Originally posted by JustinX
Yes . . . sound absolutely WILL do harm to your fish. I am a neurology major at U of M, and i can assure that sound will harm your fish. It falls along the same lines as tapping on a fish tank. It sends waves through the water which will activate your fish's lateral line sensory organs which leads to a flight response or a heightened sense of awarness. in other words, stress. your fish wont be able to tell the difference between your Bose and a predatory bigger fish. Eventually the constant flight state will deplete the immune system and lead to disease or death. This is especially problematic when the sound is not constant. When it is a constant 24/7 noise, the fish will eventually become accustomed to the noise and relax, but when its only sometimes, it will never get used to it. HTH
Dr. X, can you provide a url to your published reports with empircal data to support your findings and conclusions? Since you have attached your creditials to bolster your position, can you provide us with what year of school you are in, and whether you have even PASSED the courses yet, along with studies on the subject that have been done in class? Any grant studies that provide additional support would be quite appreciated. I assume your minor is in aquatic anatomy as well? Seems your findings (opinions) are stated as quite factual - instead of opinionated.
STrange how there is such a huge difference between academic studies and theory and experimental fact. You say the fish will die. YET, several people below have had their fish survive fine under such environments as you describe. Not only have they survived, they don't even seem to be showing signs of stress.
How can this be?
I wonder if it's good if people live next to train tracks. What do you think the stress level on humans is for such intermittant, LOUD trains that roll by at various hours - even disrupting their sleep patterns?
Would you say the "stress" the fish experience by loud volume is more or less the amount of 'stress' the fish experiences due to salinity changes due to evaporation? To growing toxic levels of nitrates before water changes are done? To the confined environment they have being in an aquarium (even as fast as a 300 gal tank) compared to their natural environment? To the lack of a moon cycle to trigger their spawning and other natural habits? Maybe to the lack of really knowing.. their parents? GAWD, the "STRESS" these fish must endure. It's so CRUEL of us to even take them away from their environment at all and provide us with any of their beauty, life stimulation, and stress- reducing elements of our lifes.
I look forward to seeing your report on how these sound stress levels that kill fish compare to other such stresses. What decible and frequencies actually do more harm - and the expectant life span of fish forced to endure such stressful environments.
PS: As a neurological major at U of M - you wouldn't now the impact of color schemes on fish and if certain colors actually stress them out would you? We were thinking of redecorating using mauves and beiges - and I was concerned about the neurological impact on the fish.
