Stress and Fish Tanks

[CSeaSee]

Wasn't sure where to post this...
I'm doing a presentation for Wellness class at my university, and the topics were open-ended, the only stipulation being that it had to, somehow, relate to wellness. I'm going to try to do a presentation on Stress and Fish Tanks. I've heard that watching fish lowers stress levels and blood pressure, but I haven't been able to find anything in writing. Does anyone have links/ previous reads/ personal experiences that could help me get some information? Thanks!

[Reefland]

I don't have anything from professional studies however...

Viewing fish aqauriums has many times been said to be therapuetic. The aquatic environment is a peaceful strees free environment to humans who are constantly worrying about the trials and tribulations of life. How do I pay the bills? Hope the kid is ok at the high school football game. There is so much going on at work. Etc. Sitting down and watching the fish swim gracefully and hearing the peaceful sound of the water flowing...definitely a relaxing evening.


Throw in a beer and you've got yourself and down right good time!

[yankeebobo]

I'll echo what Scott said. Being at work some days, just the thought being able to go home and sit in front of that tank is relaxing by itself. There are companies that make the stone water fountains or CDs with sounds of rain or music. Only thing better? Having it live and watching how it applies to the real world - real living underwater.

As for the beer - I'll second that! Here's a toast.

[ldrhawke]

The lead page on my WEB site states how it has effectively lowered my blood pressure. A few years ago I played with a blood pressure and heart rate read out machine to see if I could mentally control both. After a little paractice I use to beable to concentrate on relaxing and watch both drop dramatically within a few minutes. There is little question in my mind that watching life in a reef tank is very effective in making you forget everything else, relax, and lower stress throughout the body...it is like meditating.

[yankeebobo]

NICE tank Hawk. Love the way it integrates into your room. Nice job.

[CaveManNOhio]

NICE tank Hawk. Love the way it integrates into your room. Nice job.

I second that!!

Has for the relief of stress in fish tanks, I know it helps me. I always schedule at least 2-3 hours a day viewing time with my tank to forget about my crappy day at work. It takes me back to my days of working on the dive boat down in Key Largo. And I know when I was doing that my stress level was almost none existent. I even find that doing the general maintenance on my tank is very relaxing.
Now has for the wifes stress level since getting the tank, that's a whole different posting.$$$

[yankeebobo]

Now has for the wifes stress level since getting the tank, that's a whole different posting.$$$

I lucked out with that one. My wife was the one that started the reef tank. She has been so consumed with the dogs (breeding) and some website work, that she has lost time to do tasks around the tank. So, I've taken it over, and she already knows how much $$$ is expected.

You could try to have HER pick out a favorite coral some day. Perhaps it'll make her feel part of it.

[CaveManNOhio]

Yea I learned that real quick right after starting. When we first set up it was considered My Tank, all mine, look but don't touch. Almost considered putting a line on the floor and telling every one stay behind the line.
Then I woke up and let her pick out some coral and most of the fish. She loves the tank. But she is the one that handles all the money stuff in this house and I'm the one that seems to think that we have an unlimited supply of money. Plus I'm also the type of person that only likes to get the most expensive equipment and highest price fish and corals.
As soon as I can get Bill Gates and Donald Trump to believe me that I am a long lost family member I will have it made.

[CSeaSee]

Hey guys-
Thanks for the opinions! Does anyone mind if I use parts of your posts as quotes?
I have a fiance who likes my tank, but doesn't care about the corals at all. So instead of always "suggesting" I get a new fish (usually the large, predatory types) or chocolate chip starfish, we agreed that once we get married, she'd get her own tank and she could make all the decisions about what goes in it, and I'd take care of it. This, of course, is fine with me! Although, to her credit, she did suggest the strawberry basslet that hovers happily in my tank.

[CaveManNOhio]

Hey guys-
Thanks for the opinions! Does anyone mind if I use parts of your posts as quotes?
I have a fiance who likes my tank, but doesn't care about the corals at all. So instead of always "suggesting" I get a new fish (usually the large, predatory types) or chocolate chip starfish, we agreed that once we get married, she'd get her own tank and she could make all the decisions about what goes in it, and I'd take care of it. This, of course, is fine with me! Although, to her credit, she did suggest the strawberry basslet that hovers happily in my tank.

Yea my wife is more into the fish than the corals, but she is starting to get more into the corals.
And you can use any part of my posting's hope you get a good grade.

[yankeebobo]

Hey guys-
Thanks for the opinions! Does anyone mind if I use parts of your posts as quotes?
I have a fiance who likes my tank, but doesn't care about the corals at all. So instead of always "suggesting" I get a new fish (usually the large, predatory types) or chocolate chip starfish, we agreed that once we get married, she'd get her own tank and she could make all the decisions about what goes in it, and I'd take care of it. This, of course, is fine with me! Although, to her credit, she did suggest the strawberry basslet that hovers happily in my tank.

No problem with me.....

[Penguin]

Just did a quick PubMed search and found this article:

AACN Clin Issues. 2000 Feb;11(1):139-49.Related Articles, Links
Animal-assisted therapy: the human-animal bond.

Cole KM, Gawlinski A.

People-Animal Connection Program, University of California Los Angeles Medical Center, USA.

Advanced practice nurses are met with the ongoing challenge of using interventions and practices that are evidence based in the care of their patients. Such practices include traditional as well as complementary and alternative therapies. Animal-assisted therapy is an alternative therapeutic modality that can be used to promote quality of life and positive health benefits. This article reviews the theoretical and scientific basis for the use of animal-assisted therapy in patient care. A pilot study in which the effect of fish aquarium animal-assisted therapy on patients' stress levels was examined is summarized.

PMID: 11040560 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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[Papa Doug]

Now working on large aquariums and blood pressure is another story.

[zhenya]

Now working on large aquariums and blood pressure is another story.

I agree, Dug. Aquariums can be very therapeutic as long as you are not involved in maintaining them. I think it may be more stress giving than reliving if things are not going according to plan...

[Rook]

Many doctor's offices have, and are encouraged to have fish tanks in their waiting rooms to help calm patients. I am sure some study was done to show the benefits of doing so. I would search google, and if possible search the scientific journals and medical trade magazines for fish and doctor's.

[ghofmann]

Here's a link to a study on pets and heart attack victims it doesn't really go into a lot of detail about fish in particular but it does mention them in the first paragraph. It also mentions that the type of pet doesn't really matter as long as it intrests the person involved. It mentions that people who have suffered a heart attack or angina and have pets have been known to live up to a year longer than people who did not have pets.
I know from personal experience that sitting down in front of my tank relaxes me.

http://www.holistic-online.com/stres...et-therapy.htm

[CSeaSee]

Hey everyone-
Thanks for all of your input, it was definately a help! I managed to use the links people found, and it's going to be a fun time tomorrow night giving the presentation- it'll certainly be better than the sales pitch the class got last week from some yuppie hocking juice pills.
I agree that watching the tank is great, but when it hits the fan, things can start to circle the drain...