slightly furious reminder that fish do in fact feel pain and do in fact experience fear and distress when in pain since people seem to love spreading the myth that fish don't feel pain. what is it with people assuming a creature is incapable of feeling pain or emotion just because it doesn't have complex facial muscles. come on gang
As my main income, I work with fish in a specialty pet store that's privately owned (so I'm allowed to say no and be stern to customers when it's needed).
You learn really quickly that not only do fish have individual personalities and emotions but they also have memories and recognize people! There are certain fish who will only come out for me and hide for everyone else. The pufferfish spits at me because she gets pissy that I haven't fed her. The flowerhorn bites everyone but me and my coworker when we clean his tank. I trained a fire eel to come up and eat directly out of my hand.
Fish are beautiful complex creatures and I thank the universe everyday that I get to work in a place where I'm encouraged to tell animal abusers to fuck right off.
