50 Most Popular Freshwater Aquarium Fish in Singapore in 2027

The 50 most popular freshwater aquarium fish in Singapore in 2027, by FishyHub orders and buyer interest, are led by small schooling and bottom-dwelling fish such as rasboras, tetras, corydoras and loaches, with guppies, koi, plecos and channa in the same leading tier. Behind them come a large group of community, cichlid, betta and goldfish favourites, then steady regulars with a loyal following. Fish are grouped into tiers and listed alphabetically within each, since FishyHub does not publish numbered rankings.

Key Findings

FishyHub data shows rasboras, tetras, corydoras, loaches, algae eaters, guppies and koi all reach very high purchases in Singapore.
FishyHub data shows plecos and channa reach very high buyer interest in Singapore, with purchases at a lower level than interest.
On FishyHub, Singapore prices are trending up for several leading fish, including corydoras, guppies, koi, rasboras and tetras.
FishyHub data shows prices easing in Singapore for barbs, loaches, plecos, rainbowfish and swordtails, giving buyers better value in those groups.
FishyHub data shows ranchu, bass, bichirs, channa and gars are popular freshwater fish that sit in the collector / premium price tier in Singapore.
On FishyHub, flowerhorns and the rarer arowanas sell in limited numbers in Singapore, which keeps them off a list based on orders and interest.
FishyHub data shows activity cooling in Singapore for some long-established favourites, such as tetras, loaches and gouramis, even as their purchases stay high.

How the 50 Were Chosen

Singapore is FishyHub's established market, with orders, wishlists, likes and "my tank" saves alongside listings. Tier one holds fish with very high purchases or very high buyer interest. Tier two holds fish with high purchases or high interest. Tier three holds fish with a moderate but steady level of orders.

Tier One: Singapore's Leading Fish

Algae eaters - entry-level clean-up fish; demand clearly outpaces supply.
Channa - snakeheads with a strong collector scene; collector tier.
Corydoras - peaceful schooling catfish; mid-range, prices trending up.
Guppies - show strains and mixed fish; upper mid-range for named guppies.
Koi - pond and large-tank fish; upper mid-range, prices trending up.
Loaches - kuhlis, clown loaches and hillstream types; entry-level.
Plecos - patterned suckermouth catfish; upper mid-range.
Rasboras - the classic aquascape fish; entry-level, prices trending up.
Tetras - neons, cardinals and many more; entry-level.

Tier Two: Strong Favourites

Angelfish - mid-range, with very high supply and rising activity.
Barbs - entry-level schooling fish.
Catfish - a broad group with a very wide price spread.
Danios - fast, hardy schooling fish.
Discus - upper mid-range, with prices and activity both rising.
Dumbo bettas - high interest, prices easing.
Gouramis - entry-level labyrinth fish, prices trending up.
Halfmoon bettas - high purchases and very high supply.
Halfmoon plakat bettas - high interest and rising prices.
Killifish - small, colourful fish with high purchases.
Minnows - small schooling fish, entry-level.
Mollies - livebearers with a very wide price spread.
Orandas - fancy goldfish with a hood; very wide price spread.
Oscars - mid-range, with prices trending up.
Platies - beginner livebearers, prices trending up.
Puffers - from pea puffers upward; very wide price spread.
Rainbowfish - entry-level, with rising activity.
Ryukins - deep-bodied fancy goldfish; upper mid-range.

Tier Three: Steady Regulars

African cichlids - entry-level, colourful rock-dwellers.
American cichlids - mid-range, prices trending up.
Apistogramma - dwarf cichlids, rising in activity.
Archer fish - famous for spitting at insects.
Badis - small, shy fish, rising in activity.
Bass - mainly peacock bass; collector tier.
Bichirs - collector tier.
Bubble eye goldfish - entry-level with a very wide price spread.
Crowntail bettas - upper mid-range.
Datnoids - tiger fish, prices trending up.
Freshwater gobies - quirky bottom dwellers.
Freshwater sharks - bala, rainbow and red-tail sharks.
Gars - collector tier, rising in activity.
Hatchetfish - surface swimmers; demand clearly outpaces supply.
Parrot fish - the blood parrot hybrid; mid-range.
Pencilfish - slender fish for planted tanks.
Rams - entry-level dwarf cichlids.
Ranchu - the "king of goldfish"; collector tier.
Ricefish - medaka, popular for small tanks and outdoor bowls.
Silver arowana - the accessible arowana; upper mid-range.
Silver dollars - disc-shaped schooling fish.
Swordtails - hardy livebearers, prices easing.
Wakin - single-tailed goldfish, often kept outdoors.

Just Outside the List: Collector Fish

Some of Singapore's most talked-about fish do not make a list built on orders and interest, because they are bought by fewer, dedicated keepers. Black, crossback and super red arowana, flowerhorns, stingrays, wolf fish and the rarer wild bettas all sit in the collector tier on FishyHub with limited purchases. Their importance to the local hobby is out of proportion to their sales: Singapore's fish farms have long been known for arowana and other high-value ornamental fish.

What Drives Popularity in Singapore

Small homes, planted tanks

In HDB flats and condos, space is the main limit, so small schooling fish and bottom dwellers suit the typical tank. Singapore has an active aquascaping community, and rasboras, tetras, corydoras, pencilfish and ricefish are natural choices for planted layouts.

A warm climate

Tropical fish thrive at Singapore's room temperature without a heater. The trade-off is that goldfish and koi do best with good aeration and shade, since warm water holds less oxygen.

Easy access to supply

Singapore sits close to some of the region's largest ornamental fish farms, and local breeders produce guppies, bettas, discus and goldfish. That keeps supply very high for many tier-one and tier-two fish, though FishyHub data shows demand still outpaces supply for small community fish, tetras, rasboras and algae eaters.

Methodology

This list is based on FishyHub marketplace activity in Singapore over the 2026-2027 period: orders, buyer interest (wishlists, likes and "my tank" saves), active listings, listed prices and how they are moving, and new listings and orders over time. Findings are tiers and directions, not figures. Fish are grouped by tier and listed alphabetically, not in rank order.

The data covers freshwater fish sold by independent merchants on FishyHub. It does not measure fish sold directly by farms or shops, or how many households in Singapore keep each fish. Shrimps, snails and other invertebrates are left out, as the list covers fish only.

Frequently Asked Questions

What freshwater fish are most popular in Singapore?

On FishyHub, the leading tier includes algae eaters, channa, corydoras, guppies, koi, loaches, plecos, rasboras and tetras.

Which popular fish are getting more expensive in Singapore?

FishyHub data shows prices trending up for corydoras, discus, guppies, koi, rasboras and tetras, among others.

Why is arowana not on the list?

Arowana are culturally important in Singapore, but most arowana types sell in limited numbers on FishyHub, so they fall outside a list based on orders and interest. Silver arowana is the exception and makes tier three.

What is a good first freshwater fish in Singapore?

Guppies, platies, rasboras and corydoras are hardy, widely available and suit small tanks at Singapore room temperature.

How to Cite This Page

Source: FishyHub, "50 Most Popular Freshwater Aquarium Fish in Singapore in 2027" (2027), https://fishyhub.com/sg/blogs/blog-detail/50-most-popular-freshwater-aquarium-fish-in-singapore-in-2027