Aquarium Insurance: What Insurance Do You Need?

Are you an "aquarist"? Then you know what magic the dazzlingly colorful fish have in their lovingly designed underwater world. You only have to watch the hustle and bustle for a few minutes and pure relaxation sets in. But it comes to an end quickly when the wet splendor suddenly runs out! A break in the glass, for example, or a seal that has become brittle. Quasi waves can then cause enormous damage to your furniture, the building fabric and the household effects of your neighbors. Which Aquarium Insurance will then step in in the event of damage ? Our guide will tell you!

Your Aquarium Insurance is leaking - who pays for water damage?

Leaking or even overflowing the aquarium can have serious consequences and cause a lot of trouble. It is therefore important that you inform yourself about the insurance situation at an early stage. If you own a property, your aquarium should be insured under household contents insurance. As a tenant, you can also take out separate Aquarium Insurance. If the aquarium runs out, the insurance company will check whether damage was actually caused by the water. This includes damage to furniture and other items in your own home and that of your neighbors. In our circumstances, liability insurance can also avert the worst in such a case. Since each insurer has different terms and conditions, it is important to know all the details before purchasing insurance. In some cases, only damage caused by an aquarium of a certain capacity will be paid. This means that you should check the volume from which your household contents insurance or Aquarium Insurance covers damage. Reading the policy closely is the best way to find out if your aquatic friends are financially protected. If necessary, discuss all the details with your insurer. This will help you figure out what is covered in the event of water damage and what costs you might incur.

These insurances cover you:

What kind of insurance do you need to be really well protected in the event of an accident? Especially if an aquarium breaks for any reason, different policies can apply depending on the individual circumstances. So that you can enjoy the best possible insurance protection, the following insurance policies are possible for you and your aquarium:

• Contents insurance: This covers damage to furniture, clothing, carpets and all other household effects caused by your aquarium breaking.
• Liability insurance: If you are a tenant, a leaking pool can quickly damage the floors or even the building fabric of your apartment, for example. In this case, this insurance compensates your landlord for the damage incurred. Even if the water drips as far as the apartment below you and breaks something there, liability insurance will step in.
• Homeowners insurance: This is important if you own a house or apartment. In this case, it pays for the water damage that did not directly occur on the household contents. For example, this can be parts that are permanently installed on the building, such as sanitary facilities, the bell system or the fitted kitchen. This insurance may also step in if you rent out an apartment as the owner. And that's when your tenant's Aquarium Insurance leaks through no fault of his own.
• Glass insurance: Of course you also want to have your expensive aquarium replaced yourself. However, glass damage is not included in most home insurance policies. That's why it can be worth booking extra protection here.

Attention: The water damage is only covered if the aquarium is explicitly listed in the insurance contract. This is regardless of which insurance policy is to be used in each case. Valuable additional information: The private liability insurance is only responsible for glass damage if you accidentally or negligently cause damage to third parties. For example, a clumsily thrown Frisbee can break your neighbor's window. Or you knock over a valuable crystal mirror while visiting an art exhibition.

Does the size of the Aquarium Insurance matter?

No matter the size of your aquarium, it is always advisable to insure it. Because even small aquariums with a capacity of only 30 or 50 liters can cause major damage. For example, the water can irrevocably destroy your new smart TV. The outrageously expensive stereo system will not be able to put up with even a small gush of water. And you'll never get rid of the water stains on your new leather couch.

In addition, the water from the Aquarium Insurance can seep into the ground. This often results in a costly replacement of the floor covering. Do you know how expensive a good carpet is these days? Then you can imagine what a new parquet made of real wood costs! A “worst case scenario” would also be water flowing into electrical lines. With "luck" only one fuse flies out. In the worst case, however, this can also cause a fire that destroys everything in no time at all.

Without proper insurance coverage, all of this can quickly lead to financial disaster. That's why it's not so much about the size of the aquarium from which insurance is necessary. It is much more important to know which insurance policies are the right ones and what coverage is appropriate.

For example, if you have several Aquarium Insurance at the same time or if your fish home is particularly large, the sum insured should be correspondingly higher. To be on the safe side, the volume of the glass tank and the amount of the coverage should be recorded in writing. It is best to clarify with yours before the start of the contract

However, avoid double insurance. This means that you cannot cover one thing with two insurance policies. Household contents and liability insurance are an exception, as household contents insurance covers your own belongings and liability insurance covers the objects of others.

And, if necessary, choose equipment insurance. It also protects you from damage to the equipment near the Aquarium Insurance.

Fish are also insured

As a fish keeper, you can sit back and relax. As a rule, fish are included in household contents insurance.

In terms of insurance, your scaled friends are considered a thing. This not only protects you from a broken Aquarium Insurance, but also against other risks such as burglary, fire, storms and hail.

But some aquarists enjoy particularly valuable fish.  

• Even a simple koi carp, for example, can have a price in the three-digit euro range. And these are not even animals that have special characteristics.
• A rare and endangered Silver Arowana from South America is trading for several hundred thousand euros.
• The little peppermint angelfish, with its pretty red and white coloring, can cost up to 30,000 euros.
• The masked angelfish, which is "already" available for just under 14,000 euros, seems almost affordable.
• And the Wrought Iron Butterfly Fish is almost something of a bargain with its purchase price of around 3,000 euros.

A sufficient insurance sum is of course indispensable for such expensive rarities. In the event of underinsurance, damage is only reimbursed proportionately (in relation to the sum insured and the actual value). You would have to pay for the rest yourself in the event of damage.

It can therefore be useful and worthwhile to insure valuable fish separately with animal insurance.