Humane Fishkeeping

Buying fish is a lot like having a child. These fish are absolutely dependant on you for every need. They do, however, become fairly care-free if raised properly, and are very rewarding. They may not cry or make sad faces, but they are still living, self-aware, pain-sensitive beings. For religious people, respect God's creatures! For non-religious people, it's just cruel! By buying any fish, it is your responsibility to provide it with a home adequate to maintain its happiness. If you cannot do so, do not invest in fish.

Keeping fish humanely is not very hard at all. There are many things that contribute to a fish's happiness, but there are a few main things that will, for the most part, keep your fish very happy:

• Chemistry: The most common misconception in fishkeeping is that filtration is an option. It is not an option. (with ONE notable exception*) A fish living in unfiltered water lives in its own urine. A fish's urine (ammonia) burns its skin and lungs terribly. Nitrite, another by-product of fish waste, can slowly suffocate them. See Basic Aquarium Maintenance for more info on this. Also of concern is pH, if it swings or is inappropriate, it can cause great pain to the fish. Usually, you need not worry about pH levels.
• Oxygen: Fish need air. It is therefore necessary to have sufficient surface area and water flow to supply oxygen sufficient for all demands. Bowls to not provide enough air for goldfish to live in. 
• Space: Fish gotta swim. They must have enough space to at least feel as though they were not in captivity. This is specific for the fish, goldfish need at LEAST 10 gallons to start, still more as they grow. The best fish for small quarters is a betta splendens, it is the only fish that can be reasonably kept in bowls.
• Tank setup: Some fish need to school to be happy. The most common schooling fish are neon tetras. Make sure you know what tank mates your fish need to have. Also, some fish need special ornaments, most commonly caves. If some fish, like catfish, cannot hide, they become miserable.
• Diseases: Disease can make fish miserable, as it does humans. If you

If you observe these five factors, your fish will very likely be happy. After an initial investment of about $50, (spent wisely) you can have a stable, humane, attractive, low-maintenance aquarium. See Basic Aquarium Maintenance for the easiest and best way to maintain your aquarium. If you have any questions at all, please contact me. All my contact info is listed in the Index.

Please, remember that these are living, thinking, feeling things. Fish keeping is not a responsibility to be taken lightly: neglect can cause vast amounts of pain and suffering

For excellent info on humane goldfish keeping, visit the Goldfish Sanctuary. Goldfish are by far the most widely abused fish. They are also very intelligent and playful fish, and have a lifespan of up to THIRTY years. This makes such abuse all the worse.

*Tanks can remain unfiltered if you are willing to change the water every few days, to stave off waste buildup. This is only really practical on tanks under 5 gallons. This is commonly done with Betta tanks, as they can live in small quarters. It is not, however, as humane as using filtration.

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