| Unlike many people who started young in this | | | | with their dazzling colors can indeed put one into |
| hobby, I began keeping tropical fish as a hobby | | | | deep relaxation and even into a state of trance. |
| when the pace of my career switches to a | | | | My mind instantly feel more relaxed when I watch |
| slower gear and I suddenly realized the need to | | | | the fishes. As I allow my eyes to follow the |
| look for passions in life. | | | | fishes and be fascinated by the fishes' graceful |
| Over the last four years, my hobby of fish | | | | body movement and moving colors, I drift deeper |
| keeping has grown in size and depth. Not only | | | | into relaxation. It is extremely therapeutic. It is an |
| have I increased the number of fish tanks from | | | | excellent way to give my mind a break away |
| one to seven to-date, I have also experienced | | | | from work and get a power recharge. With the |
| with breading of various kind of Cichlids species. | | | | stress that we experience inevitably in our |
| From my observations, many people are | | | | fast-pace lifestyle, creating channels for relaxation |
| discouraged from taking up the hobby due to the | | | | is an important aspect of healthy lifestyle to keep |
| perception that it is a chore to maintain the fishes | | | | stress at bay and maintain good health. |
| and the fish tank. However, my experience tells | | | | Together with exercise, meditation and music, fish |
| me that the benefits of fish keeping greatly | | | | keeping has added another avenue to enrich my |
| outweighed the chores that it requires. | | | | life, helping me to live a fully and healthier life. |
| 1. Brings Home a Part of Nature | | | | 3. Education for Children |
| Whenever I see shoals of fishes in the reservoir | | | | Most of the children are fascinated by fishes |
| or pond, there is always an instant rush of joy. | | | | when they see the fish for the first time, usually |
| As I engross in watching the fish, it gradually put | | | | in the form of a trip to the local fish shop or fish |
| me in a state of mental calm. Water and the | | | | farm. Keeping fish at home can teach the children |
| fishes has the unique ability to calm the mind and | | | | a few good things: |
| evoke immense joy. I have always been curious | | | | * They will learn about the habitats of the fish |
| about the fishes' behavior, and always tempted to | | | | and other aquatic life. |
| pursue a more intimate experience with the | | | | * They learn how to care for the small aquatic |
| fishes. | | | | animals and plants. |
| Keeping the fishes at home provides the | | | | * When they start keeping fish, they will be |
| opportunities to watch the fishes up close and | | | | instilled a sense of responsibility towards another |
| personal. I can study the unique behaviors of the | | | | living creature. |
| fishes in the tank, which I cannot possibly do even | | | | * They learn and understand the basic of water |
| at the reservoir or the pond. For less than a | | | | treatment and how to maintain suitable water |
| hundred dollars, it is possible to create a miniature | | | | quality for the fish to live and even to stimulate |
| piece of nature at home. It is indeed a wonderful | | | | breeding. This knowledge will serve then well in |
| and ingenious hobby. It gives me the convenience | | | | future when they study science and chemistry in |
| to appreciate the beauty of tropical fishes as and | | | | school. |
| when I wanted. | | | | * They can witness the life cycle of fish species, |
| It also satisfies my desire to gain more in-depth | | | | which will enable them to appreciate biology. |
| understanding of fish behavior like an aspiring aqua | | | | * Most importantly, they will derive great pleasure |
| scientist. Over the last few years, I had | | | | from watching the fishes display a varieties of |
| experienced the joy of successfully breeding | | | | personalities. Through observing the intricate |
| more than ten species of Cichlid fish. I consider | | | | features and behavior of fishes, the children will |
| this an invaluable and exciting experience not only | | | | improve their observation skills. |
| for myself, but also my family especially my | | | | * The care of fish is a great learning experience |
| seven-year old son. | | | | for young children. When the child is able to take |
| Keeping fish also provide another avenue to | | | | good care of the fish, they will usually be able to |
| develop my creative talent - aqua landscaping. | | | | witness successful fish breeding. This will boost |
| Occasionally, I get to exercise my creativity in | | | | their confidence in the hobby as well as their |
| landscape design by changing the rock formation | | | | ability. |
| in the tank. The whole idea of doing this is to | | | | 4. Create Energy Flow at Home |
| simulate a new environment for the fishes, and | | | | I use the overhead filters for the few bigger |
| allow the fishes to re-establish their territories. | | | | tanks in the living room. The water flows down |
| This is in fact essential when new fishes are | | | | from the filter box through the pipe, creating a |
| introduced into the tank whereby all territories | | | | soothing water-trickling sound in the living room. |
| have been entrenched by existing group of fishes. | | | | As the water flow hit the water surface, strings |
| After changing the entire rock formation, the | | | | of water bubbles are created. This bubbles |
| fishes will reward you instantly by spending the | | | | synchronizes perfectly with the sound of water |
| next few hours swimming tirelessly in and out of | | | | flow, like having a piece of relaxing instrumental |
| the new rock formation, trying to familiarize | | | | music playing continuously. |
| themselves with the new ground and to establish | | | | Visually, it creates a sense of energy flowing |
| new territory for themselves. | | | | ceaselessly at various corner of the living room |
| Whenever I am free, I will sit in front of the fish | | | | where the fish tanks are located. From the |
| tank and observe the fish, sometime for up to an | | | | metaphysical or the Feng Sui point, it creates an |
| hour. It is interesting to note that the fish | | | | energy field operating non-stop at home. |
| demonstrates many kinds of social behavior that | | | | I had started this hobby only four years ago. The |
| closely resemble human behavior in the corporate | | | | immense joy that this hobby brings to my life and |
| world. I will attempt to write another article on | | | | my family makes me wonder how I have been |
| more details of these social behavior of fishes. | | | | so blind to this wonderfully enriching and |
| 2. Relaxation | | | | affordable hobby all this years. |
| Watching the fish swimming gracefully in the tank | | | | |