There’s no doubt that aquariums are fascinating to watch, with their assortment of colorful fish and elegant-looking plants. There are countless aquarium fun facts that are fascinating as well.
In this post, we’ll take a look at 10 interesting facts about aquariums that you probably haven’t heard before.
Read these interesting aquarium facts and keep yourself entertained as well as informed.
Let’s get started.
1. World’s Largest Aquarium
Let’s start with the world’s largest aquarium. It can be found in the Chimelong Ocean Kingdom situated in Zhuhai, China.
Chimelong Ocean Kingdom is a theme park with a wide array of animal shows and amusement rides.
Its aquarium, the largest in the world, holds a whopping 12.87 million gallons of water – imagine doing a water change!
2. World’s Smallest Aquarium
Now, let’s go to the other extreme, which is equally interesting. The world’s smallest aquarium, designed by miniature specialist Anatoly Konenko, is just 30x24x14 mm.
This tiny aquarium holds just 10ml of water but houses a few baby Danios and some algae. Anatoly Konenko also uses a miniature fishing net to transfer his baby Danios.
Would it surprise you to know that even this miniature fish tank has a filter? Next time, don’t use tank size as an excuse for not getting a filter.
3. Aquariums Have Therapeutic Benefits
This shouldn’t really come as a surprise. After all, people seek aquariums for this reason, among others.
Being near aquariums has a calming effect and can reduce stress and anxiety. Studies have shown that it reduces heart rate and blood pressure.
So, with an aquarium, not only do you get a wonderful decoration for your household, but also a very good stress-buster.
4. Aquariums Support Conservation Efforts
Many aquatic species are having a hard time in the wild, mainly due to climate change and human activities. For many of these species, aquariums become a safe haven where they can be conserved.
A good example is the axolotl. The axolotl was listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) as critically endangered in 2019.
Now, the axolotl population in the wild is believed to be less than 100. However, there are millions of axolotls in aquariums around the world.
It is still vital to save the wild population from extinction as their genes are of great value, but we can still have these remarkable creatures to look at should they go extinct in the wild.
So getting an aquarium is not just about showing off or reducing stress; you can do something meaningful in this world.
5. Ancient Civilizations Have Kept Aquariums
Here’s an interesting aquarium fact. The concept of aquariums is much older than you think; ancient civilizations such as Sumer and Egypt have kept fish in artificial ponds.
The ancient Chinese successfully bred carp for food as early as 1000 BCE. Interestingly, another fun fact about pet fish is that goldfish, a popular breed for aquarists, is a member of the carp family. So you have the ancient Chinese aquariums to thank for the modern goldfish.
Although these early rudimentary aquariums lacked modern-day equipment such as filters and heaters, the concept remains the same.
6. Betta Fish Can Breathe Air
Here’s a fun fact about betta fish.
We all know that fish breathe through their gills, an organ that allows them to breathe underwater. However, some can breathe air directly – the betta fish is one of them.
If you have seen your betta gulping at the surface, now you know why.
This is possible because the betta is a labyrinth fish, which means it has an organ called the labyrinth located above the gills and filled with blood vessels, allowing the betta to breathe air directly. This allows the betta to survive low-oxygen environments.
Other labyrinth fish include Gouramis and Paradise fish.
7. Betta Fish Have Been Used In Gambling Fights In Malaysia And Thailand
Here’s another fun fact about betta fish – or a not-so-fun fact. After observing their aggressive behavior, people have used them in gambling matches in Malaysia and Thailand.
They are called Siamese fighting fish for this reason; males will vigorously fight other males they come into contact with.
Of course, these gambling matches are illegal in the US and many other countries. They are considered a form of animal cruelty.
8. Axolotls Can Go Through Metamorphosis
Axolotls are prized aquatic pets due to their unique appearance, with their mane of external gills on either side.
Axolotls are amphibians, not fish. Like most amphibians, they emerge as tadpoles; but unlike other amphibians, they do not go through metamorphosis. Instead, they stay as tadpoles throughout their lives.
This biological feature is called neoteny. Adults are fully capable of reproducing even without going through metamorphosis.
But did you know that axolotls can go through metamorphosis? All you have to do is inject them with thyroid-stimulating hormone, which they cannot produce by themselves.
The axolotl will look vastly different after metamorphosis. Yes, by that I mean they will lose their wonderful external gills. The process also has a chance to kill them, so not something you would want to do to your pet axolotl.
9. Axolotl Can Regrow An Entire Limb
Just how strange can axolotls get? They have the capability to regrow an entire limb after it has been cut off.
Not just that, they can even regenerate their eyes, heart, central nervous system, and even brain – looks like we found a superhero of the animal world.
Sometimes, when one of their limbs is damaged, they repair it and grow a new one simultaneously, ending up with two limbs. Now you know why some axolotls look like circus freaks.
Axolotls are studied extensively by scientists for their regenerative properties. Maybe someday we’ll create a real-world Hulk.
10. Fish Do Sleep, But Not In The Same Way As Humans
This is a commonly asked question about fish. Do fish get some shut-eye? Well, technically they can’t, because they have no eyelids.
But they do enter a restful state where they reduce their breathing and metabolic rates. They will remain motionless during this state.
They will still respond to stimuli – can’t be completely asleep in a world full of predators.
This is backed by research too. Scientists have identified slow-wave sleep and paradoxical sleep in Zebra Danios.
So the next time you see your pet fish motionless, do not disturb it.
Conclusion
As you have seen, there are plenty of fun facts about aquariums. There are also numerous fun facts about aquarium fish such as betta and axolotl.
There are a lot of things you can learn in the world of aquariums that are fascinating. Getting an aquarium yourself is not necessary for this, but it can completely immerse you in this aquatic world.
I hope you were entertained by these fascinating aquarium fun facts.
Thanks for reading.
