Aquariums and Ornamental Fish How we can Act in Favor of the Conservation of Freshwater Life?

Between the demands of human society, economic interests, and environmental pressures, the aquatic life faces multiple challenges not only in the seas but very heavily in freshwater ecosystems in efforts to preserve their species. In this direction, an accessible and still neglected path draws attention: the maintenance of living organisms in aquariums. But how could an activity – commonly known as simple entertainment activity involving a glass box and a little “Goldfish†– influence the conservation of freshwater life? This brief review aims to answer this question through aquarium hobby characteristics from different perspectives: I. Socioeconomics, II. Technical/ Scientific, and III. Environmental/ Politic. From the Socioeconomic viewpoint, this activity generates multidisciplinary information sharing among publications and social media, jobs, massive monetary flows, movement of billions of specimens each year, encourages the protection of wild populations through captive breeding of threatened species, sustainable aquaculture and income generation alternatives.