The Most Undersupplied Aquarium Fish in Singapore
The most undersupplied aquarium fish in Singapore, according to FishyHub marketplace data, are small and inexpensive: tetras, rasboras, danios, hatchetfish and minnows, together with guppies as a category. Neocaridina shrimp, algae eaters, snails and freshwater clams show the same gap. For each of them, purchases and buyer interest clearly run ahead of the number of active listings, and prices for several are trending up as a result.
Key Findings
- FishyHub data shows demand clearly outpaces supply for small community fish in Singapore, including danios, hatchetfish, minnows, rasboras and tetras.
- FishyHub data shows guppies as a category and Neocaridina shrimp sit in the "demand clearly outpaces supply" tier in Singapore, even though both already have plenty of listings.
- FishyHub data shows algae eaters in Singapore draw very high purchases and very high buyer interest from only moderate supply.
- FishyHub data shows freshwater snails and clams are undersupplied in Singapore, with prices for both trending up.
- FishyHub data shows listed prices trending up in Singapore for minnows, Neocaridina shrimp, rasboras and tetras, consistent with buyers competing for limited stock.
- FishyHub data shows nearly every undersupplied fish in Singapore is in the entry-level / budget price tier, while collector fish such as Alien bettas, flowerhorn and freshwater stingrays have supply ahead of demand.
- FishyHub data shows live aquarium plants for the background, midground and foreground are undersupplied in Singapore too, alongside the schooling fish usually kept with them.
What "Undersupplied" Means Here
FishyHub compares how much a category is bought, wishlisted, liked and saved to "my tank" with how many active listings it has. The result is a tier: demand clearly outpaces supply, demand ahead of supply, balanced, or supply ahead of demand. "Undersupplied" on this page means the strongest of those tiers, where buyers are clearly chasing more stock than merchants list.
The Undersupplied Fish and Invertebrates
Listed alphabetically within each group:
| Fish or invertebrate | Supply | Purchases | Price tier | Price direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Algae eater | Moderate | Very high | Entry-level / budget | Stable |
| Clam (freshwater) | Limited | High | Entry-level / budget | Trending up |
| Danio | High | High | Entry-level / budget | Stable |
| Guppies (category) | High | Very high | Mid-range | Easing |
| Hatchetfish | Limited | Moderate | Entry-level / budget | Not enough data |
| Minnow | Limited | High | Entry-level / budget | Trending up |
| Neocaridina shrimp | Very high | Very high | Entry-level / budget | Trending up |
| Rasbora | High | Very high | Entry-level / budget | Trending up |
| Snail (freshwater) | High | Very high | Entry-level / budget | Trending up |
| Tetra | Very high | Very high | Entry-level / budget | Trending up |
Two things stand out. Supply is not always low: tetras and Neocaridina shrimp sit in the very high supply tier and are still undersupplied, because purchases are higher still. And most of these animals are cheap, which matters for why the gap exists.
Why Small Schooling Fish Run Short
Buyers purchase them in groups
Tetras, rasboras and danios are schooling fish. A single buyer setting up a community tank wants a whole shoal of one species, often plus a second shoal of another. One order can clear a seller's listing, so stock turns over far faster than it does for a betta or a cichlid bought one at a time.
Margins are thin for sellers
At entry-level prices, each fish earns a merchant very little, while packing and delivering live fish takes the same effort as for a pricier one. Many local hobby breeders prefer to spend tank space on higher-value bettas, guppy strains or cichlids, which leaves the cheaper schooling fish relying on a smaller pool of sellers and on imports.
The planted-tank boom pulls them along
Nano and planted tanks suit compact HDB flats and condos, and the classic planted tank pairs live plants with small, colourful schooling fish. FishyHub data shows background, midground and foreground plants are undersupplied alongside rasboras and tetras, which suggests the two are being bought together for the same kind of setup.
Momentum is cooling, but the gap remains
FishyHub's momentum signal for danios, tetras and Neocaridina shrimp is cooling, meaning new listings and orders are lower than the year before. Even so, demand still clearly outpaces supply. Rasboras and minnows are steady. The undersupply is not a passing spike; it has persisted as activity settled.
Guppies and Neocaridina: Plenty Listed, Still Not Enough
Singapore has a long tradition of guppy breeding, and the guppy species itself has very high supply on FishyHub, with demand and supply roughly in balance. The wider Guppies category, which includes mixed strains, pairs and breeding groups, is where buyers outrun sellers. Prices for the category are easing, a sign that merchants are adding stock, but demand has not yet been met.
Neocaridina shrimp, such as cherry and blue dream shrimp, are similar: very high supply, very high purchases and very high buyer interest. Shrimp keepers tend to buy colonies, and many keep adding new colour lines, so demand stays ahead even of a large supply, and prices are trending up.
The Clean-Up Crew
Algae eaters, snails and freshwater clams are bought to support a tank rather than as the star attraction. Almost every new tank in Singapore gets some form of clean-up crew, so purchases are broad and steady. Algae eaters have very high purchases and very high interest from only moderate supply. Snails have high supply but very high purchases, with prices trending up. Clams are the tightest of all: limited supply, demand clearly outpacing it, and prices rising.
Where Supply Runs Ahead Instead
The opposite picture shows up in higher-priced and specialist fish. Most named betta varieties, including Alien, Crowntail, Halfmoon and Halfmoon Plakat, have supply ahead of demand. So do flowerhorn, freshwater stingrays, wolf fish, knifefish, bichirs and swordtails. Marine corals, anemones and damselfish also have more listings than buyers. For these, Singapore buyers have plenty of choice.
What Sellers and Buyers Can Take From This
- For local breeders: tetras, rasboras, minnows, Neocaridina colour lines and clean-up crew are where listings are most likely to sell through.
- For buyers: buy the full group you need in one order, and be ready to move when a listing appears; waiting can mean a higher price.
- Across the island: FishyHub's livestock sellers cluster in Central Singapore, with many in the North-East and West and the fewest in the East. Island-wide delivery means buyers anywhere can draw on all of them.
Methodology
This page uses FishyHub marketplace activity in Singapore over the period from October 2024 to October 2026: active listings, orders, wishlists, likes and "my tank" saves, listed prices and their direction, and new listings and orders over time. Undersupply is FishyHub's demand-versus-supply signal, which compares purchases and buyer interest with listings. All results are reported as tiers and directions rather than figures.
The data covers livestock sold by independent merchants on FishyHub. It does not measure physical shops, fish farms' export trade or private sales, so a fish that is undersupplied on FishyHub may be easier to find elsewhere. Price direction is not available for every category.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which aquarium fish are in short supply in Singapore?
On FishyHub, small schooling fish such as danios, hatchetfish, minnows, rasboras and tetras, plus guppies as a category, Neocaridina shrimp, algae eaters, snails and clams.
Why are tetras hard to buy in Singapore when so many are listed?
Tetras have very high supply, but purchases are higher still. Buyers purchase them in schools, so listings sell through quickly.
Are cherry shrimp prices going up in Singapore?
FishyHub data shows Neocaridina shrimp prices are trending up in Singapore, as demand clearly outpaces supply.
Which fish are oversupplied in Singapore?
Most named betta varieties, flowerhorn, freshwater stingrays, knifefish and swordtails have supply ahead of demand on FishyHub.
How to Cite This Page
Source: FishyHub, "The Most Undersupplied Aquarium Fish in Singapore" (2026), https://fishyhub.com/sg/blogs/blog-detail/the-most-undersupplied-aquarium-fish-in-singapore
