Invertebrates — including insects, spiders, crustaceans, and molluscs — are increasingly kept in zoos and aquariums. Their welfare needs are poorly understood but deserve serious consideration.
As our understanding of invertebrate sentience grows, so must our responsibility to the billions of invertebrates held in captive settings. Zoo and aquarium invertebrates — from giant Pacific octopuses to leaf-cutter ant colonies — have varying but real welfare needs. Good practice begins with species-appropriate environments that permit natural behaviors, minimize handling stress, and provide the sensory conditions animals require. As the evidence base for invertebrate sentience expands, institutions that proactively apply the precautionary principle and design exhibits around behavioral needs will be leading welfare-positive change in a traditionally neglected area.