‘She was so small, and she was so mighty, and she did that all on her own,’ says TikToker Kaleigh, in between sobs.
‘Was she proud of herself?’ she asks, unable to contain tears.
You’d be forgiven for thinking that Kayleigh was commenting on a great story of tragedy over triumph — and in a way, she was, but not the kind you might expect.
The story currently capturing the hearts of social media users actually centres around a tiny anglerfish, aka ‘possibly the ugliest animal on the planet.’
This tiny fish was filmed by researchers in Tenerife, swimming towards the water’s surface.
What makes this so unusual, is that anglerfish live in the depths of the ocean, thousands of metres below where this one was sighted.
In fact, they even have a special structure on their heads called a ‘lure’ which glows in the dark.
There are 200 species of this type of fish, but the one caught on camera, a black seadevil, has never before been seen so close to the surface. Black seadevils are known to live as deep as 6,500ft under the sea.
There are varying theories for why this little fish was so far away from home. The researchers in the Canary Islands think it could have been swallowed by a predator who brought it to the surface, or perhaps it got trapped in a rising column of warm water.
But, for TikTokers, the fish with a face only a mother could love is a symbol of ‘revelations, change [and] awakening’. Yes, really.
What are people saying about the anglerfish?
The clip has been shared and stitched far and wide, causing rather emotional responses from viewers.
‘I hope she knows a bunch of humans are so proud of her,’ wrote one commenter.
While another described her journey as ‘swim[ing] in light that she didn’t have to make by herself.’
And a third added: ‘I will never trust a person who doesn’t get emotional over this fish. This is now the basis of all my friendships.’
Others were bawling over the tragic fate of the now-famous creature. Local Spanish outlet, Marca, sadly confirmed the fish died, which seemed to make her final swim even more poetic.
‘I saw a comment that said “And for my last day, I think I’ll go see the sun” and I was sobbing!’ read one comment, which received 66k likes.
Others have felt defensive over the fish being labelled ‘ugly’: ‘It’s really upsetting that people keep calling the anglerfish ugly. She was just a girl who wanted to see the sun.’
Not since Nemo have people been so in their feelings about a fish — so what’s going on?
Why are people crying over an anglerfish?
We spoke to Dr. Nivedita Nayak, a psychologist and psychotherapist, who has been following the viral anglerfish video.
She says that, perhaps surprisingly, people are seeing themselves in the little anglerfish.
‘The anglerfish has spent its entire life in the deep, dark ocean, a place of survival and isolation. Now, it is swimming toward something brighter, something unknown, even though it will not survive the journey.
‘That moment feels deeply human. It speaks to endurance, resilience, and the idea of moving toward something greater, no matter the cost. Many people see themselves in that struggle, and it resonates on an emotional level.’
She also shared why this response has been so strong among women in particular.
‘Women often relate to stories of persistence and transformation. The idea of pushing forward even when the future is uncertain, leaving behind a difficult past, or embracing change despite fear mirrors real-life emotional journeys.
‘The way the fish moves toward the light looks like a choice, and that is what makes it feel so meaningful.’
Dr Nayak also pointed out how emotional connection is amplifying this reaction online.
‘When people see others crying over the video, it reinforces their own emotions. The more women relate to it, the stronger the emotional response spreads.
It becomes a shared experience, a moment of collective understanding, which is why a simple video of a fish can feel so deeply moving.’
Meanwhile Dr Norma Scevoli, a chartered counselling ssychologist, tells Metro.co.uk that symbolic imagery can trigger strong emotional reactions, often mirroring our struggles and desires.
‘This video is not just about a fish; it can symbolically represent resilience and the struggle to achieve something meaningful and great, no matter the cost. It is something that many women can identify with, to fight for the light, to be independent, even when it is not clear where the journey will take them. It can be viewed as mirroring personal growth, stepping out of one’s comfort zone and taking control, embracing uncertainty and change, even when it is scary.
‘The fish’s ascent to the surface can be seen as a last statement of rebellion, hope or escape – something that can resonate with those who have ever felt trapped or have longed for more.’
Brb, we’ve ran out of tissues.
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Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.
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