can and how does tapping on the glass harm your fish?

[Kirk]

i heard that taping on the glass of fish tanks can startle your fish and harm them

is it true?
how does tapping on the glass harm your fish?

 

[anthony]

The sound and vibrations scare them which stresses them out which can lead to illness.

 

[Kimberly]

If it is done continually, it can cause serious stress to the fish, which makes them prone to diseases that can ultimately kill them.

 

[InTraining]

a lot of parents tell there kids that so they will stop tormenting the fish.
However it is true.

Here is what you do, Stick one ear to your bedroom wall, and then tap or knock gently on it... it amplifies the sound the same as it does in the glass and water...
Now Imagine how loud that is to something so much smaller then you with Much greater sense of hearing.

 

[jennarochelle']

Well put your head in a glass tank and tap on the glass hahaha
its really loud

 

[Jill M]

It can mentally stress your fish which will cause it get sick easier or change its eating habits. It can also startle the fish enough that it will jump out of the tank. Or, on the rare occasion, it can actually break the tank.

 

[keithp2008]

It scares them, and sound/vibration is magnified under water. They cant escape the sound like if we leave a noisy room.

 

[Sissie Babie]

It scares them. I think it might also do something else but I don't know. I just know that it scares them. I know that I wouldn't want anybody to be tapping on the windows of my house all the time. That would certainly scare me.

 

[Jackson K]

It basically causes them mental stress. Its like going to china and having some random dude come up to you and yell at you in a different language. they both result in confusion and are a little scary haha!

 

[mizzshootinstarz]

If you have a huge tank with lots of water and you hit hard the glass can break and when you tap on the glass inside the tap is really loud for the fish and not you.

 

[pekedf]

It does harm them somewhat. They get stressed out.
Water spreads the sound just like if anything else. Ex: If you were to put your head on one side of the wall while someone else knocks on the other side. They are obviously submerged in water and water spreads noise quickly and everywhere. They can't hide from the noise. It would just be as annoying as us having someone be knocking in our ears for the whole day
Some symptoms that I have been told are hiding, hanging around on the bottom of the tank, not eating, loosing color, and maybe get picked by other fishes since being stressed out may count as a disease. Hope that helps )