Aquarium fish are the most popular pets after cats and dogs. There are more than three million in Switzerland, and 98% of ornamental marine fish are still caught directly in the wild today. • I have always been intrigued by aquaria: man-made fictional marine worlds contained in complex staging machines, like living cabinets of curiosities. • From local enthusiasts who dedicate a huge amount of time and money to creating specific ecosystems in their homes, to shops, to the largest wholesaler in Europe, I followed the trail all the way to fishermen in Indonesia, the biggest exporting country. I also met seahorse breeders, jellyfish exporters, boarder veterinarians and coral growers. • With this work, I want to showcase the intrinsic paradox of aquaria: the esthetic pleasure of building sophisticated reproductions of nature, the handling of living creatures for visual pleasure, and an industry that is a source of revenue for people in developing countries but also has a significant impact on the environment.