Are waterfalls noisy for fish & crocs?
- Thread starter Jurek7
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dragon(ele)nerd
Well-Known Member
I don't think it effects crocs I've read that freshies like to live around waterfalls and the pit of it but I can't be sure.
Fish can hear. All have lateral line with neuromasts. Through it they can detect movement of water. Just see all the fishes swimming in the schools. One fish make a turn and all other hear it through the water movement and also turn.
Some other fish (Cyprinidae, Siluriformes) have something what is called Weber aparat or something like this. It is a system of bones which connects inner ear and swim bladder. The sound just press swim bladder and it is detected in inner ear. So the same principle like our ear.
But I think why should be the sound of watwerfalls noisy for fish? There are waterfalls also in nature. Do the fish live near waterfalls in nature? And all the movement of water make a noise for fish. What about waves in the see and the movement of rivers. I thing they can filter some stereotype sounds in the brain like we do.
Some other fish (Cyprinidae, Siluriformes) have something what is called Weber aparat or something like this. It is a system of bones which connects inner ear and swim bladder. The sound just press swim bladder and it is detected in inner ear. So the same principle like our ear.
But I think why should be the sound of watwerfalls noisy for fish? There are waterfalls also in nature. Do the fish live near waterfalls in nature? And all the movement of water make a noise for fish. What about waves in the see and the movement of rivers. I thing they can filter some stereotype sounds in the brain like we do.
Toddy
Well-Known Member
I know of at least two cases in Denmark in which waterfalls have been stressfull for crocodiles.
About ten years ago Aalborg Zoo in Denmark sent their slender-snouted crocodiles "on vacation" while they rebuilt their old exhibit. One of the new features was a waterfall. After the crocs came back they refused to eat for several months. The owner of Crocodile Zoo said that he was certain he could get them to eat so Aalborg Zoo sent them to him. And sure enough, he could. So now they still live happilly in Crocodile Zoo. Now American alligators live in the old croc-exhibit in Aalborg.
Randers Tropical Zoo also moved their tomistoma to a new exhibit featuring an even bigger waterfall than the one in Aalborg Zoo. The result was the same when the croc refused to eat. This crocodile was also sent to Crocodile Zoo and still lives there.
But then again I have also seen several crocodile exhibits with waterfalls where there were no problems...
About ten years ago Aalborg Zoo in Denmark sent their slender-snouted crocodiles "on vacation" while they rebuilt their old exhibit. One of the new features was a waterfall. After the crocs came back they refused to eat for several months. The owner of Crocodile Zoo said that he was certain he could get them to eat so Aalborg Zoo sent them to him. And sure enough, he could. So now they still live happilly in Crocodile Zoo. Now American alligators live in the old croc-exhibit in Aalborg.
Randers Tropical Zoo also moved their tomistoma to a new exhibit featuring an even bigger waterfall than the one in Aalborg Zoo. The result was the same when the croc refused to eat. This crocodile was also sent to Crocodile Zoo and still lives there.
But then again I have also seen several crocodile exhibits with waterfalls where there were no problems...
These cases might have more to do with stress of a new environment rather than specifically the presence of a waterfall. Underwater viewing can be a problem for individuals not used to it. A large saltie that moved to Perth's underwater viewed exhibit took 9 months to feed, as it had been previously held in a muddy pond at the back of a croc farm.
Sun Wukong
Well-Known Member
I could imagine that for some species, especially the ones originating from calm, quiet waterbodies like the Tomistoma, waterfalls could be stressful. The same is none among hobby aquarists; some fish are touchy when it comes to loud noises and an all too strong current. Do you realize how noisy some of those zoo waterfalls are? And that constantly?
Of course there are waterfalls in the natural habitat, and of course some species are more tolerant to them or even enjoy them. Yet in nature, neither do most larger animals linger directly under waterfalls nor do they constantly stay there. And quite often, natural waterfalls don't have the odd unnatural dimensions the fake ones have...
Of course there are waterfalls in the natural habitat, and of course some species are more tolerant to them or even enjoy them. Yet in nature, neither do most larger animals linger directly under waterfalls nor do they constantly stay there. And quite often, natural waterfalls don't have the odd unnatural dimensions the fake ones have...