger of disappearing from Lake Winnipeg, says Manitoba Wildlife Federationglobalnews2018-10-29CA
4937Fishing changes coming to Lake Winnipeg to help restore fish populationglobalnews2019-05-07CA
4938The mysterious case of the Kamloops Lake monsterCBC News2019-05-13CA
4939'Like a bad dream': Parks Canada fights back against invasive species in KejiCBC News 2019-05-13CA
4940Paddlefish Snagging Harvest Season to Close May 11outdoornewsdaily2019-05-09US
4941Kenora based angler Jeff Gustafson joins BassmasterCBC News2019-02-02US
4942Ontario Extending its Partnership with Nipissing First Nation to Support Walleye RecoveryOntario's official news source2019-03-12CA
4943Redfish rebound in Gulf of St. Lawrence show no signs of slowdownCBC News2019-05-12CA
4944Lunar Activity Increases Fish CaughtCanadian Angling.com 2019-05-10CA
4945Slab crappie could be a new state recordoutdoornews2019-05-09US
4946Fishing husband, wife cited for being over the limit – to the tune of 250-plus crappiesoutdoornews2018-08-01US
4947Smallmouth bass sets new state recordoutdoornews2019-05-09US
4948Three locked-up bucks found dead in Ohiooutdoornews2010-12-14US
4949New 5-Year Report Shows 101.6 Million Americans Participated in Hunting, Fishing & Wildlife ActivitiesInterior_Press2019-05-09US
4950U.S. angler pays Ontario $400 fine for keeping 52lb lake troutCBC News2019-04-02CA

197 198 199 197 of [200 - pages.]