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Title feature06 The Oceanographic Museum Located at the coast of Monaco, the “Temple of the Seas”, inaugurated in 1910, gives visitors the possibility to discover the worlds of marine inhabitants on over 6,000 m² (64,600 sq.ft.) of exhibition area. Which ﬁsh species and aquarium types (marine water, invertebrates, terrapins) are most popular in France? Goldfish, tetras and livebearing fish are still the best selling fish in France. Amphiprion ocellaris as well as surgeonfish, among them Zebrasoma ﬂavescens, are very popular for marine aquariums. Reef aquariums are still very popular. However, there are still high demands for fish-only aquariums, and big fish are back again. Due to develop- ments in technology, products and available information, successful marine aquarium care has become possible for every aquarist. We are thus experiencing a real boost in marine aquarium care. But it is important for beginners to proceed step by step, as aquarium maintenance requires experience, knowl- edge, precision and respect towards nature. We therefore recommend beginners to do the first steps with freshwa- ter before converting to marine water. What do beginners need to know before starting their ﬁrst aquarium? Our position in the store is that appropriate counseling is very important when purchasing an aquarium. But the very extensive sera brochures also support the customers and provide them with very important information. Given the omnipresence of the Internet in our modern world, I believe in the stress reducing effect of aquarium care. An aquarium is nice to look at, it is a concentrated piece of nature that we all need sometimes. There is nothing that compares to watching your aquarium after a long and hard day. Is aquarium care, in your opinion, rather a hobby for children or for adults? The aquarium hobby is attractive for all age groups and all social classes. It is interesting for the youngest, as they become aware of the beauty of nature and ecology. The aquarium hobby allows for contact between the hobby- ists (forums, swap meets, visits of different stores, museums). It invites to improve by reading magazines. This is the reason why it is particularly interesting for the youngest, as keeping an animal contributes to taking over responsibility for nature and for living beings. It is often a relaxing hobby for adults. We forget everyday stress when maintaining or watching our aquarium. Aquarium care is a passion without fulfilled and with complex aims. We have to learn from nature every day, we try to improve without any interruption. This is the challenge. Aquarists have made further developments of the aquarium hobby possible due to their experience – and have contributed to new findings in biology, chemistry or geography!

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