The Fastest-Growing Freshwater Fish Trends of 2026
The fastest-growing freshwater fish trends in the US in 2026, on FishyHub's evidence, are show bettas (above all halfmoon plakats and giant plakats), discus and New World cichlids, plecos and catfish, and small schooling fish such as tetras and rasboras. Every freshwater family on the US marketplace is adding listings, so the real difference lies in where growth is deepest and where buyers want more than sellers have.
Key Findings
- FishyHub data shows new freshwater listings rising in every tracked freshwater fish family in the US in 2026 compared with the previous year.
- FishyHub data shows halfmoon plakat bettas draw very high US buyer interest, the strongest interest signal among US freshwater fish.
- On FishyHub in the US, giant halfmoon plakat bettas show demand clearly outpacing supply.
- FishyHub data shows discus, American cichlids and other cichlids in the very high supply tier in the US, with discus in the upper mid-range price tier.
- FishyHub data shows plecos and catfish in the very high supply tier in the US, with plecos spanning a very wide price range between varieties.
- FishyHub data shows guppies, tetras and barbs in the very high supply tier and the entry-level price tier in the US.
- On FishyHub in the US, oscars, orandas, ryukins, silver dollars and hatchetfish are growing from limited supply.
Reading Growth in a New Market
FishyHub's US marketplace is still young. When almost every category is busier than it was a year before, "rising" alone cannot separate the leaders. This page therefore reads US growth through three lenses together:
- Momentum: whether new listings are rising, steady or cooling.
- Depth: how much supply a family already has, from very high to limited.
- Interest: wishlists, likes and "my tank" saves by US users, currently measured for bettas.
A family that is rising, deeply supplied and still drawing strong interest is a trend with weight behind it. A family that is rising from limited supply is a trend to watch.
Freshwater Families at a Glance
| Family | Momentum | US supply tier | Typical price tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bettas (halfmoon, halfmoon plakat) | Rising | High | Mid-range to upper mid-range |
| Discus | Rising | Very high | Upper mid-range |
| American and other cichlids | Rising | Very high | Mid-range |
| Plecos and catfish | Rising | Very high | Entry-level to upper mid-range |
| Guppies, tetras and barbs | Rising | Very high | Entry-level / budget |
| Goldfish | Rising | Very high | Mid-range |
| Koi | Rising | Moderate | Mid-range |
| Arowana | Rising | Limited to moderate | Upper mid-range to collector |
Show Bettas
Bettas carry the clearest US demand signal. Halfmoon plakats draw very high interest, halfmoons high interest, and giant halfmoon plakats moderate interest. Supply tells the rest of the story: halfmoons and halfmoon plakats are in the high supply tier, but giant plakats are limited, which is why their demand clearly outpaces supply.
Dumbos and veiltails are rising from limited supply, and crowntails, also limited, sit in the entry-level price tier. US keepers increasingly favor short-finned plakats, which handle shipping and community setups better, but specific long-finned forms still have a following.
Discus and Cichlids
Discus, American cichlids and the broad "other cichlid" group sit in the very high supply tier. Discus are the premium choice, in the upper mid-range tier with a narrow price spread, a sign that buyers can expect consistent pricing for a given grade. American cichlids range widely in price, from common species to selected color forms. Apistogrammas, rams and angelfish are rising too, reflecting the steady pull of dwarf cichlids for planted tanks.
Soft-water species such as discus and rams need warm, stable water. In most of the US that means a reliable heater, and in hard-water areas many keepers use filtered or reverse-osmosis water.
Plecos and Catfish
Plecos and catfish both have very high supply, and plecos show a very wide spread of prices. That spread is a signature of the pleco hobby: inexpensive algae-eating species sit alongside rare patterned plecos that collectors track by species. Corydoras, loaches, algae eaters and freshwater gobies are rising as well, mostly in the entry-level tier.
Community and Schooling Fish
Guppies, tetras and barbs have very high supply, and rasboras, danios and swordtails have high supply, all in the entry-level price tier. These fish are the base of most community tanks, and their growth on the marketplace reflects how many US keepers now buy specific strains online rather than settling for what a local store has on hand. Rasboras show a very wide spread of prices, as rare and wild-collected species sit beside common ones.
Goldfish and Koi
Goldfish have very high supply and a very wide spread of prices, from common fish to fancy varieties. Orandas and ryukins, two of the best-known fancy forms, have limited supply and are rising, which may leave buyers waiting for the right fish. Koi have moderate supply in the mid-range tier and are rising; in the US many koi are kept in outdoor ponds, where cold winters in northern states shape what keepers buy and when.
Growing From Limited Supply
Several families are rising from a small base on FishyHub in the US, and these are worth watching:
- Giant halfmoon plakat, dumbo and veiltail bettas
- Hatchetfish
- Orandas and ryukins
- Oscars
- Silver dollars
Oscars are an interesting case: they sit in the entry-level price tier with limited supply, so a buyer may find them inexpensive but not always available. Datnoids, knifefish and black and Jardini arowana are also rising from limited supply, but these are collector fish for large tanks.
Shipping Freshwater Fish in the US
FishyHub's delivery zones are Midwest & Central; East Coast & Northeast; South & Southeast; West Coast & Mountain West; and Alaska, Hawaii & territories. Fish travel by overnight courier in insulated boxes, and winter shipments to northern states usually need heat packs. Remote zones such as Alaska, Hawaii and the territories generally cost more and take more planning. These are general hobby practices, not FishyHub findings.
Methodology
These freshwater trends draw on FishyHub's US marketplace data from October 2024 to October 2026. We looked at new listings against the previous year, active freshwater listings, listed prices and their spread between varieties, and wishlists, likes and "my tank" saves from US users. Results are given as tiers and directions of movement rather than figures.
The US marketplace has no order history in this data, so growth here means listing activity and buyer interest, not sales. Buyer interest is currently reported for bettas only. FishyHub does not report state-by-state figures, and this page does not measure the wider US hobby or retail stores.
Frequently Asked Questions
What freshwater fish are trending in 2026?
On FishyHub in the US, halfmoon plakat bettas, discus, cichlids, plecos and small schooling fish such as tetras and rasboras show the strongest combination of growth, supply and interest.
Are bettas still popular in the US?
Yes. Halfmoon plakat bettas draw very high interest on FishyHub in the US, and halfmoons draw high interest.
Which freshwater fish are hard to find in the US?
On FishyHub, giant halfmoon plakat bettas, orandas, ryukins, oscars, silver dollars and hatchetfish have limited US supply.
Are discus fish expensive?
Discus sit in the upper mid-range price tier on FishyHub in the US, above most community fish but below arowana and other collector fish.
How to Cite This Page
Source: FishyHub, "The Fastest-Growing Freshwater Fish Trends of 2026" (2026), https://fishyhub.com/us/blogs/blog-detail/the-fastest-growing-freshwater-fish-trends-of-2026
