It’s estimated that there are over three trillion fish living in Earth’s oceans alone. That number is so large it almost stops meaning anything. Trillion feels abstract, distant, and impossible to picture. And maybe that’s why it’s so easy to forget that fish are not decorations, prizes, or props, but living animals.
I think about this every time I see a small plastic bag swinging from a kid’s wrist at a carnival. Inside is usually a goldfish, won with a lucky toss or a few tickets. The kid is excited and proud, already naming it on the walk home. By the next day, the fish is floating at the top of the bowl. No filter, no space, and no chance to live. That excitement often comes from good intentions, not knowledge.
As senior Anna Kim shared, “I got a fish when I was six, and I was really excited,” Kim said. “I honestly didn’t know a lot about what it took to take care of one, and I was surprised to see how much work it was.”
This story is common enough that most people shrug it off. “It’s just a fish,” many say. Fish are often treated as disposable pets, animals whose lives are worth less because they’re quiet, small, and live behind glass.
According to AP Environmental Science teacher Ronny Rayan, this attitude has psychological roots: “From a psychological perspective, humans tend to value animals that look more like us, such as mammals with fur,” Rayan said. “Because fish look so different from humans, people often feel less emotional connection to them.”
That lack of connection feeds widespread misconceptions that fish don’t feel pain, don’t need space, and don’t require real care. In reality, fish can feel stress, experience pain, recognize patterns, and even remember faces. Many goldfish, the same kind handed out at fairs, can live over a decade and grow much larger than people expect when kept in proper conditions.
The problem isn’t that people are intentionally cruel. It’s that fish have been normalized as low- maintenance, low-value animals. When they die quickly, it is treated as expected rather than preventable. But just because something is common doesn’t make it right. Giving away live animals as prizes, often without any education or resources, is morally wrong and factually incorrect. It teaches kids that responsibility is optional and that caring properly doesn’t really matter.
Proper fish care isn’t simple, but that’s the point.
“Before bringing a fish home, you should actually have the tank running for at least a week beforehand; there are many factors that go into even just ensuring the water is safe for the fish,” Rayan explained.
Fish need adequate tank space, clean and filtered water, regular maintenance, and research before being brought home. They aren’t starter pets or last-minute decisions. Owning one means committing to its well-being, just like any other animal. The idea that fish are “easy” often leads directly to neglect.
Because of this, some people have started pushing back. States like Illinois, Massachusetts, and Vermont have banned live animals as carnival prizes. Animal welfare groups, like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), continue to speak out about pet stores that sell fish in overcrowded or unsafe conditions. Even small actions, like educating friends, refusing to buy fish from improper sellers, or questioning why live animals are being used as entertainment, can make a difference.
Fish may be quiet, but that doesn’t mean they’re insignificant. When we treat them as disposable, it reflects a larger habit of ignoring lives that are easy to overlook. Recognizing their value doesn’t require radical change, just a willingness to care, to learn, and to question what we’ve been taught to accept. Sometimes doing the right thing starts with noticing what everyone else has learned to ignore.
