Fish can not feel pain.

[MichaelAngelo]

(08-21-2013 12:00 PM)MuskieBait Wrote:  I only see facts...

1) Humans cannot ingest crustaceans (crayfish, lobsters, crabs, shrimp) whole. The sharp spines on their shells easily cut our lips, mouth and gums and we know better than to injure ourselves. Fish like bass, red drum, skates, rays and sharks do not have an issue with that. In fact, those are their favourite food items.

2) Humans cannot ingest fish with spiny fins whole. The sharp fin spines easily cut our lips, mouth and gums and we know better than to injure ourselves. Most fish species have no issues with that. In fact, that's the primary food source.

So if fish feels pain in their mouth area, they would not even be able to feed, since that pain associated with eating will prevent the fish from feeding...just like if you shoot yourself with a gun, you likely will not do it again.

But you're assuming that the fish is cutting itself with the spines and shells of its food. The mouth and esophogas of a person is not the same as the mouth and digestive tract of a fish that is designed to safely ingest those food items whole.

If the fish was tearing up its mouth/digestive tract on a regular basis it would be prone to infection. Not a good survival strategy. So this leads me to believe that a fish is not causing harm to itself when it swallows spiny fish or shelled critters whole.