The Curious Dreamer’s Dream Dictionary

by Nancy Wagaman
A self-contained world that’s separate from reality.

Feeling like you’re “living in a vacuum,” artificial environment, or a situation that feels like a mock-up rather than reality.

Forcing physical or mental imprisonment or limitations upon someone.

A feeling or fear of hopelessness or being unable to change your situation.

Create a contrived situation (such as an artificial circumstance or a context that’s different than where the situation would usually occur).

Keeping living beings in an aquarium can represent observation, security, providing a healthy or safe environment, limiting or manipulating others for your own entertainment or motives, or “playing God.” See also: Pool, Fish, Water, Body of

The Bedside Dream Dictionary

by Silvana Amar
Water in all forms is a very meaningful symbol. It may represent emotions, the unconscious, sexuality, and, at times, life itself. Before interpreting this symbol first consider the other details in the dream and the overall quality of the dream experience.

The aquarium could represent a portion of your life or a “slice of life.” Aquariums are generally balanced and fully contained ecosystems. People enjoy aquariums because they find them soothing and relaxing. Thus, this dream’s message may be a call for contemplation and relaxation. It may represent life in a small setting as a compensation to the stress and, at times, overwhelming complexity of daily experiences.

See Water, Ocean, and River

The Big Dictionary of Dreams

by Martha Clarke
As always, the correct interpretation of such dreams depends on the details. So, looking at an aquarium with clear water and fish swimming inside reveals a happy and peaceful mood. However, if the water is dirty or the fish are nervous, the oneiric scene might be giving you clues about your repressed impulses.

If the fish are dead in the aquarium it is a sign of vain hopes and disappointments.