Aquaristische Anfänger der 1950er Jahre bis zum Paro-Projekt - Teil 1 - Prof. Dr. Dr. Peter Finke

Summary

The script is a detailed account of the evolution of aquaristics, as narrated by a passionate aquarist. It begins with the narrator's early fascination with a book received as a gift in 1950, which sparked an enduring interest in terrariums and aquariums. The story unfolds to describe the development of aquaristics from the 1950s to the present, highlighting the narrator's personal journey and the broader cultural and scientific aspects of the hobby. The script also touches on the narrator's experiences with labyrinth fish, the growth of knowledge in the field, and the importance of documentation and citizen science in advancing aquaristics.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker is Benny vom Acker, who has prepared an interview with Peter Finke, a professor with a background in economics and cultural studies, known for his involvement in the aquarium hobby.
• 📚 Peter Finke's journey into the world of aquaristics began in the 1950s, a time when the hobby looked very different from today, with only full-glass tanks being used.
• 🎨 The speaker mentions the influence of Walter Heubach, a famous German animal illustrator, whose work in a childhood book sparked an early interest in the natural world and later in aquaristics.
• 🐟 Finke's first aquarium was a 30-centimeter long tank, which was considered quite large for the time, and initially housed guppies and other small fish.
• 📖 The speaker discusses the limited resources available for learning about aquaristics in the past, such as books by Werner Gehlhaar and others, which provided foundational knowledge about setting up and maintaining an aquarium.
• 🌿 The importance of plants in an aquarium for oxygen production and the symbiotic relationship with fish is highlighted as a key learning from early aquaristic literature.
• 🐠 The script details the evolution of the speaker's interest from frogs and newts to fish, culminating in a fascination with labyrinth fish, which are a special type of fish that can breathe air.
• 🔍 Peter Finke is noted as a co-founder of the 'Pair of Rom' project, which seems to be a significant event or initiative in the world of aquaristics, although the exact nature of the project is not detailed in the transcript.
• 📝 The speaker mentions the documentation of the hobby and the discovery of new species that were not as evident before, indicating the scientific contributions of the aquarium community.
• 📚 The transcript also references various books and authors who have contributed to the knowledge base of aquaristics, including Hans Frei, Horst Linke, and others, emphasizing the growth of the field over time.
• 🌐 The mention of Michael Tweedy's article in an American compilation book signifies the international interest and exchange of knowledge in the aquarium hobby, and the ongoing discovery of new species like the 'Plosoma' fish.

Q & A

Who is the main subject of the interview in the script?

The main subject of the interview is Peter Finke, who is a professor with a focus on cultural sciences and has a significant connection to the hobby of aquaristics.

What is the significance of Peter Finke in the field of aquaristics?

Peter Finke is significant in the field of aquaristics as he is the co-founder or founder of the Pair of Rom project, which is related to the study and documentation of labyrinth fish.

What hobby does the interviewee have that led him to the field of aquaristics?

The interviewee's hobby of keeping and studying fish, specifically labyrinth fish, led him to the field of aquaristics.

What was the state of aquaristics in the 1950s according to the script?

In the 1950s, aquaristics was quite different from today, with only full-glass basins being used, which were blown from a single piece of glass by glassblowers.

What was the first fish species the interviewee kept in his aquarium?

The first fish species the interviewee kept in his aquarium were guppies, which were recommended to him as they were easier to maintain in warm water.

What type of books did the interviewee refer to for information on aquaristics in the past?

The interviewee referred to books such as 'Das Aquarium' by Werner Gehlhaar and 'Das Süßwasser Aquarium' by Hans Frei for information on aquaristics.

What was the first book the interviewee received about aquaristics?

The first book the interviewee received about aquaristics was a gift from his mother for Christmas in 1950, which featured black and white drawings by the famous German animal illustrator Walter Heubach.

What was the main focus of the early aquaristic books according to the script?

The main focus of the early aquaristic books was on the basics of setting up and maintaining an aquarium, including the importance of plants for oxygen production and the types of fish that could be kept.

What was the significance of the 'Pair of Rom' project in the context of the interview?

The 'Pair of Rom' project was significant as it represented a central event in the development of aquaristics, particularly in the study and documentation of labyrinth fish, which the interviewee was deeply involved with.

What type of fish did the interviewee first become interested in keeping?

The interviewee first became interested in keeping small fish species suitable for small aquariums, such as dwarf gouramis and other labyrinth fish.

What was the interviewee's experience with the 'Pracht Kuranyi' fish?

The interviewee learned about the 'Pracht Kuranyi' fish from Jörg Vierth's writings and had the opportunity to observe the breeding behavior of this species in his own aquarium.