Hunting for healthy tropical fish in NZ? You've landed at Simply Fish. We've talked more Kiwis through their first tank (and their fifth) than we can count, and honestly, we still get a kick out of it. Ask us why and we'll happily talk fish behaviour with you all day.
Every fish in this collection is settled, fed and checked over before it ever sees a courier bag. If you're comparing where to buy live fish online in NZ, you've found the one. Expect healthy stock, simple answers, and a real person on the phone if something's ever not right.
Scroll through our tropical fish for sale in NZ, and you'll find the most popular freshwater groups: guppies, platies, angelfish, discus, catfish, loaches and more.
A few good places to start:
After something with a bit more presence? Our cichlid and discus range covers the exotic fish NZ collectors specifically come looking for, provided you've got the tank size to match.
Bigger isn't always better, and smaller isn't always easier. Every product page lists care requirements, minimum tank size, temperature range and adult size, so check before you buy.
As a rough guide:
Temperament matters just as much as size. Fin nippers, territorial cichlids and laid-back community fish do not mix well in the same tank, no matter how big it is.
The golden rule is simple: match water parameters first, temperament second. A peaceful tetra and an aggressive cichlid can share the same pH and still end up in a standoff. Stick to similar temperaments, similar adult sizes and compatible water needs, and most community tanks sort themselves out.
Building a planted community setup? Tetras, rasboras and corydoras are a reliable trio to build around.
Stock here changes constantly. What's swimming today might be gone by Friday, so if you spot something you want, grab it.
We ship live fish for sale NZ-wide via NZ Couriers' overnight service, generally dispatched Monday or Tuesday morning, and every order is covered by our DOA policy. Photograph any issue in the sealed bag within two hours and email us straight away. Rural addresses usually collect from the nearest depot rather than getting doorstep delivery.
Prefer to skip the courier altogether? Pop into the shop in Christchurch to pick up your fish in person. We are always up for talking through tank setups while you wait.
Grab some tropical fish food options while you are there. New fish and an empty food shelf is not a great combination.
Getting fish home is only half the job. Float the sealed bag for 15 to 20 minutes to match the temperature, then gradually dilute it by adding small amounts of tank water into the bag every five minutes or so over the next half hour. This lets your fish adjust to your tank's water chemistry before it goes anywhere near it.
Net the fish out and release it, then tip the bag water down the sink rather than into the tank, since it can carry built-up ammonia, stress hormones and pathogens you don't want in your display tank.
Browse the range above, check the care notes on each listing, and get in touch if you're not sure what will work. We'd honestly rather talk you out of the wrong fish than sell it to you.
Contact usLive fish ship via NZ Couriers' overnight service, usually dispatched Monday or Tuesday. Rural addresses generally collect from the nearest depot. If anything arrives dead in the bag, photograph it within 2 hours and email us to arrange a replacement, credit, or refund.
Match temperament and water parameters first. Peaceful community species like tetras and corydoras mix well together, while territorial or aggressive fish usually need their own setup.
It depends on the species. Check the minimum tank size listed on each product page before ordering, and plan around the fish's adult size rather than the size it arrives at.
Float the bag for 15 to 20 minutes, then gradually mix in tank water before releasing the fish. Avoid tipping the bag water into your tank.
Stock changes weekly and popular species sell out fast. Check back regularly, or follow us on Facebook for our weekly Fish List Friday updates.
