music and fish?

[jjohnwm]

I spent some time today poking around a few aquarium websites today and watched a few videos. As usual, by the time I had gotten to the third or fourth one I was forced to mute my computer because of the music that many folks feel obliged to include. I'm not referring to an actual soundtrack introduced intentionally during the creation of the video; these tend to be fairly quiet and unobtrusive, and even if the music isn't to my taste it doesn't actually detract or distract.

I'm referring to DIY handheld cellphone type videos, usually just somebody showing off a new fish or a new 'scape or some other quick "look at this!" kind of video. Quite often there will be some music...or sometimes "music", at risk of sounding like the old Fudd that I am...blaring in the background. Sometimes it's stuff that I can tolerate or even that I actually like; more often it's something that I can only characterize as "irritating noise". And although it may sound as though I'm starting a rant about some people's taste in music, I'm really not...at least, not much...

But I'm starting to wonder about the effect of loud stuff like this on aquarium fish. We all know that sound travels better in water than in air. How well does it transition from air to water? While swimming underwater, I have never particularly noticed loud noises from above water. But a fish tank is different; it's completely surrounded by air and one might think that sounds would transmit better...or no? I know that I personally don't ever play loud music in a room with a fishtank, just in case.

So, while filling a tank recently to perform a leak test, I figured: why not? It's just clean water. Turned on the radio, pinched my nose, and dunked my head underwater. Lo and behold, I could hear the radio about as loudly as above water, although of course somewhat distorted. This scientific experiment simply validated my idea about not exposing my fish to loud music or other sounds.

Plenty of research supposedly shows that loud raucous music can cause slow growth and development in plants. So, how about it, fish people? Am I the only one who ever thinks of this? Or...do I just have too much time on my hands?

 

[robmcd]

My SA community seems to thrive on live Grateful Dead shows and old school roots reggae. All played very low of course

 

[esoxlucius]

I spent some time today poking around a few aquarium websites today and watched a few videos. As usual, by the time I had gotten to the third or fourth one I was forced to mute my computer because of the music that many folks feel obliged to include. I'm not referring to an actual soundtrack introduced intentionally during the creation of the video; these tend to be fairly quiet and unobtrusive, and even if the music isn't to my taste it doesn't actually detract or distract.

I'm referring to DIY handheld cellphone type videos, usually just somebody showing off a new fish or a new 'scape or some other quick "look at this!" kind of video. Quite often there will be some music...or sometimes "music", at risk of sounding like the old Fudd that I am...blaring in the background. Sometimes it's stuff that I can tolerate or even that I actually like; more often it's something that I can only characterize as "irritating noise". And although it may sound as though I'm starting a rant about some people's taste in music, I'm really not...at least, not much...

But I'm starting to wonder about the effect of loud stuff like this on aquarium fish. We all know that sound travels better in water than in air. How well does it transition from air to water? While swimming underwater, I have never particularly noticed loud noises from above water. But a fish tank is different; it's completely surrounded by air and one might think that sounds would transmit better...or no? I know that I personally don't ever play loud music in a room with a fishtank, just in case.

So, while filling a tank recently to perform a leak test, I figured: why not? It's just clean water. Turned on the radio, pinched my nose, and dunked my head underwater. Lo and behold, I could hear the radio about as loudly as above water, although of course somewhat distorted. This scientific experiment simply validated my idea about not exposing my fish to loud music or other sounds.

Plenty of research supposedly shows that loud raucous music can cause slow growth and development in plants. So, how about it, fish people? Am I the only one who ever thinks of this? Or...do I just have too much time on my hands?

I have absolutely no idea regarding fish and their taste in music but you should have got that on video and stuck it on line. You'd be a you tube sensation. What a wacky experiment.

Were you wearing your speedos too? And I hope you had a lifeguard present just in case you got into difficulty.

 

[jjohnwm]

I have absolutely no idea regarding fish and their taste in music but you should have got that on video and stuck it on line. You'd be a you tube sensation. What a wacky experiment.

Were you wearing your speedos too? And I hope you had a lifeguard present just in case you got into difficulty.

It was pretty much a spur of the moment choice. Wife wasn't home; the only witness was my dog, who did seem to look at me a bit quizzically when I pulled my head out.

I'm not sure it was that far out, though. I was on the patio...the outside temp was about 80F...don't own a Speedo, but was "appropriately dressed"...seemed like a very logical and compelling bit of experimentation.

 

[Hendre]

Interesting idea, I am not sure how well fish process noise. Some fish, eg Polypterus, will make certain noises such as a thump towards other bichirs. This link has some interesting info: https://dosits.org/animals/sound-reception/how-do-fish-hear/

TLDR: Fish have an inner ear to process noise, as well as through use of their lateral lines. Seems handy

 

[Justepic]

I should probably ask my family to see how my fish react to my loud ass drumming but tbh they are probably used to it after 6 years! I might have to put a fish tank in my drum room but they probably will just be scared- like when you accidentally bang the aquarium stand and all the fish jump

 

[Ruturaj]

I never saw my fish react to sound coming from tv, sometimes he would react to light. My tv is right next to the aquarium.

Once my upstair neighbors were moving furniture and it kind of created a shock wave that really freaked him out.

 

[Fishnerd360]

I don’t think mine react much to sound, but they will to a little movement. But my geckos definitely react to sound.

 

[neutrino]

I've seen research on this, not a lot but some. The subject might be a bit esoteric yet from what I can tell. Classical seems to be the preferred genre in studies I've seen. There was one saying the fish studied showed less stress with classical music masking the background noise in the lab, more than one saying fish grew and ate better with classical music, a few more saying the fish studied reproduced better-- again with classical music. Another said the fish studied grew better with slow tempo music vs. medium and fast tempo music and another claimed the fish studied could distinguish Bach from Stravinsky.

Doesn't seem to be universal agreement on this, though. Another study didn't find a growth difference between the music and non-music study groups-- but maybe they played fast tempo music.

I also did a lot of reading on soniferous (sound producing) fish some years ago and put together an extensive thread with links to recordings, another forum. That thread is lost now because that forum went under, but interesting stuff-- at least imo.

 

[Ogertron3000]

My SA community seems to thrive on live Grateful Dead shows and old school roots reggae. All played very low of course

I wonder if the "passsive smoking" may affect their appetite? Grateful dead live is funny, a song starts and 45 minutes later you realise it's still the same song......

Seriously though, in my young days I had My tanks in my bedroom where I always had music blasting and now most people have tanks in there living rooms so the fish would be exposed to lots of background noise. I'm not sure if there would be a huge effect, most likely water quality and diet will make a much bigger difference than a bit of music playing.
I have seen fish panic and scatter with the sound of a door suddenly slamming or dropping a heavy object but never seen them react to music at all, maybe some loud techno with heavy bass might do something but I wouldn't experiment on them with it.