How Many Aquariums Are There in the United States?
Nobody can count every home aquarium in the United States from marketplace data, and FishyHub does not try to. What FishyHub's 2027 US data does show is what kinds of aquariums Americans are filling: freshwater tanks make up the larger share, with deep supply for community tropicals, cichlids, goldfish, plecos and shrimp, alongside a smaller but broad reef-keeping segment. Activity is rising for every kind of tank on the US marketplace, which points to a hobby that is growing rather than shrinking.
Key Findings
- FishyHub marketplace data shows freshwater livestock holds the larger share of US listings, so freshwater tanks are the most common kind of aquarium the marketplace stocks.
- FishyHub data shows very high US supply for community tropical fish, including barbs, guppies and tetras, the backbone of the typical home aquarium.
- FishyHub data shows American cichlids, discus and other cichlids have very high supply in the US, reflecting a large community of dedicated cichlid tanks.
- FishyHub data shows goldfish have very high supply in the US, consistent with their long role in unheated tanks, bowls and garden ponds.
- FishyHub data shows LPS, polyp and SPS corals have very high supply in the US, pointing to an established reef-tank community.
- FishyHub data shows shrimp have very high supply and sit in the entry-level price tier in the US, supporting the spread of small nano and shrimp tanks.
- FishyHub search data shows "tank" among the most searched terms, a sign that many shoppers are planning a new aquarium or an upgrade.
- FishyHub does not hold state-level data; its marketplace activity is rising across every US livestock group in 2027.
Why an Exact Count Is Not Possible Here
An aquarium count would need a survey of households, and even then the answer depends on what counts: a betta vase, a child's goldfish tank, a reef system, an outdoor koi pond, a classroom tank. FishyHub sees livestock listings and shopper activity, not households, and one keeper may run several tanks while another buys once and never again. This page therefore answers a related question that marketplace data can support: what kinds of aquariums are being stocked in the US, and how widely.
A note on wording: "aquariums" can also mean public aquariums and zoos. This page is about home aquariums. FishyHub does not track public aquariums.
The Kinds of Aquariums Americans Keep
Freshwater community tanks
The most familiar US aquarium is a heated freshwater tank with schooling fish, livebearers and a bottom dweller or two. FishyHub's US supply reflects that: barbs, guppies, tetras and the broad "Other Tropical Fishes" group all have very high supply, and catfish and plecos join them on the bottom. Freshwater's larger share of listings matches its place as the default first tank.
Cichlid tanks
American cichlids, discus and other cichlids all have very high supply in the US, and African cichlids and angelfish have high supply. Cichlid keeping has deep roots in the US, from rock-filled African cichlid tanks to tall angelfish displays and warm, soft-water discus systems. These tend to be larger tanks run by committed keepers, and many keepers run more than one.
Goldfish tanks and ponds
Goldfish have very high supply on FishyHub in the US, and koi are moderately supplied. Goldfish are often the first fish a family keeps, and fancy goldfish have a dedicated following of their own. Koi and hardy goldfish also stock backyard ponds, which are more common where yards are larger and winters are mild enough for year-round ponds or deep enough for fish to overwinter.
Reef and saltwater tanks
Saltwater is the smaller share of US listings, but LPS, polyp and SPS corals have very high supply, as do clownfish, gobies, tangs, wrasses and butterflyfish. That depth suggests a substantial number of mature reef systems, since corals are mostly bought by keepers whose tanks are already established.
Nano and shrimp tanks
Shrimp have very high supply and entry-level prices, and searches for shrimp, endler, pea puffer and rasbora are strong across FishyHub. Small planted tanks with shrimp and nano fish fit apartments and desks, and they have brought many new people into the hobby who would never have room for a large tank.
Monster fish and oddball setups
Monster fishes as a group sit in the collector tier in the US, and searches for arowana, gar, bichir and oscar are among the most common on FishyHub. These setups are fewer in number but take some of the largest tanks in the hobby.
Aquariums Across the US Regions
FishyHub has no state-level purchase or buyer data, so it cannot say which states have the most aquariums. Hobby knowledge about climate and local conditions does explain some regional differences, using FishyHub's five delivery zones:
| Delivery zone | What shapes the hobby there |
|---|---|
| Midwest & Central | Cold winters mean heaters for tropicals; ponds need deep water or winter shutdown; basement fish rooms are common |
| East Coast & Northeast | Dense cities favour compact and nano tanks; tropical tanks need heating much of the year |
| South & Southeast | Warm climate suits outdoor ponds and tubs much of the year; the region has a long tradition of tropical fish farming |
| West Coast & Mountain West | Varied climate and water, from soft to hard tap water depending on area; strong planted-tank and reef communities |
| Alaska, Hawaii & territories | Remote from most suppliers; livestock shipping takes longer and costs more |
These are general observations, not FishyHub findings. Tap water also plays a part: hard, alkaline water in parts of the Midwest and Southwest suits African cichlids and livebearers, while softer water suits tetras, discus and many plants.
Is the Number of Aquariums Growing?
FishyHub can show direction, though not size. Every US livestock group on the marketplace shows rising activity in 2027, from tetras and goldfish to corals and arowana. Because FishyHub's US marketplace is new, some of this reflects merchants joining. Still, the breadth of growth across freshwater, saltwater, nano and pond livestock suggests more tanks being set up and restocked, not fewer.
Methodology
This page is based on FishyHub marketplace activity in the US over the 2026-2027 period. We looked at active livestock listings, the share of freshwater and saltwater listings, price tiers, new listings over time and search terms. All findings are reported as tiers and directions (for example "very high supply", "larger share of listings", "rising"), not as figures.
FishyHub cannot count US households with aquariums or the number of tanks, and it does not report state-by-state figures; regional notes are based on hobby context and the national marketplace. The US market has no order history in this data. Search terms combine the US and Singapore markets. Public aquariums are not covered.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many home aquariums are there in the US?
FishyHub cannot count home aquariums. Its marketplace data shows freshwater tanks are the larger share, with a smaller but broad reef-keeping community, and activity rising across all of them.
What is the most common type of aquarium in the US?
The freshwater community tank. On FishyHub, barbs, guppies, tetras and other tropical fish have very high supply in the US, and freshwater holds the larger share of listings.
Which state has the most aquariums?
FishyHub does not have state-level data. Climate and tap water shape the hobby regionally, with ponds more common in warm southern areas and heated indoor tanks the norm in colder states.
Are more Americans keeping fish tanks?
FishyHub data shows rising activity in every US livestock group in 2027, which suggests the hobby is growing, though part of this reflects FishyHub's new US marketplace.
How to Cite This Page
Source: FishyHub, "How Many Aquariums Are There in the United States?" (2027), https://fishyhub.com/us/blogs/blog-detail/how-many-aquariums-are-there-in-the-united-states
