Singapore Ornamental Fish Industry Statistics 2026
FishyHub's 2026 data shows Singapore's ornamental fish trade is freshwater-led and remarkably deep: freshwater livestock holds the larger share of listings, guppies, bettas, angelfish, cichlids, community fish, plecos and corydoras have very high supply, and community fish, shrimp, guppies and koi are among the most purchased livestock. The value end of the trade is concentrated in a small collector tier of arowana, flowerhorn, ranchu, monster fish and rare bettas, which sell in limited numbers at the highest prices.
Key Findings
- FishyHub marketplace data shows freshwater fish hold the larger share of ornamental livestock listings in Singapore, with marine fish a smaller share.
- FishyHub data shows angelfish, bettas (halfmoon, halfmoon plakat and other betta), channa, corydoras, guppies, molly, other cichlids, plecos, small community fish and tetras have very high supply in Singapore.
- FishyHub data shows guppies, koi, small community fish, shrimp, corydoras, loaches and algae eaters are among the most purchased ornamental livestock in Singapore.
- On FishyHub, Singapore's collector tier includes black, crossback and super red arowana, flowerhorn, ranchu goldfish, channa, gar, stingray, bichir, turtles and several rare bettas.
- FishyHub data shows collector-tier fish such as arowana and stingray have limited purchases in Singapore, so the trade's value and its volume sit in different places.
- FishyHub data shows koi, oranda, ryukin and bubble eye goldfish have a very wide price spread in Singapore, where grade decides value.
- FishyHub data shows prices are trending up for corydoras, guppy, koi, neocaridina shrimp, rasboras and tetras in Singapore, and easing for the betta category, goldfish, loaches and rainbowfish.
A Breeding Hub With Deep Local Supply
Singapore has long been known as a centre of the ornamental fish trade, with fish farms in the north-western agrotechnology areas around Lim Chu Kang and Sungei Tengah, a strong arowana-farming tradition, and many home breeders working on guppy, betta and goldfish lines. Its role as a regional transit point means fish from Southeast Asian farms and collectors also pass through.
FishyHub's data reflects a market where supply is deep and specialised. Many groups with very high supply are fish that local breeders work on intensively: guppies and bettas in particular, but also angelfish, channa and corydoras. That is unusual in a marketplace; in many countries, the deepest supply is generic community fish, while in Singapore it includes named, selectively bred lines.
Where Volume Sits: The Most Purchased Livestock
These ornamental groups have very high purchases on FishyHub in Singapore, listed alphabetically:
- Algae eaters
- Corydoras
- Guppies
- Koi
- Loaches
- Neocaridina shrimp
- Other tropical fishes
- Rasboras
- Small community fishes
- Snails
- Tetras
Aquatic plants also have very high purchases, a reminder that many ornamental fish buyers are setting up planted tanks rather than bare display tanks.
Most of these are entry-level or mid-range fish bought in groups. Koi are the exception: they sit in the upper mid-range, yet are still bought very often, reflecting Singapore's pond-keeping households and the koi's place in Chinese tradition as a symbol of prosperity.
Where Value Sits: The Collector Tier
| Group | Supply | Purchases | Price tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Arowana | Limited | Limited | Collector / premium |
| Crossback Arowana | Limited | Limited | Collector / premium |
| Super Red Arowana | Limited | Not enough activity to say | Collector / premium |
| Flowerhorn | High | Limited | Collector / premium |
| Ranchu | High | Moderate | Collector / premium |
| Channa | Very high | Moderate | Collector / premium |
| Gar | Moderate | Moderate | Collector / premium |
| Stingray | Moderate | Limited | Collector / premium |
| Bichir | High | Moderate | Collector / premium |
| Turtle | Moderate | High | Collector / premium |
Arowana are the defining fish of Singapore's premium trade. Super red and crossback arowana are prized in feng shui as fish that bring luck and wealth, and they are protected species sold with certificates and microchips from licensed farms. Supply is limited and purchases are limited, which is typical of a high-value item bought rarely and kept for many years.
Channa (snakeheads) are a different kind of collector fish: very high supply, very high buyer interest and collector prices, driven by a strong local following for colourful species such as the Channa andrao and Channa auranti. Turtles stand out as a collector-tier group that is still bought often, with high purchases.
Grade and Line: Why Prices Vary So Much
FishyHub tracks how far prices range within each group. In Singapore, koi and the fancy goldfish (bubble eye, oranda and ryukin) have very wide price spreads. A pond-grade koi and a show-grade koi from a recognised bloodline are both "koi", but they are priced in different worlds. Ranchu sit in the collector tier for the same reason: Singapore's ranchu keepers judge head growth, back curve and swimming, and the best fish change hands at high prices.
By contrast, most betta varieties have a narrow spread. Sellers agree on what a given type is worth, and price is set more by variety than by individual fish.
How Prices Are Moving
| Direction | Groups (alphabetical) |
|---|---|
| Trending up | Angelfish, Corydoras, Discus, Guppy, Koi, Molly, Neocaridina Shrimp, Oscar, Rasboras, Tetras |
| Stable | Channa, Crabs, Halfmoon Betta, Marine Fish, Oranda, Small Community Fishes |
| Easing | Bettas (category), Flowerhorn, Goldfish (category), Loaches, Rainbowfish, Silver Arowana, Swordtails |
The rising group is dominated by everyday fish bought in large numbers. When demand runs ahead of supply for fish such as tetras, rasboras and neocaridina shrimp, listed prices drift up. Easing prices for flowerhorn and silver arowana suggest supply in those groups has caught up with demand.
Methodology
This page is based on FishyHub marketplace activity in Singapore over the period from October 2024 to October 2026. We looked at active ornamental livestock listings, listed prices and their spread, how prices are moving, orders, wishlists, likes and "my tank" saves, and new listings and orders over time. All findings are reported as tiers and directions (for example "very high supply", "collector tier", "prices trending up"), not as figures.
FishyHub does not measure the size or export value of Singapore's ornamental fish industry, farm production, or trade through wholesalers and shops outside the marketplace. Background on fish farms and arowana is general industry knowledge, not a FishyHub finding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Singapore a major ornamental fish hub?
Singapore has long been known as a hub for breeding and trading ornamental fish. FishyHub data shows deep local supply of selectively bred lines such as guppies and bettas.
What ornamental fish sell the most in Singapore?
On FishyHub, guppies, koi, small community fish, neocaridina shrimp, corydoras, loaches, rasboras and tetras are among the most purchased livestock in Singapore.
What is the most valuable ornamental fish in Singapore?
FishyHub's collector tier in Singapore includes black, crossback and super red arowana, flowerhorn, ranchu and channa, among others.
Are ornamental fish prices rising in Singapore?
For many everyday fish, yes. FishyHub data shows prices trending up for corydoras, guppy, koi, neocaridina shrimp, rasboras and tetras, while goldfish, loaches and flowerhorn prices are easing.
How to Cite This Page
Source: FishyHub, "Singapore Ornamental Fish Industry Statistics 2026" (2026), https://fishyhub.com/sg/blogs/blog-detail/singapore-ornamental-fish-industry-statistics-2026
