The Top Ten Best Selling Aquarium Fish in the UK in 2023!

See what topped our charts for 2023...

We sell many different types of livestock at J&K Aquatics, but out of all the aquatic species we stock, which were the most popular throughout 2023?

Here are our top 10:

10: RUMMYNOSE TETRA - TP019

We start with a new entry to the list! 

The rummy nose tetra is a freshwater fish native to South America. These types of fish are popular with beginners, but these aren’t the easiest examples to care for. They can be quite sensitive to water parameter changes so you need to be vigilant; they don't tolerate mistakes. A group works well in a community tank. As peaceful fish, they get on well with lots of other species, but they won’t do well with boisterous fish that cause them stress.

9: MIX SWORDTAILs 4-5CM (PREM)- TL553

Swordtails are attractive, peaceful, easy to keep live-bearing fish, suitable for all community aquariums over 60cm in length. A very good fish for beginners as well as being popular with experienced fishkeepers. These fish will happily live with all other popular species such as Neon Tetra's, Guppies and Mollies. Males grow to 10cm and females approximately 12cm. They like a tank decorated with plenty of plants with a few rocks or pieces of wood. Swordtails will quite happily eat a mix of flake and granular foods and for a treat offer them some Betta Choice Frozen Bloodworm or Tropical Mix.

8: assorted MOLLy - TL062

An ever present on the list, Mollies are attractive, colourful, and interesting live-bearing fish, which are suitable for all tropical community aquariums over 40cm in length. They are very good fish for beginners as well as being popular with experienced aquarists and will happily live with all other popular species such as Neon Tetra's, Guppies and Platies.

7: ZEBRA DANIO - TD001

Holding steady is the Zebra Danio, (or Zebra Fish as they are sometimes known) are very hardy and fast swimming fish. An excellent choice for beginners, they grow to only 6cm and are suitable for most tropical aquariums.  

6: MIX PLATY 3-3.5CM (PREM) - TL508

No stranger to this chart, our premium range of Platys come from a strong breeding line and offer some interesting colour variations. As with all Platies, they are attractive, peaceful, easy to keep live-bearing fish, suitable for all community aquariums over 40cm in length. A very good fish for beginners as well as being popular with experienced fishkeepers. These fish will happily live with all other popular species such as Neon Tetra's, Guppies and Mollies. Males grow to 4cm and females approximately 6cm. They like a tank decorated with plenty of plants with a few rocks or pieces of wood. Platies will quite happily eat a mix of flake and granular foods and for a treat offer them some Betta Choice Frozen Bloodworm or Tropical Mix. They are also very useful little algae eaters too!

5:  COMETS  - c010, c020

Our fifth most popular fish is another new entry!

Comets are a very attractive pond and aquarium fish. They are very similar and often get confused with the common Goldfish except they are usually slimmer, shinier, more agile and have much longer tails. They can be kept in both ponds and aquariums with ease as long as the appropriate care is taken. Sarasa Comets are deep red and bright white, almost Koi-like in colouration. Like with the common Goldfish, they can grow to around 20 to 25cm in length (excluding the tails) although this does depend on habitat size, feeding and general husbandry.

4: CARDINAL TETRA - TP008 

Making the jump up to 4, sometimes confused with the Neon Tetra, these striking red and blue fish look amazing when kept in large groups. They will live happily with most other community fish, grow to only 5cm in length, and should be kept in aquariums of at least 54L. 

3: Mixed guppy - tl600, tl601

Up to number three are our assorted mixed male/female guppies. A selection of one of our best-selling tropical fish. Perfect for all small, peaceful community aquariums.

2: Goldfish (5-7cm) - c002, c015

Moving into the number 2 spot is the goldfish!

Goldfish are the world's most popular pet fish. They can be kept in both ponds and aquariums with ease as long as the appropriate care is taken. Like other ornamental varieties, the Goldfish has been bred in many different, attractive, and mixed colour forms.

1: Neon Tetra - TP001 , TP004

Unmoved at number one. The most popular tropical fish of all, the blue Neon Tetra. These grow to approx. 4cm in length and are suitable for most tropical aquariums of 54L or more. It's best to keep them in groups of at least 5, but preferably more. 


We hope you enjoyed the list, I think you will agree there are a few surprises!

As a rule, when selecting tropical fish, and despite their known diet, if a fish can fit into another fish’s mouth there is a good chance that it could end up there at some point. It is not always the case, but it is worth bearing in mind when selecting fish and advising consumers.


The Top Ten Best Selling Aquarium Fish in the UK in 2023!

See what topped our charts for 2023...

We sell many different types of livestock at J&K Aquatics, but out of all the aquatic species we stock, which were the most popular throughout 2023?

Here are our top 10:

10: RUMMYNOSE TETRA - TP019

We start with a new entry to the list! 

The rummy nose tetra is a freshwater fish native to South America. These types of fish are popular with beginners, but these aren’t the easiest examples to care for. They can be quite sensitive to water parameter changes so you need to be vigilant; they don't tolerate mistakes. A group works well in a community tank. As peaceful fish, they get on well with lots of other species, but they won’t do well with boisterous fish that cause them stress.

9: MIX SWORDTAILs 4-5CM (PREM)- TL553

Swordtails are attractive, peaceful, easy to keep live-bearing fish, suitable for all community aquariums over 60cm in length. A very good fish for beginners as well as being popular with experienced fishkeepers. These fish will happily live with all other popular species such as Neon Tetra's, Guppies and Mollies. Males grow to 10cm and females approximately 12cm. They like a tank decorated with plenty of plants with a few rocks or pieces of wood. Swordtails will quite happily eat a mix of flake and granular foods and for a treat offer them some Betta Choice Frozen Bloodworm or Tropical Mix.

8: assorted MOLLy - TL062

An ever present on the list, Mollies are attractive, colourful, and interesting live-bearing fish, which are suitable for all tropical community aquariums over 40cm in length. They are very good fish for beginners as well as being popular with experienced aquarists and will happily live with all other popular species such as Neon Tetra's, Guppies and Platies.

7: ZEBRA DANIO - TD001

Holding steady is the Zebra Danio, (or Zebra Fish as they are sometimes known) are very hardy and fast swimming fish. An excellent choice for beginners, they grow to only 6cm and are suitable for most tropical aquariums.  

6: MIX PLATY 3-3.5CM (PREM) - TL508

No stranger to this chart, our premium range of Platys come from a strong breeding line and offer some interesting colour variations. As with all Platies, they are attractive, peaceful, easy to keep live-bearing fish, suitable for all community aquariums over 40cm in length. A very good fish for beginners as well as being popular with experienced fishkeepers. These fish will happily live with all other popular species such as Neon Tetra's, Guppies and Mollies. Males grow to 4cm and females approximately 6cm. They like a tank decorated with plenty of plants with a few rocks or pieces of wood. Platies will quite happily eat a mix of flake and granular foods and for a treat offer them some Betta Choice Frozen Bloodworm or Tropical Mix. They are also very useful little algae eaters too!

5:  COMETS  - c010, c020

Our fifth most popular fish is another new entry!

Comets are a very attractive pond and aquarium fish. They are very similar and often get confused with the common Goldfish except they are usually slimmer, shinier, more agile and have much longer tails. They can be kept in both ponds and aquariums with ease as long as the appropriate care is taken. Sarasa Comets are deep red and bright white, almost Koi-like in colouration. Like with the common Goldfish, they can grow to around 20 to 25cm in length (excluding the tails) although this does depend on habitat size, feeding and general husbandry.

4: CARDINAL TETRA - TP008 

Making the jump up to 4, sometimes confused with the Neon Tetra, these striking red and blue fish look amazing when kept in large groups. They will live happily with most other community fish, grow to only 5cm in length, and should be kept in aquariums of at least 54L. 

3: Mixed guppy - tl600, tl601

Up to number three are our assorted mixed male/female guppies. A selection of one of our best-selling tropical fish. Perfect for all small, peaceful community aquariums.

2: Goldfish (5-7cm) - c002, c015

Moving into the number 2 spot is the goldfish!

Goldfish are the world's most popular pet fish. They can be kept in both ponds and aquariums with ease as long as the appropriate care is taken. Like other ornamental varieties, the Goldfish has been bred in many different, attractive, and mixed colour forms.

1: Neon Tetra - TP001 , TP004

Unmoved at number one. The most popular tropical fish of all, the blue Neon Tetra. These grow to approx. 4cm in length and are suitable for most tropical aquariums of 54L or more. It's best to keep them in groups of at least 5, but preferably more. 


We hope you enjoyed the list, I think you will agree there are a few surprises!

As a rule, when selecting tropical fish, and despite their known diet, if a fish can fit into another fish’s mouth there is a good chance that it could end up there at some point. It is not always the case, but it is worth bearing in mind when selecting fish and advising consumers.