A Review of the Industrial Importance, Common Bacterial Diseases, and Zoonotic Risks of Freshwater Aquarium Fish

The ever-increasing popularity of home aquariums, most often involving freshwater varieties, has exploded in recent years partially due to the Coronavirus pandemic and related to stay-at-home public health precautions for social distancing. With this ever-increasing popularity of aquariums as a hobby, and whether this involves freshwater or marine fish species, a number of important economic, ecological, and public health issues arise for both fish and hobbyists alike. This review highlights the history and genesis of aquariums as both a hobby and an important economic factor (industrial, commercial) for many countries on a global basis. Types of aquarium fish are described, and culture conditions leading to homeostasis in aquatic environments are detailed. When these conditions are not met and aquatic systems are out of balance, the disease can result due to stressed fish. Major bacterial diseases associated with freshwater aquarium fish are reviewed, as are potential human infections related to the care and maintenance of home aquaria. Besides, scientific information was also combined with the false facts of hobbyists who tried to identify and treat diseases during an outbreak in the aquarium. Finally, unresolved issues and important misconceptions regarding the field are discussed.