It's appalling every time I go to the pet store to get cat food or litter and I see a betta sitting in 8 ounces of water that's just sitting stagnant and the fish has a quarter of an inch front or back to move around.

Someone pointed out on another thread I was reading a few weeks ago about mukbang people on YouTube that seafood always gets a pass and that if they showed someone doing what they do to, say, live squid to a live pig that YouTube would have it removed before more than 3 people saw it. Yet when someone cuts the heads clean off the squid and covers them in salt and soy sauce which makes them squirm, YouTube appreciates your rich and varied culture. It's like the same logic applies in pet stores. The cats are at least kept in decently sized runs or cages with a toy or two to play with. The birds are kept in larger cages that would let them fly a little. The reptiles are kept in environments where there's at least enough heat and humidity (or lack of humidity) to keep them thermally comfortable, at least if not spatially. The rodents are kept in bigger cages with other mice or hamsters they can cuddle with.

So why do fish always get a pass on this shit? Are they not animals too?