Not Deaf at All: Fish Can Hear Very Well
"Sudden noise, like e.g. fireworks, or very loud bass music disturb fish in the same way that they disturb dogs and cats", says expert for tropical fish and biologist Dr. Jörg Vierke. " Fish are certainly not deaf, as is often assumed. Just the opposite is true, many fish communicate with sounds", he continues.
Fish have an internal ear like all vertebrates and absorb sounds with the whole surface of their bodies. With most types, the sounds are transferred to the air bladder, which serves as sounding board like the eardrum does in humans. Sounds are more clearly perceived under water than above the water, but when do they become loud noise for the fish?
"A children's birthday party does clearly not cause unbearable strain for the fish. However, parents should pay attention that children don't knock on the aquarium walls", Vierke recommends. "The fish shouldn't have a problem unless champagne corks hit the aquarium or the dancers stamp on the floor."
As a basic rule the following can be said: having the birthday party or the New Year's Eve party in a different room minimizes the risk of disturbing the fish, and hosts and guests can celebrate without the need to worry.
Industrieverband Heimtierbedarf (IVH) e. V.