When I first started keeping fish, I slowly started to realize that compared to cats, dogs or even birds, fish are treated poorly and abused in pet stores. I keep several fish, two Oscars, a Betta and an Angel fish and I had gotten them from a nearby pet store. Even though they are thriving in bigger tanks and living a better life, some of them still have issues that could have been prevented. However, due to negligence, some of it can’t be fixed and some are still healing. Everytime I go to the pet store, I always catch myself staring at the Bettas and fish in small living quarters and disgusting unclean tanks that reek of illnesses.

I have taken in a few fish in the past and present that were struggling and sometimes it cannot be helped because the damage was so severe. I’ve had Bettas with fin rot and swim bladder that couldn’t be helped and I’ve had fish who have their fins destroyed from tank mates in the stores and are thriving in the present. Everytime I go to the pet store, the amount of dead fish is extremely disappointing and the amount of employees who don’t know how to take care of fish and are ignorant is also really sad. 

I believe with enough complaints and protests we could stop the mistreatment, get bigger tanks and professionals to help Petco take better care of animals and maybe even teach the employees and managers how to take care of them. In America, we slander people for animal abuse. Small things such as, “you should take your dog out more often” or, “you’re feeding your pets too little” and “don’t force your cat to do something he doesn’t want to do”. We care so much about the minor inconveniences that other people do with their pets but not enough about the animals who are actually suffering. It’s not “just a fish”, it’s a breathing animal.