The Fastest-Growing Freshwater Fish Trends in Singapore in 2026
In Singapore, the fastest-growing freshwater fish trends of 2026 on FishyHub are bettas of almost every kind, guppies, angelfish, discus and apistogrammas, fancy goldfish led by bubble eyes, and a set of niche fish including rainbowfish, badis, hatchetfish and platies. At the same time, several long-standing favourites, such as tetras, danios, loaches and gouramis, are cooling. Where a rising fish also has prices trending up, as with halfmoon plakats, guppies, angelfish and discus, the trend is being driven by buyers rather than by sellers alone.
Key Findings
- FishyHub data shows bettas rising in Singapore across most varieties, including halfmoon, halfmoon plakat, Alien, Delta Tail and Giant Halfmoon Plakat.
- FishyHub data shows guppies rising in Singapore, staying in the most purchased tier, with demand clearly outpacing supply for the category.
- FishyHub data shows angelfish and discus rising in Singapore, with listed prices trending up for both.
- FishyHub data shows fancy goldfish rising in Singapore, with bubble eyes rising and demand ahead of supply for goldfish generally.
- FishyHub data shows rainbowfish, badis, hatchetfish and platies rising in Singapore, each with demand ahead of or outpacing supply.
- FishyHub data shows tetras, danios, loaches and gouramis cooling in Singapore after a strong run, while tetras and loaches stay heavily purchased.
- FishyHub data shows the broad monster fish group cooling in Singapore, even as gar, stingrays and silver arowana rise.
How FishyHub Measures Growth in Singapore
FishyHub compares new listings and orders in Singapore over the recent year with the year before and labels each category rising, steady or cooling. Unlike a young market, Singapore's marketplace has an established base, so these labels separate genuine risers from fish that have plateaued. We then check whether rising fish are matched by prices trending up and by demand running ahead of supply.
Rising, Steady and Cooling
| Family | Rising | Steady | Cooling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bettas | Most named varieties | Macrostoma, Splendens | Smaragdina |
| Livebearers | Guppies, platies | Mollies, swordtails | - |
| Cichlids | Angelfish, apistogrammas, discus, tilapia | - | African and American cichlids, parrot fish, rams |
| Small community fish | Hatchetfish | Minnows, rasboras | Danios, pencilfish, ricefish, tetras |
| Other tropicals | Badis, rainbowfish | Barbs, killifish, puffers, sharks | Elephantnose, gouramis, silver dollars |
| Bottom dwellers | - | Catfish, corydoras, gobies, plecos | Algae eaters, bichirs, loaches |
| Goldfish | Bubble eyes, goldfish as a whole | - | Orandas, ranchu, ryukin |
| Monster fish | Gar, silver arowana, stingrays | Channa, datnoids, oscars | Bass, knifefish |
The Leading Freshwater Trends
Bettas
Bettas are the broadest rising trend. Halfmoons, halfmoon plakats, double tails, crowntails, dumbos, veiltails and the collector lines are all rising. Halfmoon plakat prices are trending up while the betta category as a whole is easing, which tells you buyers pay more for quality fish while ordinary bettas grow cheaper. Supply runs ahead of demand for most varieties, so Singapore's betta breeders are expanding faster than buyers are, and choice is excellent.
Guppies
Guppies are rising and remain among the most purchased fish in Singapore. Demand clearly outpaces supply for the category, and prices in the guppy subcategory are trending up. Singapore guppy breeders are known for line-bred strains, and buyers increasingly pay for pedigree.
Angelfish, discus and dwarf cichlids
Angelfish and discus are both rising, frequently purchased and seeing prices trend up. Apistogrammas are rising with stable prices. These are fish for keepers moving up from a community tank to a planted display, and they do well in Singapore's naturally warm water.
Fancy goldfish
The goldfish category is rising, with bubble eyes growing and demand ahead of supply. Growth is selective: orandas, ranchu and ryukin are cooling. Ranchu prices are trending up despite that, which suggests that serious ranchu buyers are holding out for quality fish. In Singapore's heat, goldfish do best indoors in air-conditioned rooms or in shaded, well-aerated tanks.
Niche tropicals
Badis, hatchetfish, platies and rainbowfish are rising, and all show demand ahead of or clearly outpacing supply. These are colourful, peaceful fish that suit a planted community tank and offer something less common than the usual tetras.
What Is Cooling, and Why
Cooling does not mean a fish has lost its fans. Tetras and loaches remain in FishyHub's most purchased tier in Singapore, and tetra prices are trending up. Their activity has simply stopped climbing after years as staples. Danios, pencilfish, ricefish and gouramis follow the same pattern. Among cichlids, rams, parrot fish and African and American cichlids are cooling while angelfish and discus take the spotlight.
Where Prices Are Heading
- Trending up: angelfish, discus, guppies, halfmoon plakats, platies, tetras.
- Stable: apistogrammas, halfmoons, puffers, rams.
- Easing: bettas as a whole, flowerhorn, rainbowfish, silver arowana.
Rising listings with easing prices, as with flowerhorn and silver arowana, usually mean more sellers are competing for buyers. Rising listings with prices trending up point to demand that sellers have not yet caught up with.
Methodology
These freshwater trends draw on FishyHub's Singapore marketplace data from October 2024 to October 2026. We looked at new listings and orders against the previous year, purchases, active listings, listed prices and their direction, and wishlists, likes and "my tank" saves compared with supply. Findings are shown as tiers and directions of movement, not as figures.
The data covers freshwater fish sold by independent merchants on FishyHub. It does not cover fish farms' direct sales, export trade or retail shops, and it does not measure how many people in Singapore keep fish.
Frequently Asked Questions
What freshwater fish are trending in Singapore?
On FishyHub, rising freshwater fish in Singapore include bettas, guppies, angelfish, discus, apistogrammas, bubble eye goldfish, rainbowfish, badis, hatchetfish and platies.
Are tetras losing popularity in Singapore?
Tetras are cooling on FishyHub in Singapore, but they remain in the most purchased tier and their prices are trending up.
Are discus fish getting more expensive in Singapore?
Yes. FishyHub data shows discus prices trending up in Singapore, alongside rising activity and frequent purchases.
Which betta varieties are growing in Singapore?
On FishyHub, most named betta varieties are rising in Singapore, including halfmoon, halfmoon plakat, Alien, Delta Tail and Giant Halfmoon Plakat, while Smaragdina is cooling.
How to Cite This Page
Source: FishyHub, "The Fastest-Growing Freshwater Fish Trends in Singapore in 2026" (2026), https://fishyhub.com/sg/blogs/blog-detail/the-fastest-growing-freshwater-fish-trends-in-singapore-in-2026
