The global freshwater aquarium trade moves hundreds of millions of fish annually, with welfare concerns spanning capture, transport, retail conditions, and home aquarium husbandry.
Fish welfare in the aquarium trade is often compromised before the animal reaches the purchaser. Overcrowded shipping bags, extended transport times, and poor retail conditions expose fish to oxygen depletion, temperature extremes, and accumulating waste. Once sold, many fish are kept in inadequate setups by underprepared owners. Fish experience pain, stress, and fear in ways increasingly recognized by welfare science. Raising standards requires better industry practices, informed consumer choice, and public awareness that fish are not decorations but animals with genuine welfare needs.