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History of Fish Keeping
Originally fish were kept in captivity not for pleasure but for practical reasons, as a food source. The development of fishkeeping as a hobby began when, out of curiosity, usually colored specimens were isolated from the main stock and then selectively bred. In China, particularly, early aquarist started to produce tank-bred carp in large numbers, not just with enhanced coloration but also with specific body and fin adaptations. By the 16th century, colored carp had been introduced to Japan. Within the next hundred years they had reached Europe, and by 1900 the Goldfish had made it to America.
THE BIRTH OF AQUARIA
It was probably in the early 19th century that the aquarium as we know it first came into being. Before then, there are only a few records of fish being kept alive for several years in glass jars. The turning point came in 1850, when a Mr R. Harrington presented a paper to the Chemical Society in London, England, describing how he had successfully maintained a stable aquarium. This sparked great interest, launching fishkeeping as a popular hobby.
In 1852, the London Zoological Society began building the first public aquarium, which was opened the following year. A second facility followed, in the Surrey Zoological Gardens, also in England, and before long public aquaria was established in all the major cities of Europe, their novel freshwater and marine exhibits drawing a steady stream of intrigued visitors.
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