Singapore Aquarium Fish Price Index 2026: What Pet Fish Really Cost
In Singapore, most pet fish sold on FishyHub sit in the entry-level / budget or mid-range price tiers. Tetras, rasboras, danios, platies, freshwater shrimp, snails and most aquarium plants are budget buys, while the broad guppy, betta, goldfish, cichlid and marine fish categories are mid-range; the upper mid-range covers discus, named betta varieties, koi and plecos, and the collector tier is reserved for arowana, flowerhorn, ranchu, rare bettas, monster fish such as channa and stingray, and turtles. This index also shows which way prices are moving in each group.
Key Findings
- FishyHub's 2026 Singapore price index places danios, platies, rasboras, swordtails, tetras, Neocaridina and Caridina shrimp, and freshwater snails in the entry-level / budget tier.
- FishyHub data shows the broad betta, guppy, goldfish, cichlid, shrimp and marine fish categories all sit in the mid-range price tier in Singapore.
- FishyHub data shows discus, named betta varieties, guppy listings, koi, plecos, ryukin goldfish and silver arowana sit in the upper mid-range in Singapore.
- On FishyHub, black, crossback and super red arowana, flowerhorn, ranchu, bichir, channa, gar, stingray and turtles are in the collector / premium tier in Singapore.
- FishyHub data shows prices trending up in Singapore for angelfish, corydoras, discus, koi, mollies, Neocaridina shrimp, platies, ranchu, rasboras and tetras.
- FishyHub data shows prices easing in Singapore for barbs, Caridina shrimp, flowerhorn, loaches, rainbowfish, silver arowana, swordtails, and the betta and goldfish categories as a whole.
- FishyHub data shows everyday categories such as small community fish, freshwater shrimp and carpeting plants are where demand most clearly outpaces supply in Singapore.
How the Index Works
Each category on FishyHub's Singapore marketplace is placed in a price tier according to its typical listed price in SGD, measured against everything else for sale. The tiers, from lowest to highest, are entry-level / budget, mid-range, upper mid-range and collector / premium.
A broad category and the varieties inside it can land in different tiers. The "Shrimps" category is mid-range, for example, while Neocaridina and Caridina listings are entry-level, so the tier of the category as a whole is not always the tier of the shrimp you will actually buy. When planning a purchase, the variety row is usually the better guide.
The 2026 Singapore Price Index
| Group | Price tier | Price direction |
|---|---|---|
| Tetras, rasboras, platies | Entry-level / budget | Trending up |
| Danios | Entry-level / budget | Stable |
| Swordtails, barbs, rainbowfish, loaches | Entry-level / budget | Easing |
| Neocaridina shrimp | Entry-level / budget | Trending up |
| Caridina shrimp | Entry-level / budget | Easing |
| Freshwater snails | Entry-level / budget | Trending up |
| Background, midground and foreground plants | Entry-level / budget | Stable |
| Mollies, corydoras | Mid-range | Trending up |
| Angelfish, American cichlids | Mid-range | Trending up |
| Bettas (category) | Mid-range | Easing |
| Guppies (category) | Mid-range | Easing |
| Goldfish (category) | Mid-range | Easing |
| Marine fish, including clownfish, damselfish, tangs and wrasse | Mid-range | Stable |
| Discus | Upper mid-range | Trending up |
| Guppy listings | Upper mid-range | Trending up |
| Koi | Upper mid-range | Trending up |
| Halfmoon bettas | Upper mid-range | Stable |
| Halfmoon plakat bettas | Upper mid-range | Trending up |
| Plecos | Upper mid-range | Easing |
| Silver arowana | Upper mid-range | Easing |
| Corals and anemones | Upper mid-range | Not reported |
| Ranchu | Collector / premium | Trending up |
| Flowerhorn | Collector / premium | Easing |
| Channa, gar, turtles | Collector / premium | Stable |
| Black, crossback and super red arowana | Collector / premium | Not reported |
The Collector Tier: Why Some Fish Cost So Much
Arowana
Asian arowana are a protected species, traded only as certified, microchipped fish from licensed farms. That paperwork, the years needed to raise an arowana, and the cultural meaning of the fish as a symbol of prosperity keep super red, crossback and black arowana in the collector tier. Supply on FishyHub is limited, and supply and demand are broadly balanced.
Flowerhorn
Flowerhorn are a Southeast Asian hybrid prized for the size of their head hump and the strength of their colour and pearling. They sit in the collector tier, but supply has grown ahead of demand and prices are easing, which gives buyers more room to choose.
Ranchu and monster fish
Ranchu are the show goldfish of the hobby, judged on back shape, head growth and swimming posture, and good ones take careful selection. Channa, stingray, gar, wolf fish and bichir appeal to keepers of large predatory fish; channa in particular has very high supply and very high buyer interest in Singapore, making it one of the most active collector categories on the marketplace.
The Budget Tier: Why Everyday Fish Stay Affordable
Singapore sits next to some of the world's busiest ornamental fish farming regions, and the island has its own farming tradition. Community species such as tetras, rasboras, danios and platies are bred in very large numbers, ship well and are easy to keep, so they stay in the entry-level tier. The same is true of Neocaridina shrimp and most aquarium plants, which local hobbyists also propagate and resell.
Budget does not mean flat, though. Tetras, rasboras, platies and Neocaridina shrimp are seeing prices trending up, and these are also the categories where purchases are very high and demand clearly outpaces supply. Sellers can ask a little more when listings sell quickly.
Where Prices Are Rising and Easing
The index shows a split market:
- Rising: everyday community fish, corydoras, the cichlid group (angelfish, American cichlids and discus), koi, ranchu and the monster fish group. Most of these have demand at or ahead of supply.
- Easing: prestige categories where supply has grown, such as flowerhorn and silver arowana, plus barbs, rainbowfish, loaches, swordtails, Caridina shrimp and plecos.
- Stable: small community fish as a whole, shrimp as a whole, the "Other Tropical Fishes" group, marine fish and most plants.
For buyers, the practical reading is that the best value in 2026 is in categories where supply is running ahead, while the busiest everyday fish are slowly getting a little dearer.
What Pet Fish Really Cost in a Singapore Home
The fish itself is only part of the cost. Singapore's warm climate means most tropical fish need no heater in an HDB flat or condo, which saves money compared with cooler countries. The trade-off is heat: tanks in a sunny room can run warm, and fish that prefer cooler water, such as goldfish and ranchu, often need a fan or a room that stays cooler. Marine tanks usually need a chiller, which adds noticeably to the cost of a reef setup.
Space is the other factor. Many Singapore keepers run nano and small planted tanks, where budget fish, shrimp and plants make up most of the spend. Collector fish such as arowana and large monster fish need much larger tanks and equipment, and those costs can exceed the price of the fish.
Methodology
This index is based on FishyHub marketplace activity in Singapore over the period from October 2024 to October 2026. We looked at active listings and typical listed prices in SGD, the spread of prices between varieties, how listed prices are moving, orders, wishlists, likes and "my tank" saves, and how supply compares with demand. Every finding is reported as a tier or a direction, not as a figure.
Where FishyHub does not report a price direction for a group, the table says so. The index covers fish, invertebrates and plants sold through independent merchants on FishyHub; it does not measure prices at retail shops or farms selling directly, and it does not include equipment or running costs, which are described from general hobby practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do aquarium fish cost in Singapore?
On FishyHub, community fish, shrimp, snails and most plants are entry-level / budget; bettas, guppies, goldfish, cichlids and marine fish are mid-range as categories; and arowana, flowerhorn, ranchu and monster fish are collector tier.
Are fish prices going up in Singapore?
For some groups. FishyHub data shows prices trending up for tetras, rasboras, platies, corydoras, discus, angelfish, koi and ranchu, and easing for flowerhorn, silver arowana, barbs and Caridina shrimp.
What is the cheapest fish to keep in Singapore?
Tetras, rasboras, danios, platies and Neocaridina shrimp are entry-level / budget on FishyHub, and most need no heater in a Singapore home.
Why are arowana so expensive in Singapore?
Asian arowana are protected and sold only as certified fish from licensed farms, take years to grow, and carry strong cultural value. FishyHub places black, crossback and super red arowana in the collector tier.
How to Cite This Page
Source: FishyHub, "Singapore Aquarium Fish Price Index 2026: What Pet Fish Really Cost" (2026), https://fishyhub.com/sg/blogs/blog-detail/singapore-aquarium-fish-price-index-2026-what-pet-fish-really-cost
