I was curious about the replicas of aquarium structures i saw when I visited National Midland Park. First thing that got my attention was all of them looked so real my eyes were feasting!

That tour gave me an idea about the benefits of human being  in keeping an aquarium aside from having an intangible pet. As I got home, i brought with me good memories, some good photos and some ideas on those benefits that we could have that I would be gladly to share  but not only that, i will also provide some sources to support my entry. Upon browsing, I gathered all of the following:

Viewing aquariums can improve mood and lower blood pressure and heart rate.According to a new research from the U.K., spending time in aquariums and watching fish tanks can improve your mental and physical health.

This study was published in the journal Environment & Behavior, suggests that the higher the number of fish on display the longer people watch and so improve their health and mood.

A member of the team, Dr Sabine Pahl, says: “While large public aquariums typically focus on their educational mission, our study suggests they could offer a number of previously undiscovered benefits. In times of higher work stress and crowded urban living, perhaps aquariums can step in and provide an oasis of calm and relaxation” (hellawella.com, 2015).

This study was under by the experts from National Marine Aquarium, Plymouth University and the University of Exeter all from U.K.

Also, senior citizens who suffer from Alzheimer’s Disease can benefit a lot from having an aquarium. Studies show that if they are around an aquarium or a small fish tank every day, they eat more, they are calmer and they require fewer supplements if the aquarium is placed in the dining room. Also, they exhibit less physically aggressive behaviors and they are happier. (allowmenstalk.com, 2015)

Most medical offices and dental clinics have an aquarium in the waiting room. This is not only for decoration. According to allowmenstalk.com ,  studies show that dental patients who have watched the fish swim while waiting, have experienced less pain during their dental procedures and they required less pain medication (2015). Aquariums have been proven to help people reduce pain.

Do you have a story to share about the benefits of keeping aquarium fish? I would gladly  hear your thoughts!