Introduction
Ornamental fish keeping is a practice that dates back thousands of years, having said to have originated in China during the Song Dynasty (960 – 1279 A. D). These fish were kept for purely decorative purposes and gained much popularity, particularly among the rich due to their vibrant colours and peaceful demeanour. Since then fish keeping has spread all around the world from Europe to the Americas, and has become a luxury spared not only for the rich, but for all people as well.
The benefits of fish keeping are profound and widely acknowledged. A well-looked after aquarium brings colour and life to a home or setting, and brings a small piece of the natural world to the otherwise unnatural world we live in. To watch the flow of the water and the graceful, effortless movement of the fish can bring about a state of mental calm over the observer, evoke feelings of curiosity and joy, and has been known to be effective in relieving stress and even lowering blood pressure.
In order for our fish to keep us happy, we need to keep them happy in return. As well as creating and maintaining the right conditions for them to live in i.e. water conditions, temperature, environment, etc., adequate nutrition and feeding practices are also required for their optimum health and well-being. Fish that are under-nourished or malnourished cannot maintain health and growth, regardless of the quality of the environment they are in (Cho, 1999), so sound nutrition should be made a top priority for all fish enthusiasts.
