Ok guys i have a problem. i was reading a post on hear about oscars getting spooked by noises and jumping out of their tank so i decided to ask the pros my question lol ok so i live on the beach and every year there is a jet show and its six FA-18 jets flying around and doing tricks above my house and it lasts about 45 min to an hour ,also 4th of july fireworks go off by my house. both of these things are loud but the jets beat the fireworks by far lol. but anyways i was planning on getting an oscar and a bristlenose pleco but do you think i shouldnt because of the loud noises?

I wouldn't worry, fish do not hear noises like we do. when was the last time you saw a fish with ears? They use their lateral line to detect vibrations in the water which then passes on to a special ear bone inside their head, that is why you should never tap on the glass. Try going out of the room, poking your head around the corner making sure they don't notice you and then shout at the top of your voice, you won't get any reaction whatsoever.

My fish live with some very loud and unpredictable children and the only time I see them jump is when the kids bang something against the glass. Sometimes I worry that the glass will break and I will be frantically searching for something to put the Oscars in... The bath maybe?....

haha ok thanks guys

OFL is right. Fish dont hear like animals, but they can feel vibrations. This is a defense mechanism so they can 'feel' if a large fish is moving near them. So unless the noise is creating a similar effect to a large fish moving in the water your fish will be none the wiser to jet planes or firework. So watch the planes and fireworks in the knowledge that your fish cant!!!!!

sharyn wrote:


I did the Bath... It works great and makes water changes EASY! LOL... My O's lived in there for 2 weeks while I was doing a tank repair!