Companion fish

Abstract

Fishes are popular companion animals, both fresh and saltwater species. Fishes are kept in approximately 10% of Western households and are the most numerous type of pet and with 1.5 billion ornamental fishes traded globally each year. Despite increasing research into the welfare of fish farmed in aquaculture, and the popularity of keeping aquarium fish (“ornamental fish”) at home, there is very little research into the optimum living conditions and general welfare of fishes kept as pets. The mis-selling of fishes as exotic animals labelled as “easy”, or “beginner” pets can result in new fish owners purchasing pets without appreciating the complexity of their biology and needs. This chapter covers general fish welfare, fish owners, sourcing, transport, pet stores, care, nutrition, environment, environmental enrichment, and behaviour for fishes as pets. Available scientific evidence on topics such as, e.g., transport, enrichment, environment, and behaviour, suggest that fishes require and benefit from the same consideration regarding their well-being, as birds and mammals. Understanding the challenges allows for a constructive approach to conducting more research, as well as implementing changes that can benefit fish well-being everywhere, including for those fishes kept as pets.