Although dead seahorses make up the largest proportion of sales, trade in live animals is substantial. Virtually all seahorses destined for aquaria are taken from wild populations.
Seahorses are notoriously difficult to keep, and very few survive for long in captivity.
Adults require a steady supply of varied live foods, and their vulnerability to a number of fungal, parasitic and bacterial infections means that seahorse tanks must be kept scrupulously clean. Seahorses are hurt during capture and transport, and are mishandled at every level of the aquarium trade, from the exporters through to the retailers. Starving seahorses is a common practice among holders, given the animals' costly diet of live food. Even public aquaria, with their vast resources and expert staff, concede that these are among the most difficult fishes to maintain in captivity. Seahorse numbers appear to be declining markedly in exploited populations throughout Asia.