Because I have a vested interest in welfare studies surrounding fish, especially cichlids, I keep tabs on the latest research surrounding this topic. In August of 2025, I interviewed Dr. Ronald Oldfield, who specializes in fish welfare research. Several of Dr. Oldfield’s published papers were referenced in that interview.
One of those papers, Psychological and social well-being of bony fishes in zoos and aquariums, specifically invited commentary from the research community. One recently published commentary, titled Aggression and fish welfare: Challenges and opportunities, hones in a bit more on cichlids and aquaria.
If this topic interests you, consider reading both the Oldfield article and the commentary. If nothing else, check out the interview.