Do fish mind tacky decorations?

[Satin and Tat]

I know this sounds ridiculous, but I've always wanted a sort of "retro" aquarium with those hideous decorations...you know, the clams that open and close, the little divers, treasure chests, DayGlo colored gravel, glow-in-the-dark plants.

Now normally I try and keep my tanks as natural as possible, with real plants and no outlandish colors or anything and I've always assumed that fish prefer it that way. Is there any basis to that, or do fish not really mind as long as they've got plenty of space and places to hide?

I have a 3 gallon tank with a betta and a snail that I was thinking about "converting" to that scheme...would that work at all?

If it's not the best idea, I've also got an empty ten gallon that I suppose I could "decorate" and just keep inverts in it, since I have a feeling snails and shrimp don't have a strong preference....

 

[you made me ink]

ive always wondered that too -lol- i dont think it sounds ridiculous tho, i wouldnt mind havin a tank decorated like that i guess that kind of appeals to the "kid" inside all of us -lol- i think you should do it with your 10 gallon keep us posted on it if you decide to do it have fun (after all thats why we love the hobby ... cuz its so much **** fun!)

-steven

 

[shady3210]

I doubt they care about most decorations or substrate color. Its not like a fish knows the diffrence between a rock and a castle. Now those little bubblers that build up enough air to open/move somthing and things that move in the aquarium might bother them. Problem with the open shut things is they let out a large bubble that ussualy makes a big disturbance in the water.

 

[greendeltatke]

That's a notion I've been kicking around myself- what kind of decorations do fish actually enjoy? I've been working on a playground theme tank for my son's preschool tank and I want it to be comfortable for the fish, but colorful and kitchy. Here's a list of the considerations I came up with. Please add to them!

1. Amount of light in the tank.
Factors: color of gravel, type of lighting, amount of overhead shade from the aquarium lights.

2. Hiding places, cover for fish.

3. Water current in tank.
Factors: size of tank, type of filtration system

4. Selection of background. (Some create mirror effect to the fish)

5. Amount of open space left for swimming, substrate exploration.

 

[telecubby]

I doubt they care about most decorations or substrate color. Its not like a fish knows the diffrence between a rock and a castle. Now those little bubblers that build up enough air to open/move somthing and things that move in the aquarium might bother them. Problem with the open shut things is they let out a large bubble that ussualy makes a big disturbance in the water.

well yes but only fish with good taste care or those who've had a taste of the wild(a clean part of nature) then they have regret for not staying.

 

[mooman]

I know this sounds ridiculous, but I've always wanted a sort of "retro" aquarium with those hideous decorations...you know, the clams that open and close, the little divers, treasure chests, DayGlo colored gravel, glow-in-the-dark plants.

Have you seen some of the pics posted on this forum, I wouldn't call them retro. Garish tanks are alive and well in the 21st century. :soda: (this was the nearest smiley to puking that I could find).

 

[Ham Ham]

but you cant put a black lite on a friend did that and the fish freaked out

 

[telecubby]

thanks HamHam I was wondering about the black light @ night

 

[Ghostshrimp55]

you want to really freak them out? steep some maryjane in the water and then watch how they react to the decorations. Hmmmm....I wonder what that would be like.............................

Gourami to the pleco: "Whoa, man...............do see that shark head poking out of the gravel, man? It just let out a freakin' bubble, man! I'm totally freakin' out man!"

Pleco: (staring blankly into space) "..........................................................................duude.............."

Plastic shark head bubbler to gourami: "Yeah, man. You are TOTALLY freakin' out!"

On a serious note; depending on how you light your tank, wouldn't some fish be kind of bothered by that neon gravel garbage that some people put in their tanks? Some fish, (pick any bottom feeder) spend a lot of time looking at the bottom. That neon stuff has to be reflecting "unatural" wavelengths of light at them. If it hurts our eyes to look at it must be doing something to them, no?

 

[Bridg]

Do fish mind tacky ? ......

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Hey , I'm a newbee to tanks and first time to this website but I say YOUR TANK and YOUR HOME . Not sure but may need to check out the sensibilities of your fish as far as the colors go . Maybe a little sitdown is in order ( oops I've been reading Ghostshrimp55 LOL ) . I bought my fish to give me peace and entertainment so you decorate your house for yourself , right ? I did like what Greentatke had to say. It's fun to include the kids and most of all that kid inside of us . Good luck
On a lighter note I want to live in the world Ghostshrimp55 is . Good sense of humor Guy.