Interest in fishes can be divided into two separate "Streams"- for the table and for ornamentation. Fishkeeping first began as a way of sorting live food, and stocks were kept in ponds or moats. The ancient Egyptians may have been the first aquarists - they kept large glass tanks of coldwater fishes for decoration. Advances in scientific knowledge in the 19th century led to the opening of public aquariums, and by the end of the century the first aquarium societies were formed in America, and the first tropical aquariums were seen. This book is a practical guide to the care of aquarium fishes, an owner's handbook with detailed information on every aspect of keeping fishes healthy, well-fed and in good condition. Step-by-step photographic case studies show how to set up tanks and there are descriptions of over 120 aquarium-suitable fishes.