Boredom and Unhappiness
Even if someone is physically well doesn’t mean they are not suffering. An animal’s happiness is, of course, important as well as their physical wellbeing. The fish we keep in fish tanks are usually freshwater fish, and so their natural habitats are streams, lakes, and other freshwater environments. They are supposed to live in these places, with sunlight, moving water, endless space and new places to swim and explore etc. Whereas in a tank they often have nothing to do, and quickly become bored and frustrated.
Just because fish live underwater doesn’t mean they do not think and feel like other animals. Fish are actually rather intelligent (not that intelligence defines worth of life). Did you know fish have cognitive abilities that sometimes surpass non-human primates?
Fish maintain complex social relationships with each other, and communicate with many different low frequency sounds. The noise from pumps in the tank interferes with this: “[A]t the least, we’re disrupting their communication; at worst, we’re driving them bonkers,” says ichthyologist Phillip Lobel. Why wouldn’t they be bored in tanks? Why wouldn’t they be unhappy? Any other animal in an equivalent situation would be.
Cruelty in the Fish Trade
About 90% of freshwater fish are bred in captivity in fish factory farms. These places are horrible for the fish, they are overcrowded and stressful. Fish bred here are also then sent off all over the world to pet stores. This journey is also cruel to the fishes. Then when fish are bought by individuals there is no guarantee they will be looked after well in peoples homes and many end up in tiny fish bowls and tanks, and they are mistreated. It’s not uncommon for fish to die because people simply don’t know how to care for them properly. Tropical fish are usually wild caught as they are hard to breed. Like in the movie Finding Dory, they’re abducted from their natural homes and endure stressful trips across the world to end up miserably in tanks.
Our Broken Mindset Towards ‘Pet’ Fish
Fish, and all animals, are not here for us, they are here with us. They are not ours to use for entertainment, or any other purpose. Fish have their own lives to live in their own homes in the wild, they don’t belong in our sitting rooms.
Solution
When we keep fish in tanks we are supporting all the above. We’re taking part in a cruel industry and further perpetuating an unjust mindset towards other animals. There are plenty of other things we can do for entertainment, and it’s easy to watch and learn about fish using books and videos instead of keeping them in tanks.
In sitting rooms at optometrists and dentists the fish tank could be replaced with a quiet TV showing videos of fish in the wild. This would create the same calming effect people experience when watching fish swimming, but without making life miserable for the fish. Of course there’s always books and magazines too. There’s really no need for a fish tank.
See for yourself the reality of animal agriculture in this shocking documentary. Using undercover footage, “Dominion” exposes the true horrors you are paying for when you buy animal products.
Want to go vegan but not sure how? Join the 22 Day Vegan Challenge and receive free support to help you make the switch to a plant based diet. Sign up now and stop being the reason animals suffer. What are you waiting for?
For Animals. 
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