Most Viewed Aquarium Fish That Singaporeans Don't Buy: What the Data Shows

In Singapore, the fish people admire most without buying in the same measure are channa (snakeheads), flowerhorns, show bettas such as halfmoon plakats and dumbos, and black arowana. On FishyHub, these fish attract more wishlists, likes and "my tank" saves than their purchase tier would suggest. The common thread is price, tank size and commitment: they are fish people dream about long before they are ready to keep one.

Key Findings

• FishyHub data shows channa draw very high buyer interest in Singapore, while purchases sit only in the moderate tier, a wider admire-versus-buy gap than any other livestock category on the marketplace.
• FishyHub marketplace activity shows flowerhorns attract moderate interest in Singapore but limited purchases, with supply running ahead of demand and prices easing.
• FishyHub data shows halfmoon plakat and dumbo bettas earn high buyer interest in Singapore but only moderate purchases, even though both are plentifully listed.
• On FishyHub, black arowana in Singapore draw moderate interest but limited purchases, and sit in the collector / premium price tier.
• FishyHub data shows wild bettas such as Mahachai and Smaragdina are saved more often than they are bought in Singapore, with limited supply on both sides.
• FishyHub data shows plecos, catfish and knifefish are also browsed and saved ahead of purchase in Singapore.
• FishyHub data shows the reverse pattern for koi, ryukin goldfish, killifish, minnows and freshwater clams: Singapore buyers purchase them more readily than they save them.

How We Measure "Viewed" and "Bought"

FishyHub does not publish page-view counts in this data. The closest measure of looking is buyer interest: wishlists, likes and "my tank" saves. Each is a deliberate act by a shopper who has looked at a fish and wants to remember it. We compare that interest tier with the purchase tier for the same category. Where interest sits clearly above purchases, the fish is being admired more than it is bought.

The Fish Singapore Admires but Buys Less

Fish	Buyer interest	Purchases	Price tier
Black arowana	Moderate	Limited	Collector / premium
Bettas (category as a whole)	High	Moderate	Mid-range
Catfish	High	Moderate	Mid-range
Channa	Very high	Moderate	Collector / premium
Dumbo betta	High	Moderate	Upper mid-range
Flowerhorn	Moderate	Limited	Collector / premium
Halfmoon plakat betta	High	Moderate	Upper mid-range
Knifefish	Moderate	Limited	Upper mid-range
Mahachai betta	Moderate	Limited	Upper mid-range
Pleco	Very high	High	Upper mid-range
Smaragdina betta	Moderate	Limited	Upper mid-range

Fish are listed alphabetically. The gap matters more than the level: a pleco still sells well, but it is saved even more often than it is bought.

Why Each Gap Exists

Channa: admired, but a serious commitment

Snakeheads have a strong following in Singapore, helped by colourful species such as Channa andrao and Channa auranti, which also appear high in FishyHub search terms. They are striking, intelligent and full of personality. They are also predatory, often need a tank to themselves, and many species sit in the collector price tier. Very high supply means shoppers can browse endlessly, but a typical HDB flat has room for one display tank, and few owners give it to a single fish without thinking hard first.

Flowerhorns: a cooling price, a cautious buyer

Flowerhorns have plenty of listings in Singapore, and new listings are rising. Yet purchases remain limited, supply runs ahead of demand, and prices are easing. A flowerhorn's value rests on its head hump (kok), colour and pearling, which can change as the fish grows. Many buyers watch a fish for a while before committing, which shows up as interest without an order.

Show bettas: too much choice to buy them all

Halfmoon plakats and dumbos are among the bettas Singapore shoppers save most. Both have very high or high supply and supply ahead of demand, so a shopper scrolling betta listings meets many beautiful fish in a single session. Saving several and buying one is natural. Halfmoon plakat prices are trending up, which also encourages buyers to wait for the right fish; dumbo prices are easing, which may eventually turn some saves into orders.

Arowana: the dream fish

Black arowana sit in the collector tier with limited listings and limited purchases. Arowana carry cultural meaning in Singapore as fish of luck and prosperity, so they are admired by far more people than can house one. An adult arowana needs a very long tank, and higher-value arowana sales often involve certificates and a visit to the seller, so browsing online is often the research stage rather than the purchase itself.

Wild bettas and oddballs

Mahachai and Smaragdina are wild bettas with dedicated followers. Supply is limited, and they suit keepers who set up species tanks with leaf litter and soft water. Knifefish and many catfish grow large and are nocturnal, which pushes them into the "one day" category for many shoppers.

The Opposite Pattern: Fish Bought Without Much Browsing

Some fish are purchased more readily than they are saved:

• Archer fish
• Freshwater clams
• Killifish
• Koi
• Minnows
• Ryukin goldfish
• Wakin goldfish

These are often practical or repeat purchases. Koi and wakin are bought for ponds and outdoor tubs, where the keeper knows what they want. Clams and minnows are low-cost additions. Ryukin and killifish have loyal keepers who buy directly from sellers they trust. A buyer who already knows the fish has little reason to save it to a wishlist first.

What This Means for Buyers and Sellers

For buyers in Singapore, a fish you have been saving for months may now be easier to get: flowerhorn and dumbo betta prices are easing, and supply for both is ahead of demand. For sellers, high interest with modest purchases is a sign that clear photos, size information and honest care notes may be what turns a save into an order. A short video of a channa feeding or a flowerhorn's colour in daylight does more than a still photo.

Methodology

This page is based on FishyHub marketplace activity in Singapore over the period from October 2024 to October 2026. We compared buyer interest (wishlists, likes and "my tank" saves) with orders for each livestock category, alongside active listings, listed prices, price direction and momentum. Search terms, which combine the Singapore and US markets, were used as supporting context. All findings are reported as tiers and directions, not figures.

FishyHub does not report page views in this data, so "viewed" is represented by deliberate saves and likes rather than every visit. The data covers fish sold through independent merchants on FishyHub and does not measure arowana farms, fish shops or the wider Singapore hobby.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which aquarium fish do Singaporeans like but rarely buy?

On FishyHub, channa, flowerhorns, black arowana, halfmoon plakat and dumbo bettas, and wild bettas such as Mahachai and Smaragdina are saved and liked more often than they are bought.

Why do people save fish to a wishlist without buying?

Usually because of price, tank space or care. Collector-tier fish and large predators take planning, so a wishlist works as a shortlist while the buyer prepares.

Are flowerhorns getting cheaper in Singapore?

FishyHub data shows flowerhorn prices are easing in Singapore, with supply running ahead of demand.

Which fish do Singapore buyers purchase without much browsing?

Koi, ryukin and wakin goldfish, killifish, minnows, archer fish and freshwater clams are bought more readily than they are saved on FishyHub.

How to Cite This Page

Source: FishyHub, "Most Viewed Aquarium Fish That Singaporeans Don't Buy: What the Data Shows" (2026), https://fishyhub.com/sg/blogs/blog-detail/most-viewed-aquarium-fish-that-singaporeans-dont-buy-what-the-data-shows