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An aquarium (plural aquariums or aquaria) is a vivarium, usually contained in a clear-sided container typically constructed of glass or high-strength plastic, in which water-dwelling plants and animals are kept in captivity, often for public display; or it is an establishment featuring such displays. Animals in aquariums usually include fish, sometimes invertebrates, as well as amphibians, marine mammals, or reptiles. A small aquarium for keeping fish is called a fishtank if cuboid or a fishbowl if bowl-shaped. Aquarium keeping is a popular hobby around the world, with about 60 million enthusiasts worldwide. From the 1850s, when the predecessor of the modern aquarium was first developed as a novelty, the ranks of aquarists have swelled as more sophisticated systems including lighting and filtration systems were developed to keep aquarium fish healthy. Public aquaria reproduce the home aquarist's hobby on a grand scale — the Georgia Aquarium, the largest aquarium in the world, has 8 million gallons of water and over 100,000 animals. A wide variety of aquaria are now kept by hobbyists, ranging from a simple bowl housing a single fish to complex simulated ecosystems with carefully engineered support systems. Aquaria are usually classified as containing fresh water or salt water and brackish water, at tropical or cold water temperatures. These characteristics, and others, determine the type of fish and other inhabitants that can survive and thrive in the aquarium. Inhabitants for aquaria are often collected from the wild, although there is a growing list of organisms that are bred in captivity for supply to the aquarium trade. The careful aquarist dedicates considerable effort to maintaining a tank ecology that mimics its inhabitants' natural habitat.
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