Fish and Ponds

A saying/adage that bothers me is

"would you rather be a big fish in a little pond or a little fish in a big pond?"

To me it's a non-starter, as I don't want to be a fish at all. Why do I have to be a fish? If I have to be something aquatic, maybe I'd opt to be an otter (it's a "playful water mammal" according to the crosswords). But are we really obligated to pick an aquatic animal? Why not, say, a wood tick?

"Would you rather be a wood tick on a big animal or a big wood tick on a little animal?"

...or something.

Okay, maybe I could be a fish, but I'd never live in a pond. I'd want to live in an aquarium with one of those treasure chests or sunken old ship playscapes. It would have to have an under gravel filter, too but that's getting ahead of ourselves.

Maybe I'd want to be a kangaroo.