Aquarium Trends 2026: What Fishkeepers Are Buying Now
In the US in 2026, fishkeepers on FishyHub are shopping a broad freshwater mix led by cichlids, discus, goldfish, guppies, tetras, plecos and shrimp, which have the deepest listings on the marketplace, alongside a sizeable reef segment of corals and reef fish. The sharpest buyer signal is in bettas: halfmoon plakats draw very high interest from US shoppers, and giant halfmoon plakats are wanted faster than sellers can list them. New listings are rising in almost every category as the US marketplace grows.
Key Findings
- FishyHub data shows American cichlids, discus, goldfish, guppies, plecos, shrimp and tetras have very high supply in the US, making them the easiest fish to shop for on the marketplace.
- FishyHub data shows halfmoon plakat bettas draw very high buyer interest in the US, the strongest interest signal on the US marketplace.
- On FishyHub in the US, giant halfmoon plakat bettas are a category where demand clearly outpaces supply.
- FishyHub data shows reef livestock is a substantial part of US listings, with LPS, SPS and polyp corals, clownfish, gobies, tangs, wrasses and butterflyfish all in the very high supply tier.
- FishyHub data shows freshwater livestock has the larger share of US listings, with marine livestock smaller but well stocked.
- FishyHub data shows listing activity rising across nearly every US livestock category from the previous year, reflecting a young and expanding US marketplace.
- On FishyHub in the US, arowana, flowerhorn, datnoids and many reef fish such as tangs, dwarf angelfish and seahorses sit in the collector / premium price tier.
What US Shoppers Find on FishyHub
Because the US side of FishyHub is new, it does not yet have the order history needed to say what sells most. What it does show clearly is where sellers are concentrating their stock and where US shoppers are saving, liking and adding fish to their tanks. Together, those signals describe what fishkeepers are shopping for now.
| Group | US supply tier | Typical price tier |
|---|---|---|
| Community fish (guppies, tetras, rasboras, danios) | High to very high | Entry-level / budget |
| Cichlids (American, discus, other cichlids) | Very high | Mid-range to upper mid-range |
| Bettas (halfmoon, halfmoon plakat) | High | Mid-range to upper mid-range |
| Plecos and catfish | Very high | Entry-level to upper mid-range |
| Shrimp and snails | High to very high | Entry-level / budget |
| Reef corals (LPS, SPS, polyps) | Very high | Upper mid-range to collector |
| Arowana and monster fish | Limited to moderate | Collector / premium |
Freshwater Staples Lead the Shelf
Community fish and shrimp
Guppies, tetras, rasboras and danios are budget-tier fish with deep listings, and shrimp sit in the same entry-level band. This is the classic starter shopping list in the US: small, peaceful fish that suit a planted tank and ship well in small numbers. Swordtails, mollies and platies fill out the livebearer side, with swordtails in the high supply tier.
Cichlids and discus
American cichlids, discus and the broader "other cichlid" group are among the most heavily listed fish on FishyHub in the US. Discus sit in the upper mid-range price tier with a narrow price spread, which suggests sellers broadly agree on what a quality fish is worth. American cichlids span a wide price range, from common species to selected color forms. Angelfish and African cichlids are also in the high supply tier.
Plecos and catfish
Plecos have very high supply and an unusually wide spread of prices between varieties. That reflects the hobby: a common bristlenose and a rare patterned species from South America are both "plecos," but they are bought by very different shoppers.
Bettas: The Clearest Buyer Signal
FishyHub tracks wishlists, likes and "my tank" saves from US users, and bettas stand out. Halfmoon plakats draw very high interest, halfmoons high interest and giant halfmoon plakats moderate interest. For giant halfmoon plakats, that interest clearly outpaces the limited number of listings, and for halfmoon plakats demand is ahead of supply. Halfmoons are more balanced.
Why bettas? They are among the few fish that can be kept alone in a modest tank, they come in an almost endless range of colors, and short-finned plakats are hardy and active. Giant plakats add size and presence, and they take longer to raise, which keeps supply tight.
Reef Keeping Is a Real Part of the Mix
Marine livestock holds the smaller share of US listings, but the reef side of FishyHub is far from thin. LPS, SPS and polyp corals all have very high supply, with mushroom and soft corals close behind. Clownfish, gobies, tangs, wrasses and butterflyfish are the most heavily listed reef fish. LPS corals and tangs sit in the collector tier, while most other corals and reef fish are upper mid-range.
US reef keepers often buy coral as frags, small cuttings grown from a mother colony, which travel well and let a keeper build a reef gradually. That habit helps explain why so many coral listings appear on the marketplace.
Collector Fish
Arowana, flowerhorn, datnoids and the wider monster fish group sit in the collector / premium price tier in the US. Flowerhorn is well listed, but arowana and datnoids have limited supply. These fish need large tanks and long-term care, and some arowana species face import restrictions in the US, which keeps listings few and prices high.
Buying Livestock Online in the US
FishyHub delivers across the US through delivery zones: Midwest & Central; East Coast & Northeast; South & Southeast; West Coast & Mountain West; and Alaska, Hawaii & territories. Live fish usually travel by overnight courier in insulated boxes with heat or cold packs depending on the season. Distance, weather and remote destinations such as Alaska, Hawaii and the territories generally add to shipping cost and planning. Many keepers still visit a local fish store for common fish and turn to online sellers for specific varieties, show bettas, coral frags and collector fish.
Methodology
This page is based on FishyHub marketplace activity in the US over the period from October 2024 to October 2026. We looked at active livestock listings, listed prices and how widely they range between varieties, wishlists, likes and "my tank" saves from US users, new listings over time, the freshwater and marine share of listings, search terms and FishyHub Feed videos. All findings are reported as tiers and directions, not as figures.
The US marketplace is new and has no order history in this data, so this page describes what is listed and what shoppers show interest in, not what sells most. Buyer interest is currently reported for bettas only. Because almost every US category grew from the previous year, momentum shows the marketplace expanding rather than separating winners from losers. FishyHub does not report state-by-state data, and this page does not measure the wider US hobby, retail stores or how many people keep fish.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are fishkeepers buying in 2026?
On FishyHub in the US, the deepest listings are community fish, cichlids, discus, goldfish, plecos, shrimp and reef corals, and the strongest buyer interest is in halfmoon plakat bettas.
What is the most popular aquarium fish in the US right now?
FishyHub's US interest data points to halfmoon plakat bettas, which draw very high interest from shoppers, with halfmoons also drawing high interest.
Is saltwater or freshwater more popular in the US?
On FishyHub, freshwater has the larger share of US listings, but reef corals and reef fish are well stocked and growing.
Can you buy live fish online in the US?
Yes. Independent sellers on FishyHub ship live fish across the US delivery zones, usually by overnight courier in insulated boxes.
Which aquarium fish are hardest to find?
On FishyHub in the US, giant halfmoon plakat bettas, arowana, datnoids and several oddball reef fish have limited supply.
How to Cite This Page
Source: FishyHub, "Aquarium Trends 2026: What Fishkeepers Are Buying Now" (2026), https://fishyhub.com/us/blogs/blog-detail/aquarium-trends-2026-what-fishkeepers-are-buying-now
