Is the Aquarium Trend Fading? A Deep Dive Into U.S. Fish-Keeping Habits (2018–2025)

As pet ownership in the U.S. reaches record highs—nearing 94 million households in 2025—the aquarium segment has seen a quieter, more nuanced trajectory. While many Americans continue to enjoy the meditative presence of fish tanks, recent data suggests a subtle yet important shift in the hobby's popularity.

📉 Freshwater Fish Ownership Is Slipping

Freshwater aquariums have traditionally been the entry point for most hobbyists. But according to industry surveys:

• In 2021–2022, about 11.8 million U.S. households owned freshwater fish.
• By 2023–2024, that number dropped to 11.1 million.
• By 2025, it further declined to around 10.0 million households.

This gradual 10–15% decline suggests that while fish-keeping remains common, fewer households are entering—or staying in—the hobby.

🌊 Saltwater Tanks: From Surge to Slide

Saltwater aquariums saw a temporary rise during the pandemic, peaking at 2.9 million households in 2021–2022. However, by 2023–2024, this dropped to 2.2 million and further to around 2.0 million by 2025—a contraction of nearly one-third from its high.

🦠 The COVID-19 Spike (and Slide)

The pandemic reshaped many lifestyle habits. A 2020 APPA survey found:

• 14% of all U.S. households acquired a new pet during the early lockdown period.
• 60% of new saltwater fish owners cited the pandemic as their motivation.
• 34% of new freshwater fish owners echoed the same.

With more people spending time at home, aquariums became an aspirational escape—mirroring miniature ecosystems within the home.

📉 Longer-Term Decline Over a Decade

This isn’t a recent shift. In the 2019–2020 survey, 11.5 million U.S. households had freshwater fish—down from an estimated 15+ million in 2008. This reflects a broader, decade-long contraction of ~27%.

📊 A Note on Survey Variance

Different organizations report slightly different numbers. For instance, the AVMA's 2024 survey recorded only 3.9 million pet fish households, while APPA consistently reports higher estimates. This variance is typically due to differing methodologies and sample demographics—particularly whether households with multiple pet types are included.

🐟 What This Means for the Future

While aquarium ownership has dipped slightly, the hobby is far from disappearing. In fact, it’s evolving. Hobbyists are increasingly drawn to higher-end, design-forward tanks—like our 65-Gallon Rimless Aquarium—that transform fish-keeping into an experience of crafted calm.

As freshwater setups give way to more intentional aquascapes, and saltwater enthusiasts seek greater sustainability, the modern aquarium is becoming less a pet enclosure and more a curated lifestyle feature.

🔗 Related Reads

• The Ultimate Guide to 65-Gallon Aquariums
• Why This Rimless Aquarium Is a Modern Design Secret
• Aquarium Ownership Statistics 2025

Crafted Calm starts with understanding the trends. And we're here to help you make sense of them—beautifully.