Can tank sounds cause stress?

[chub04]

I haven't come across a similar thread anywhere, so I thought I'd ask it here. Can some fish become stressed by certain tank sounds? Obviously tapping on the glass and stuff like that can cause stress, but what about sounds from things such as the filter, airpump, airstone, etc? Can a loud airstone cause stress is some fish, or do they get used to the sound?

 

[FreshyFresh]

I would think if it's something they're not used to it could spook them for a while. Some fish are more sensitive than others this way. Oscars for instance are drama queens. I've read of another oscar keeper report his oscar layed on the bottom all pathetic like for a few days because he moved a big picture away that was once on the wall near the tank.

 

[ProjectMaro]

I've wondered too. I'm an avid fisherman. Fishing around very noisy construction areas where they are driving pilings into the ground, didn't seem to bother fish at all. I've noticed the sounds of the outboard attract fish to the boat, probably in combination with the flashing prop. I think it just depends on the species. Story of that Oscar is funny lol

 

[chenning]

Mine don't react to noice, just vibration

 

[chub04]

Yeah I think it probably has to do with the type of species and also if they get used to it or not. I've just always wondered if there was any good evidence out there to support anything. That Oscar story is hilarious haha

What lead me to ask this was I just put an airstone in my 20g betta tank and at first the betta seemed eerie about it, but a little while later he was swimming through the bubbles and even nipping at them sometimes. So it made me wonder how certain species react to certain sounds or noise.