The global ornamental fish trade captures or breeds millions of fish annually for home aquaria. Welfare problems occur at every stage from collection to retail to home care.
Ornamental fish welfare encompasses multiple problematic stages. Wild capture, particularly of marine species, involves cyanide or physical net collection that causes injury and stress; transport involves multiple handling events with inadequate water quality; retail display often involves inadequate tank conditions; and home care frequently fails to meet species-specific needs. Many popular species have complex requirements — appropriate water chemistry, temperature, social grouping, space, and enrichment — that novice owners do not provide. The welfare-conscious aquarist researches species requirements thoroughly, buys captive-bred where possible, and provides appropriate tank conditions for the lifetime of the fish.