Where to sell aquarium fish

Your guppies did what guppies do, and now you have extras. The Where to sell your fish page walks through where those fish can actually go, how to price them and how to bag them for pickup. This guide sums up what's on that page and how it connects to the rest of the site.

What is the Where to sell your fish page?

It's a free guide at /where-to-sell-aquarium-fish for hobbyists with extra fish, shrimp, snails or plants. It covers:

• The short answer: where fish can and can't be sold.
• Your options, honestly: local fish stores, club swaps and auctions, local fish groups, Craigslist, and Underground Aquarium classifieds, each with pros, cons and a tip.
• How to price your fish.
• Bagging fish for a pickup.
• Be the seller people come back to: good-seller habits.
• Questions people ask: a short FAQ.

Anyone can read it. You don't need an account.

Can I sell fish on Facebook Marketplace?

According to the guide, no. Facebook's commerce policies don't allow listings that buy or sell animals, and that includes fish, shrimp and snails. Those listings get removed, and repeat listings can get your Marketplace access limited.

Some local fish groups on Facebook do allow sales under their own group rules, so the guide suggests reading each group's rules before posting.

Can I sell fish on Craigslist?

The guide explains that Craigslist's pets section is set up for rehoming animals, not selling them, and generally only allows a small rehoming fee. It suggests Craigslist for tanks, stands and equipment, and checking your city's posting rules before listing livestock.

What are my options for selling fish?

The page compares five options:

• Your local fish store. Fast and easy with no haggling. Many shops buy or trade healthy fish from hobbyists, and store credit often beats cash. It's the lowest price of any option, and they'll only take what they can sell. Tip: call first and ask what they're looking for. The Find shops near you link opens the fish store finder. See Finding a fish store.
• Club swaps and auctions. The most fun, with fair prices and buyers who really know fish. They only happen a few times a year and you need to be there. Tip: label bags with species, count and your name. The See events link opens Events. See Finding events.
• Local fish groups on Facebook. Big local audiences, and many groups allow sales and trades, but each group has its own rules and posts get buried fast.
• Craigslist. Wide reach and good for gear, but the pets section is for rehoming and you'll deal with lowballs and no-shows.
• Underground Aquarium classifieds. Live fish, shrimp, snails and plants are welcome, it's free to post with no fees or commission, buyers are sorted by area, and you can sell, trade or give away free.

How do I list my fish on Underground Aquarium?

From the guide, tap List your fish free (at the top or bottom of the page) or List your fish in the Underground Aquarium box. That opens the free posting form. You'll need a free account.

Posting takes about a minute: choose For sale, Free or Wanted, add a title, pick a category like Freshwater Fish or Shrimp, Snails & Inverts, choose your state and closest metro area, set a price, add photos and a description. Ads stay up for 45 days and you can renew them. See Posting a classified ad.

To see what's already for sale, tap See fish for sale (opens freshwater fish nationwide) or Browse near you (opens Classifieds).

How should I price my fish?

The guide's pricing advice:

• About half of your local shop's price is a common starting point for healthy, adult-sized fish.
• Lower for small juveniles, common species, or a big batch sold together.
• Higher for rare species, proven breeding pairs, or fish with known lineage.

Check what the same fish is listed for near you first. You can do that on your area page by searching the species name. See Searching and filtering listings.

Selling in groups ("6 for $30") moves schooling fish faster and keeps them in groups at their new home.

How do I bag fish for a pickup?

The guide's six steps:

1. Skip feeding for a day. Less food in means less waste in the bag.
2. One-third water, two-thirds air. Use water from their own tank. The air is their oxygen supply.
3. Double bag, round the corners. Tuck or band the bottom corners so tiny fish and shrimp can't get trapped.
4. Spiky fish get extra care. Plecos and some catfish can poke through. Double bag, or use a container.
5. Hide them from the light. A paper bag or cooler keeps them calm.
6. Watch the weather. An insulated cooler protects them from hot cars and cold mornings.

It also suggests sharing your water numbers (temperature, pH and hardness) with the buyer to help them acclimate. More in Safe local pickup.

Is it legal to sell fish I bred at home?

The guide says that for common aquarium species, hobbyists in the US generally sell or trade extras locally without any issue. Some states restrict specific species (certain invasive fish, snails and plants), and selling at a larger scale can bring business rules into play. When in doubt, check with your state's fish and wildlife agency.

On Underground Aquarium, the listing rules don't allow endangered, protected or locally illegal species. See Livestock and restricted species.

What if nobody buys my fish?

The guide suggests trading them, offering them to your local fish store for store credit, bringing them to a club swap, or listing them free to a good home. On Underground Aquarium, choose Free when you post.

Never release aquarium fish, snails or plants into local waterways.

What makes a good seller?

The guide's four habits:

• Only sell healthy fish. If something's off in the tank, wait.
• Be honest about what it is: species, rough age, size and anything quirky. A clear photo sells faster than a paragraph.
• Meet somewhere public. A store parking lot is ideal, and your local fish shop's lot is even better.
• Can't sell them? Give them a home. Trade, swap for store credit, or list them free.

Common problems

I tapped List your fish free and it asked me to sign in. Posting needs a free account so buyers can message you. Sign in or create an account, then post. See Creating an account.

Does it cost anything to list fish here? No. Posting is free, with no listing fee, no commission and no cut of the sale. You deal with the buyer directly.

Can I ship fish to a buyer through the site? No. Underground Aquarium doesn't handle payment or shipping for classified ads. The classifieds are built for local pickup.

Is Craigslist or Facebook advice on the page official? No. It's our summary of how those sites generally work. Always check their current rules yourself.