Aquarium Hobby in Singapore: 50 Facts About Fishkeeping

Singapore's aquarium hobby, as FishyHub's 2026 marketplace data shows it, revolves around plants, small fish and shrimp bought often, with a smaller collector market for arowana, channa and show goldfish. The fifty facts below come from FishyHub's Singapore listings, orders, buyer interest, price moves and regional data, with general hobby knowledge where it helps explain them. FishyHub reports tiers and directions, so none of these facts are rankings or counts.

Key Findings

• FishyHub data shows freshwater livestock holds the larger share of listings in Singapore.
• FishyHub data shows aquatic plants are among the most purchased products in Singapore, with demand clearly outpacing supply.
• FishyHub data shows guppies, rasboras, tetras, corydoras and Neocaridina shrimp have very high purchases in Singapore.
• FishyHub data shows supply runs ahead of demand for most betta varieties in Singapore.
• FishyHub data shows koi prices are trending up in Singapore, while flowerhorn prices are easing.
• FishyHub data shows Central Singapore has the most livestock buyers and sellers.

The Hobby at a Glance

1. Freshwater livestock holds the larger share of FishyHub's Singapore listings.
2. Marine livestock is the smaller share, partly because reef tanks in a tropical climate usually need a chiller.
3. Most tropical freshwater fish need no heater in a Singapore home.
4. Compact HDB and condo living favours small and nano tanks.
5. FishyHub's sellers are independent merchants, breeders and hobbyists across the island.
6. Merchants deliver islandwide, so buyers are not limited to sellers nearby.

Plants and Aquascaping

1. Background, foreground, midground and floating plants all have very high purchases.
2. Demand clearly outpaces supply for each of those plant groups.
3. Most of these plants sit in the entry-level price tier.
4. Epiphytes such as ferns and mosses have high purchases and are rising in activity.
5. Epiphyte prices are trending up, while floating plant prices are easing.
6. Tissue culture plants are rising in activity, with prices easing as more are listed.

Small Fish and Shrimp

1. Rasboras and tetras have very high purchases and very high buyer interest.
2. Demand for rasboras and tetras clearly outpaces supply, and both are seeing prices trend up.
3. Danios, hatchetfish and minnows are also groups where demand clearly outpaces supply.
4. Guppies have very high purchases and very high interest.
5. Named guppy strains sit in the upper mid-range tier, with prices trending up.
6. Neocaridina shrimp have very high purchases, and demand clearly outpaces supply.
7. Caridina shrimp have a very wide price spread, reflecting the gap between common and high-grade lines.
8. Snails have very high purchases and are priced at entry level.
9. Corydoras have very high purchases, with prices trending up.
10. Loaches and algae eaters have very high purchases and very high buyer interest.

Bettas, Goldfish and Koi

1. Halfmoon and halfmoon plakat bettas have very high supply.
2. For most betta varieties, supply runs ahead of demand.
3. Alien, Api Api, Delta Tail, Giant Halfmoon Plakat, Macrostoma and Startail bettas sit in the collector tier.
4. Betta activity is rising across most varieties.
5. Goldfish have high purchases, with demand ahead of supply.
6. Ranchu sit in the collector tier, and their prices are trending up.
7. Oranda, ryukin and bubble eye goldfish all have very wide price spreads.
8. Koi have very high purchases, demand ahead of supply, and rising prices.

Cichlids, Monster Fish and Collectors

1. Angelfish have very high supply, and activity and prices are both rising.
2. Discus sit in the upper mid-range tier, with rising activity and prices.
3. Apistogramma are rising in activity, with stable prices.
4. Channa have very high supply and very high buyer interest, in the collector tier.
5. Black, crossback and super red arowana all sit in the collector tier with limited supply.
6. Silver arowana sit in the upper mid-range tier, with prices easing.
7. Flowerhorn sit in the collector tier, but supply runs ahead of demand and prices are easing.
8. Stingrays, gar and wolf fish are collector-tier monster fish.
9. Oscars have high purchases, with demand ahead of supply.
10. Turtles have high purchases and sit in the collector tier.

Marine Facts

1. Marine fish activity is rising, with stable prices.
2. Clownfish and damselfish are rising in activity.
3. Marine invertebrates are rising, with demand ahead of supply and prices trending up.
4. For corals and anemones, supply runs ahead of demand.

Regions and Searches

1. Central Singapore has the most livestock buyers and the most sellers.
2. The North-East and West have many buyers and sellers.
3. The East has fewer buyers and the fewest sellers, while the North has the fewest buyers.
4. FishyHub search data shows very high search interest in arowana, betta, channa, guppy, koi and shrimp.
5. Searches for axolotls, isopods, rice fish and opae ula show interest in unusual pets.
6. FishyHub Feed videos feature other animals very heavily, alongside fish.

Why These Patterns Exist

Singapore's long history as an ornamental fish hub keeps everyday species affordable and plentiful. Small homes push keepers toward planted nano tanks, which is why plants, shrimp and small schooling fish feature so strongly in purchases. At the other end, arowana, ranchu and koi carry cultural meaning, from good fortune to the long tradition of show goldfish, which supports a collector market. Where demand outpaces supply, as with tetras and Neocaridina shrimp, prices tend to rise.

Methodology

These facts are based on FishyHub marketplace activity in Singapore over the period from October 2024 to October 2026: active listings, listed prices and price moves, orders, wishlists, likes and "my tank" saves, new listings and orders over time, buyer and seller regions, search terms and FishyHub Feed video categories. All are reported as tiers and directions, not figures.

Search terms combine Singapore and the US. Regional data covers livestock in general. FishyHub does not measure how many Singaporeans keep fish, household spending, or sales outside its marketplace.

Frequently Asked Questions

What fish are popular in Singapore?

On FishyHub, corydoras, guppies, rasboras and tetras are among the most purchased fish in Singapore, alongside Neocaridina shrimp, snails and aquatic plants.

Do aquarium fish in Singapore need a heater?

Most tropical fish do not, because Singapore room temperatures already suit them. Some cooler-water species and reef tanks may need cooling instead.

Which fish are most expensive in Singapore?

FishyHub's Singapore collector tier includes arowana, channa, flowerhorn, ranchu, stingrays, gar, wolf fish, turtles and rare wild bettas.

Where are most fish buyers in Singapore?

FishyHub data shows Central Singapore has the most livestock buyers and sellers, with the North-East and West also busy.

How to Cite This Page

Source: FishyHub, "Aquarium Hobby in Singapore: 50 Facts About Fishkeeping" (2026), https://fishyhub.com/sg/blogs/blog-detail/aquarium-hobby-in-singapore-50-facts-about-fishkeeping