| The History of Aquarium | | | | opened throughout England, France and Germany. |
| Many people like to decorate their house, restaurants | | | | But, due to lack of aquarium building and maintenance |
| and several other dwelling places with a beautiful | | | | knowledge in those days, these early aquariums did |
| aquarium. But, do you have an idea of how an | | | | not last long. However, in the 1870s, aquarium |
| aquarium came into existence? How it evolved in the | | | | keepers mastered the skills of filtration and aeration. |
| years gone by? Here, is a chronological evolution of | | | | This led to opening of many new aquariums that |
| the aquarium: | | | | sustained for a long period. The interest of fish |
| The origins of the aquarium dates back to 2500 BC | | | | keeping, the United States also rose during the same |
| when Sumerians thrived and maintained food fishes. | | | | period and the government of the US established the |
| For more than 4,000 years, people kept fishes initially | | | | Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural |
| in ponds and later in tanks. Many ancient cultures | | | | History. But, it was P.T. Barnum, the Showman, who |
| valued the speed, beauty and agility of fishes. | | | | opened the first public aquarium in the US. After this, |
| Ancient Egyptians spawned certain species of fishes | | | | there was a mass virtual explosion of interest in fish |
| for their intrinsic beauty and decorative traits. Chinese | | | | keeping and their environment, which also led to the |
| raised the carp for food as early as 2000 B.C and | | | | foundation of the Woods Hole Oceanographic |
| were probably the first to lay the foundation to | | | | Institute, and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography |
| breed fishes to successful limits. | | | | that kept large a aquarium for public viewing and |
| 1500s to mid 1800s | | | | entertainment. |
| Goldfish became an instant sensation in aquarium in | | | | 1900s until present |
| the early 1500s. By the end of 1600s, goldfish thrived | | | | Today, fishes are the United State's second most |
| in England and became popular in ornamental lakes | | | | popular pets after cats. Scientific and technological |
| and ponds throughout the country. Moreover, | | | | innovations throughout the 20th century have made |
| Goldfishes were a common sight in America in the | | | | an aquarium and its maintenance even more |
| mid 1800s. | | | | convenient than before. Better equipments such as |
| 1800s to 1900s | | | | oxygen pumps, filters and balanced and healthy diet |
| In the year 1853, the world's first-ever public | | | | have enabled fishes to survive in an aquarium in the |
| aquarium opened in Regents Park in London. In the | | | | same way, as they did in the ponds of Sumerian |
| next 15 years, until 1868, similar public aquariums | | | | Islands, ages ago. |