What Aquarium Keepers Search for Most Online
Aquarium keepers search most for fish by their common names. On FishyHub, the very high search tier is led by household names such as bettas, guppies, tetras, angelfish, discus, plecos, oscars, flowerhorns and arowanas, along with shrimp, snails, crabs, turtles and the word "tank". Oddballs such as bichirs, gar, eels and puffers sit in the same tier, and axolotls, isopods, frogs and jellyfish follow close behind.
FishyHub's search data combines US and Singapore shoppers, so this page reads those searches against what US merchants actually list.
Key Findings
- FishyHub search data shows angelfish, arowana, barbs, bettas, bichirs, catfish, channa, crabs, discus, eels, flowerhorns, gar, gouramis, guppies, koi, mollies, oscars, plecos, puffers, shrimp, snails, tanks, tetras and turtles in the very high search tier.
- FishyHub search data shows shoppers overwhelmingly search by everyday fish names, not scientific names or catalogue codes.
- FishyHub search data shows axolotls, beetles, frogs, hermit crabs, isopods, jellyfish and vampire crabs in the high search tier, a sign of interest well beyond fish.
- FishyHub data shows heavily searched catfish, discus, plecos, shrimp and tetras are matched by very high supply among US listings.
- FishyHub data shows some heavily searched animals, including snakeheads and the Asian arowana, are absent from US listings because of federal wildlife law.
- FishyHub search data shows clownfish, coral and anemone in the moderate search tier, even though clownfish and several coral groups have very high US supply.
- FishyHub search data shows specific forms such as albino fish, butterfly koi, endlers, pea puffers and wild bettas in the high search tier.
The Search Tiers at a Glance
| Search tier | Examples (alphabetical) |
|---|---|
| Very high | Angelfish, arowana, betta, bichir, catfish, discus, flowerhorn, guppy, oscar, pleco, shrimp, tank, tetra, turtle |
| High | Apistogramma, axolotl, cichlid, corydoras, danio, goldfish, isopod, jellyfish, loach, pea puffer, rasbora, stingray, wild betta |
| Moderate | Amano shrimp, anemone, clownfish, coral, driftwood, filter, gravel, killifish, moss, plants, ram, sand |
| Limited | Algae eater, daphnia, galaxy rasbora, neon tetra, otocinclus, pacu, piranha, swordtail |
The tiers describe how often each term is searched relative to the others, not a ranking of individual words.
Why Shoppers Search by Fish Name
Most searches are short and broad. "Betta" sits in the very high tier while "female betta" and "giant betta" are moderate, and "tetra" is very high while "neon tetra" is limited. Shoppers type the group they want and then browse, rather than naming a single variety up front.
This tells sellers something useful: a listing titled with the plain common name is more likely to meet shoppers where they start. It also explains why misspellings and variants such as "arrowana", "flower horn" and "gold fish" show up in their own right. People search the way they talk.
How Searches Compare with US Listings
| Search term | Search tier | US supply | US price tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arowana | Very high | Limited | Collector / premium |
| Betta | Very high | High | Mid-range |
| Discus | Very high | Very high | Upper mid-range |
| Flowerhorn | Very high | High | Collector / premium |
| Guppy | Very high | High | Entry-level / budget |
| Oscar | Very high | Limited | Entry-level / budget |
| Pleco | Very high | Very high | Upper mid-range |
| Shrimp | Very high | Very high | Entry-level / budget |
| Tetra | Very high | Very high | Entry-level / budget |
| Clownfish | Moderate | Very high | Upper mid-range |
Two patterns stand out. Freshwater staples such as discus, plecos, shrimp and tetras are both heavily searched and heavily listed, so US shoppers looking for them will find plenty of choice. Oscars and arowanas are the opposite: very high search interest, but limited US supply, which makes them the searches most likely to end without a match.
The reef side runs the other way. Clownfish and coral sit only in the moderate search tier, yet clownfish, LPS, SPS and polyp corals all have very high US supply. Reef keepers tend to browse by category, comparing frags and fish side by side, and the search data also blends in Singapore, where marine is a smaller market.
Searches Shaped by US Law
Some of the most searched animals cannot be legally kept in much of the US:
- Channa (snakeheads). "Channa" is in the very high tier and "snakehead" and "toman" in the high tier, but the snakehead family is restricted under US federal wildlife law. Those searches largely reflect Singapore shoppers and global hobby media.
- Asian arowana. The red and gold Asian arowana is protected under US endangered species law, so US arowana listings on FishyHub are silver, black and Jardini arowanas.
- Axolotls and piranhas. Rules vary by state, and some states restrict them. Anyone searching for these should check their state's wildlife rules before buying.
Beyond Fish
Many high-tier searches are not for fish at all. Axolotls, frogs, isopods, beetles, jellyfish, hermit crabs and vampire crabs all appear, and terrarium is in the moderate tier. FishyHub Feed videos point the same way, with the "Other Animals" category in the very high Feed tier.
The rise of bioactive terrariums and paludariums explains much of this. Isopods and springtails clean up waste in planted vivariums, while vampire crabs and frogs suit setups that combine land and water.
Morphs, Forms and Specific Fish
Some searches are narrow and deliberate. Albino, butterfly koi, endler, pea puffer and wild betta are all in the high tier, and balloon molly, longfin koi, rosetail and panda sit lower. These shoppers already know what they want, often a specific colour form or a fish suited to a nano tank, and they are typically further along in the hobby than someone searching "fish".
Equipment and Setup Searches
"Tank" sits in the very high tier and "fish tank" in the high tier, but most gear terms, including filter, gravel, sand, driftwood, moss, plants and carbon dioxide, are moderate. On a livestock marketplace, people mostly come looking for animals and then furnish the tank around them.
What This Means for US Shoppers
- Popular staples are easy to find; compare sellers on size, variety and shipping.
- For oscars and arowanas, interest outstrips US listings, so expect to wait or widen your search to similar species.
- Search the plain common name first, then narrow by variety.
- Check legality before searching for snakeheads, axolotls or other regulated animals.
Methodology
This page is based on search terms entered on FishyHub over the period from October 2024 to October 2026, grouped into relative tiers, and read against FishyHub's US listings, listed prices, Feed video categories and the freshwater and marine share of listings. All findings are tiers and directions, not figures.
Search terms combine the US and Singapore markets and cannot be split by country, so some heavily searched animals reflect Singapore interest. FishyHub sees searches on its own marketplace only; it does not measure search engines or the wider web, or how many people search. Legal notes are general hobby knowledge, not FishyHub findings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What aquarium fish do people search for most?
On FishyHub, the very high search tier includes angelfish, arowana, bettas, bichirs, catfish, discus, flowerhorns, guppies, oscars, plecos, puffers and tetras, along with shrimp and snails.
Are axolotls popular with aquarium keepers?
Yes. Axolotls sit in FishyHub's high search tier, though some US states restrict them, so check local rules first.
Why can't I find snakeheads for sale in the US?
Snakeheads are restricted under US federal wildlife law, so they are not listed for US buyers even though they are heavily searched.
Do people search more for freshwater or saltwater fish?
Freshwater names dominate FishyHub's top search tiers. Clownfish, coral and anemone sit in the moderate tier.
How to Cite This Page
Source: FishyHub, "What Aquarium Keepers Search for Most Online" (2026), https://fishyhub.com/us/blogs/blog-detail/what-aquarium-keepers-search-for-most-online
