Singapore's Most Wanted Aquarium Fish: Demand vs Supply
Singapore's most wanted aquarium fish, measured as demand against the stock on offer, are small schooling fish and clean-up crew: danios, hatchetfish, minnows, rasboras, tetras and algae eaters, along with neocaridina shrimp, snails and clams. For all of these, FishyHub data shows demand clearly outpaces supply. At the other end, most betta varieties, flowerhorns and several monster fish have more listings than buyers.
Key Findings
- FishyHub data shows demand clearly outpaces supply in Singapore for danios, hatchetfish, minnows, rasboras and tetras.
- FishyHub data shows algae eaters, neocaridina shrimp, snails and freshwater clams also sit in the tier where demand clearly outpaces supply in Singapore.
- FishyHub data shows demand runs ahead of supply for goldfish in Singapore, including bubble eyes, orandas, ryukins and wakins.
- FishyHub data shows demand runs ahead of supply in Singapore for corydoras, gouramis, koi, loaches, oscars, platies, puffers and rainbowfish.
- FishyHub data shows supply runs ahead of demand for most betta varieties in Singapore, from halfmoons to collector lines.
- FishyHub data shows flowerhorns, stingreys, wolf fish and knifefish have more listings than buyers in Singapore.
- FishyHub data shows angelfish, discus, channa, plecos and clownfish are broadly balanced between demand and supply in Singapore.
How the Comparison Works
FishyHub sets purchases and buyer interest (wishlists, likes and "my tank" saves) against active listings for each category. Where buyers keep coming back for more than sellers list, demand outpaces supply; where listings stack up, supply runs ahead. The result says nothing about whether a fish is common in absolute terms - a fish can have very high supply and still be undersupplied if demand is even higher.
Demand vs Supply at a Glance
| Demand vs supply | Fish and invertebrates (alphabetical) |
|---|---|
| Demand clearly outpaces supply | Algae eaters, clams, danios, hatchetfish, minnows, neocaridina shrimp, rasboras, snails, tetras |
| Demand ahead of supply | American cichlids, corydoras, crabs, crayfish, goldfish, gouramis, killifish, koi, loaches, oscars, platies, puffers, rainbowfish, rams, ricefish, silver dollars, turtles |
| Balanced | Angelfish, arowanas, barbs, catfish, channa, clownfish, discus, guppy varieties, mollies, plecos |
| Supply ahead of demand | Most bettas, bichirs, damselfish, flowerhorns, knifefish, stingreys, swordtails, wolf fish |
The Most Wanted: Nano and Schooling Fish
The fish with the tightest supply are almost all small. Rasboras, tetras, danios, minnows and hatchetfish are schooling fish, so a keeper buying for a new tank orders a group at a time. That clears a seller's stock quickly. Most sit in the entry-level / budget price tier, so buyers rarely hesitate.
Singapore's compact homes add to the pull. A planted nano tank in an HDB flat suits chilli rasboras, ember tetras or white cloud minnows far better than larger fish, and the local aquascaping community keeps demand for these species steady. Rasbora, tetra and minnow prices on FishyHub are trending up, consistent with buyers competing for limited stock.
Clean-up crew
Algae eaters, neocaridina shrimp, snails and clams form the other undersupplied group. They are bought to support a tank rather than to be its centrepiece, which means almost every new set-up adds some. Nerite snails and otocinclus are typical buys for new planted tanks. Prices for neocaridina shrimp, snails and clams are trending up on FishyHub in Singapore.
Demand Ahead of Supply: Goldfish, Koi and Character Fish
Goldfish are a clear case of demand running ahead. Orandas and ryukins have high purchases but only moderate supply, while bubble eyes and wakins have limited listings. Fancy goldfish take time to grow to quality, and Singapore's warm water means keepers favour healthy, well-acclimatised fish from local sellers. Ryukin prices are easing and oranda prices are stable, so the gap shows up as availability more than price.
Koi have high supply but very high purchases, and prices are trending up. Pond owners restock regularly, and good show-grade fish are always in short supply.
Oscars, puffers, gouramis and rainbowfish are fish with personality or colour, and demand runs ahead of their supply too. Oscar prices are trending up on FishyHub in Singapore.
Where Buyers Have the Upper Hand
Bettas
Almost every betta variety on FishyHub in Singapore has supply ahead of demand - halfmoons, halfmoon plakats, crowntails, dumbos, giants and collector lines like Alien and Startail alike. Singapore and the surrounding region have a large betta breeding scene, and breeders list fish continuously. For buyers, this means a broad choice and room to compare.
Flowerhorns and big predators
Flowerhorns sit in the collector / premium tier with high supply and supply ahead of demand, and their prices are easing. Stingreys, wolf fish and knifefish follow the same pattern: impressive fish for a smaller circle of keepers with large tanks. Swordtails, bichirs and damselfish also have more listings than buyers.
Balanced Fish
Angelfish, discus, plecos, channa and clownfish sit in the balanced tier. These have deep, active seller bases that keep pace with demand. Angelfish and discus prices are trending up despite balanced supply, which points to buyers paying more for better grades.
What It Means for Buyers and Sellers
For buyers in Singapore:
- Popular nano fish and clean-up crew can sell out; saving a listing and ordering when stock appears helps.
- Bettas and flowerhorns are a buyer's market, so it pays to compare.
- Goldfish and koi buyers may need patience to find the right fish.
For sellers, the gaps are clear: small schooling fish, clean-up crew, fancy goldfish and koi are where buyers are waiting.
Because merchants deliver island-wide, buyers anywhere from the North to the East can reach the full range of sellers.
Methodology
This page is based on FishyHub marketplace activity in Singapore over the period from October 2024 to October 2026. We compared completed orders and buyer interest (wishlists, likes and "my tank" saves) against active listings for each category, and looked at listed prices and how they are moving. All findings are reported as tiers and directions, not figures.
The data covers livestock sold through independent merchants on FishyHub. It does not measure supply at retail shops or fish farms outside the marketplace.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which aquarium fish are hardest to buy in Singapore?
On FishyHub, demand clearly outpaces supply for danios, hatchetfish, minnows, rasboras and tetras, and for algae eaters, neocaridina shrimp, snails and clams.
Are bettas in short supply in Singapore?
No. FishyHub data shows supply runs ahead of demand for most betta varieties in Singapore, so buyers have plenty of choice.
Why are goldfish hard to find in Singapore?
Fancy goldfish take time to raise, and demand on FishyHub runs ahead of supply for orandas, ryukins, bubble eyes and wakins.
Is the flowerhorn still in demand in Singapore?
On FishyHub, flowerhorns have high supply but supply runs ahead of demand, and their prices are easing.
How to Cite This Page
Source: FishyHub, "Singapore's Most Wanted Aquarium Fish: Demand vs Supply" (2026), https://fishyhub.com/sg/blogs/blog-detail/singapores-most-wanted-aquarium-fish-demand-vs-supply
