Fishbowl
A goldfish bowl , also known as goldfish punch or goldfish ball, is a ball-like indoor aquarium that became fashionable in the 18th century for keeping ornamental fish . However, species-appropriate animal husbandry is not possible, and keeping fish in goldfish bowls is not prohibited by law in Germany. However, for Germany, the report results in minimum requirements for keeping ornamental fish (freshwater) and the system a minimum aquarium size of 54 liters. In Austria, the legal prohibition results from Appendix 5 of the 2nd Animal Husbandry Ordinance. Keeping fish in a fishbowl is considered cruelty to animals .
description
A fishbowl is an open glass ball with an average diameter of 25 cm, which is filled with a maximum of 15 liters of water (diameter at least 30.6 cm). Aquarium filters , rod heating , plants and other elements of a normal aquarium are not used in a fishbowl due to its shape. The fishbowl was usually filled with one to three ornamental fish. Since such a container is an unsuitable habitat for fish, the main stocking fish were particularly resilient fish, such as Siamese fighting fish or the goldfish that gave them their name . In films, goldfish in particular are kept in such a container.
historical development
The origin of the fishbowl is probably to be found in Asia. There fish were kept in large clay vessels in the apartment as early as 1216. These glasses and the glasses used later were mostly flatter than the European fishbowl and therefore had a larger water surface. The fishbowl was widespread in Europe in the 19th century and was used as room decoration. At the beginning of the 20th century it became known that the appropriate keeping of fish in a goldfish bowl is not possible for various reasons. Therefore, the goldfish bowl is mostly only used as a means of decoration (for example with glass fish) and is rarely used as an aquarium.
Japanese goldfish vessel (around 1775)
Waldmüller , Therese Krones with a goldfish bowl (1824)
Millais , Leisure Hours (1864)
de László , John László with a goldfish bowl (1918)
Animal welfare
The Central Association of Zoological Companies in Germany has put goldfish bowls on the negative list of products for which there are doubts as to conformity with Section 2 of the Animal Welfare Act . Keeping fish in such a jar was classified as cruelty to animals. There are several reasons for this:
- With its average volume, the size of the vessel extremely restricts the fish's freedom of movement. In addition, only a small population is possible, which leads to the isolation of the usually sociable fish. In Germany, 54 liters (60 × 30 × 30 cm) are to be regarded as the minimum volume for an aquarium for the permanent keeping of adult fish, since an increased water volume guarantees a more stable water quality. Excepted from the regulation are the non-permanent keeping, for example for breeding, fish exchanges or in the trade and especially small fish species.
- Due to the small floor space, it is hardly possible to create hiding places for the fish from plants, stones or the like. This leads to stress in the animal, as it can neither seek protection nor recognize a territory. This is particularly necessary for fighting fish and other territorial fish for species-appropriate keeping.
- Due to the spherical shape, the water surface is quite small in relation to the amount of water, which leads to a low gas exchange. In addition, due to the lack of space and lack of space, as well as insufficient lighting, keeping plants in a fishbowl is not possible to such an extent that there is sufficient nitrogen conversion (see also: Aquarium ). There is very little oxygen in the water, so the fish threatens to suffocate.
- In the absence of an aquarium filter , the water must be changed daily, which in turn means stress for the fish.
- Due to the curvature of the glass, the fish can see its distorted reflection in every direction. In addition, all movements of the fish would be reflected by the curved walls. The fish can perceive this with its lateral line organ and gets the impression that there is a lot of movement around it, which puts additional strain on the fish.
- Due to the small amount of water and the lack of technical temperature control, the fish is subject to strong temperature fluctuations, another stress factor, which could be fatal for the animal.
- Since a goldfish bowl is open at the top, more germs and bacteria got into the water. Due to the incomplete biosystem, there is insufficient degradation of pollutants and excretions. The fish usually have a weakened immune system due to the numerous stress factors and are therefore very susceptible to bacteria and diseases.
All of this leads to a premature and agonizing death of the fish. Nevertheless, keeping in such a container is seldom directly prohibited, as in Rome, for example.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ^ Keeping ornamental fish (fresh water). ( Memento of the original from May 29, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. on the website of the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection.
- ^ Federal Chancellery Legal Information System
- ↑ The pool on Kaltwasseraquaristik.de; Retrieved February 20, 2014.
- ↑ Dangerous accessories for pets. ( Memento of the original from January 24, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. on the website of the Zentralverband Zoologischer Fachbetriebe e. V. (Provisional negative list according to the vote of the joint ZZF and IVH working group "Animal Welfare-Relevant Aspects" on October 14, 1998 - supplemented on February 15, 2002)
- ↑ Keeping a goldfish in a glass - you should keep that in mind . helpster.de; Retrieved February 20, 2014.
- ↑ More space for Roman goldfish. krone.at
- ↑ Minimum requirements for keeping ornamental fish ( Memento of March 24, 2016 in the Internet Archive )
