How to Sell Pet Fish in the United States | PetzLover

Pet for Sale6 min read

A fish breeder checking young guppies in a row of breeding tanks

To sell pet fish in the United States, confirm the species is legal where you and the buyer live, offer only healthy fish, describe them honestly in your ad and choose buyers whose tank or pond is ready. Pack the fish so they travel calm and at a steady temperature, and hand them over in person whenever you can.

Most people selling fish are hobbyists with extra livebearers, bettas, cichlids or koi, or owners closing down a tank. This guide covers the legal basics, preparing fish, pricing, the ad, vetting buyers, and safe payment and handover.

Key points

Never sell federally listed injurious fish such as snakeheads, or species your state restricts, such as piranhas in California.
Sell only fish that have been healthy in your tank for weeks, and disclose any recent disease.
Give adult size, temperature and diet in the ad so buyers know what they are taking on.
Ask every buyer about their tank or pond and whether it is cycled.
Hand fish over in person in well-packed bags, and take payment at pickup.

Is it legal to sell pet fish in the US?

Most common aquarium and pond fish can be sold by hobbyists, but the species, the buyer's state and how often you sell all matter. The federal Animal Welfare Act covers warm-blooded animals, so it does not license fish sellers; some states license pet dealers or fish farms, so ask your state agriculture or fish and wildlife agency if you sell regularly.

Injurious fish: the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lists snakeheads, walking catfish, bighead, silver and black carp and several species added in 2016. Without a permit they cannot be imported or shipped between the continental US and places such as Hawaii and Puerto Rico, and many states ban them.
State lists: California, for example, restricts piranhas, snakeheads, gars, freshwater stingrays and some tilapia, and Texas prohibits possessing or selling live piranhas.
Pond fish: California also restricts grass carp, which pond owners sometimes want for weed control, except under permit.
The Lacey Act: selling or moving fish in violation of a state law can become a federal offense, so check the buyer's state too.

How do you prepare fish for sale?

Sell only fish that have been eating and behaving normally in your tank for several weeks.
Do not sell from a tank with recent deaths, white spots or ongoing treatment. VCA warns that fish that recover from ich can still carry the parasite, and advises waiting at least 30 days after an outbreak before adding new fish to that tank.
Identify the species and variety correctly, with the scientific name if you know it; buyers checking state rules need it.
Say whether fish are male or female if you know.
For koi, note age, size, variety, how long they have been in your pond and whether they were quarantined when you bought them.
Many keepers stop feeding about a day before a move so the fish foul the travel water less.

How much should you charge for pet fish?

Check current listings near you and local store prices for the same species and size. Fish priced far below store prices attract resellers, while prices well above them sit unsold.

Typical US prices as a starting point
Item	Typical price	Notes
Betta	$5 to $25	Rare colors and fin types at the top of the range
Small koi	$8 to $50	Some over $100; show-quality koi much more
Basic 10-gallon freshwater setup	Around $170 to $200 new	Price used equipment by age and condition

The betta and setup figures come from a 2026 US cost guide by The Vet Desk, and the koi range from PetMD. If you sell a complete tank, list each piece of equipment and its age.

How do you write a good ad for pet fish?

When you post your fish ad, give buyers what they need to decide:

Species, variety, number of fish, approximate age and current size.
Adult size and the tank or pond the species needs when grown.
Freshwater or saltwater, temperature and pH if known.
Diet and temperament: peaceful, territorial or predatory.
Health: how long they have been settled and any recent disease or treatment.
Pickup area and what is included, such as tank, filter, heater or plants.
Clear, recent photos or a short video of the actual fish.

State plainly that you want buyers with a cycled tank. It saves you messages from people about to set up their first bowl.

How do you vet buyers for your fish?

Buyers will message you through PetzLover. Ask the same questions of everyone:

What size is your tank or pond, and how long has it been running?
Is it cycled? What do your ammonia and nitrite tests read?
What fish already live in it, and will these be compatible?
Do you have a quarantine tank?
Where do you live? For restricted species, the rules depend on the buyer's state.

Be wary of anyone who wants fish shipped to an address they will not confirm, wants a predatory species without a plan, or mentions putting fish into a pond, lake or stream. Released aquarium fish can carry diseases that kill native fish.

How do you pack fish and hand them over safely?

A breeder handing a betta fish in a water-filled bag to a buyer, a foam box on the table

Agree a pickup time when the buyer's tank is ready, and ask them to bring an insulated cooler or foam box.
Net fish gently and bag them in clean tank water. Extension guides on moving fish suggest filling each bag about a quarter to a third with water and the rest with air or, better, oxygen, then double-bagging against leaks.
Bag large fish singly; the more fish in a bag, the faster the oxygen runs out.
Keep bags in the cooler, out of direct sun, so the temperature stays steady.
Tell the buyer to float the bags for about 20 to 30 minutes on arrival and not to pour your water into their tank.
Take payment in person at pickup and give a short receipt listing the species, number and price.

Giving fish away instead? Read how to give away pet fish for free without risk. If you need a new home for a whole tank, see how to rehome your pet fish responsibly. Buyers can read how to buy pet fish, and you can compare prices in current pet fish listings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a license to sell pet fish in the US?

Not under the federal Animal Welfare Act, which covers warm-blooded animals. Some states and cities license pet dealers, fish farms or regular sellers, so if you sell often, ask your state agriculture or fish and wildlife agency.

Can I ship pet fish to a buyer in another state?

Only species that are legal in both states, and only if you can pack them for the whole journey. Federally listed injurious fish cannot be shipped to places such as Hawaii and Puerto Rico without a permit, and states keep their own lists. Local pickup is safer for the fish and for you.

How should I price pet fish for sale?

Compare current listings and local store prices for the same species and size, and price healthy, established fish fairly against them. Bettas typically sell for $5 to $25 and small koi for $8 to $50, while rare varieties cost more.

Can I sell fish from a tank that had ich?

Wait until the outbreak is treated and the tank has been disease-free for at least 30 days, and tell buyers about it. Recovered fish can still carry the parasite, so honesty protects the buyer's tank.

Should I sell my fish together with the tank?

It often helps, because the buyer gets a cycled filter with the fish. Keep the filter media wet in tank water during the move and tell the buyer how long the tank has run. Water weighs about 8.3 pounds per gallon, so drain the tank fully before anyone carries it.

Is it legal to sell snakeheads or piranhas?

Snakeheads are federally listed injurious fish and banned in many states, so do not sell them. Piranhas are restricted in states such as California and Texas. Check your state list and the buyer's before advertising any predatory fish.