"It's just a fish..."

[EightLeggedFrea]

I used to think that, too. Until I got interested in lionfish, puffers, large angels, triggers, large cichlids, etc. The marine fish especially catch my eyes, and I've even visit a few reef forums and the pics there are like living art pieces! I can't see myself owning any fish tanks any time soon though, as they're expensive and kind of complex (especially saltwater ones) to maintain sometimes.

 

[Sukai94]

I adore my fish.

I have a huge tank in my room with 4 koi in it. They are like puppies. The recognize me and swim towards me when I walk in my room. They beg for food, even if they are spoiled fat fish and I hand feed them everyday.

When we had the fires a couple years ago in San Diego and I had to evacuate I took them with me. Mind you, I have a sports car so my space is limited (and my koi are not small) but I still took them.

Am I crazy?

 

[GiantVinegaroon]

Anyone who says fish are stupid obviously hasn't been carp fishing....

Good point. If I lose a carp I hooked, the other carp in the area stay away from the spots I fish for at least an hour before taking the bait again.

Bluegills don't seem very bright, but when kept in the aquarium they're alot smarter than they look.

 

[GiantVinegaroon]

I used to think that, too. Until I got interested in lionfish, puffers, large angels, triggers, large cichlids, etc. The marine fish especially catch my eyes, and I've even visit a few reef forums and the pics there are like living art pieces! I can't see myself owning any fish tanks any time soon though, as they're expensive and kind of complex (especially saltwater ones) to maintain sometimes.

Alot of the North American native freshwater fish are extremely easy to keep...

 

[stevetastic]

When we had the fires a couple years ago in San Diego and I had to evacuate I took them with me. Mind you, I have a sports car so my space is limited (and my koi are not small) but I still took them.

Am I crazy?

You are here so you probably are but i think it is great that you care so much about your pets. i wish everyone would go to such lengths for there animals.

 

[bugmankeith]

Even from the poor treatment of bettas and goldfish in bowls, and the selling of these half gallon spongebob/finding nemo kids bowls, already fish are shown no decent care! They rate as much as bugs,bats, and snakes to people, even though they are all important and cool creatures with feelings.

 

[RoachGirlRen]

anyone that says "it's just a fish" just hasn't had an emotional attachment to a fish before. nothing more sinister than that.

Sadly, it is more sinister than that. The kind of disregard people have for fish is precisely why they are denied basic humane consideration. The abuse that fish go through in the pet trade alone would have people screaming bloody murder if it was happening to a mammal or bird; just look at some of the remarks and suggestions in the fish euthanasia topic. I imagine if someone came here asking how to humanely euthanize a sick mammal, no one would be making jokes about mircowaving it or suggesting inhumane methods because "who cares, it's just a mammal." Espousing such a mentality automatically lowers the priority of the animal, and permits cruel treatment.

I'm hoping, personally, that it is merely the result of ignorance rather than a genuine callous disregard, though there are people who simply lack reverence for life (I have no reverence for such individuals, incidentally). Perhaps if these individuals read through some peer reviewed scientific material that clearly proves that fish possess most or all of the same traits we relate to and admire in mammals, they wouldn't be so quick to write fish off. Contrary to ignorant social conditioning and myth suggesting the contrary, they DO experience pain, they ARE intelligent, they DO form social bonds, and they are adept learners, problem solvers, and more. They have much of the variety in behavior, ecological roles, and intellect as we see in land vertebrates, simply in a form we don't relate to as well.

I'm actually working on a seminar for college right now and the wealth (and it's miniscule compared to other animals) of scientific information about the abilities of fish would blow most people's thoughts on them clear out of the water.

 

[stevetastic]

^
Checkmate​

 

[dtknow]

Good point. If I lose a carp I hooked, the other carp in the area stay away from the spots I fish for at least an hour before taking the bait again.

Bluegills don't seem very bright, but when kept in the aquarium they're alot smarter than they look.

Likely has to do with chemical cues as much as intelligence.

 

[endoflove]

i love fish!!!! i use to keep all the odd balls, amazon leaf fish, austrilan and south american arowanas, all kinds of pike and gar, prehistoric monster fish, and much much more i loved them all! but here the steelhead are in and u dont fish for them u hunt for them all the cunning in the world to catch these guys. if they see u u better just pack up and go home LOL they arnt stuipd 40+ hr and one 25'' female steelhead i did better than most people

 

[Kirsten]

I've gone through the same with losing my rats.. "it's just a rat, go get another". You know, people will say the same about cats and dogs even. Hell, my Grandmother told her grandaughter-in-law who lost a baby in labor that she was still young and could always have more. I've heard fairly insensitive comments about a coworker's son who commited suicide recently, even.

I think different people just have different views on life. Some don't seem to have a high opinion on it (or at least, on anyone else's but themselves and close loved ones), while others treasure every second of every creature's life.

I've found that thought process is common with older people. They had to be that way because the times didn't allow for grieving much and they often had children much younger than we do now, so the thinking seemed logical to them.

Some people are also very uncomfortable with others' pain and try to minimize it, thereby minimizing their own discomfort. Selfish sounding, I know, but that's how some survive. Careless comments usually aren't meant the way they sound;some people just don't know any other way. In one ear and out the other,I say