There was a fluorescent axolotl in a SpongeBob SquarePants-themed tank, a topside “mini-fishing village” diorama, and some really “showstopping fish,” according to UF/IFAS School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences Extension Veterinarian and Professor Dr. Roy Yanong.

Yanong has inspected hundreds of entries in the Florida State Fair’s Aquarium Beautiful competition over the past 30 years as one of three judges of the contest that is housed in the Creative Living Competition building.

“The 2026 entries brought bold choices and a trend in nano aquariums,” he said.

According to Yanong, it was former UF/IFAS multi-county aquaculture extension agent Craig Watson who started the competition.

Watson, who eventually became a founder of the UF/IFAS Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory (TAL), launched the competition in 1990. After 35 years, Watson retired as TAL director in 2023.

“I was a multi-county aquaculture extension agent working out of the Hillsborough County office,” Watson said. “Several other agents organized similar competitions in horticulture, dairy, beef cattle, poultry, etc. The fair asked me to start an aquarium competition.”

Since then, the contest has grown from a dozen tanks to many dozen, and the categories expanded to Hobbyist Adult, Professional Adult, and Youth grades 1 through 12 entries that are sponsored by the Tampa Bay Aquarium Society.

According to the fair’s “Aquarium Competition Handbook, there are six divisions in the contest: Nano Tank, Freshwater w/ Live Plants, Freshwater w/o Live Plants, Freshwater Biotype, Novelty, and Saltwater Open.

Awards for all adult categories are $30 for third place, $40 for second, and $50 for first, with a $100 Best in Show prize. And awards for Hobbyist Youth are $15 for third place, $25 for second, $35 for first and $40 for Best in Show.

Yanong said he sees an increase in nano tank entries. The definition of the nano tank, according to fair contest guidelines, is “Natural freshwater or saltwater tanks less than 10 gallons with an emphasis on small-scale inhabitants. Plants and fish should be chosen from the smaller species. They will be judged on their ability to be maintained long-term in the Nano setup.”

For more than 30 years, Yanong, who is co-author of “The Aquarium Fish Medicine Handbook,” has been grading the tanks with a 50/50 criterion. Awards are determined by both the fish and the tank’s appearance. Fish judging is based on health, size, finnage, behavior, and compliance with class. Tank judging is based on lighting, water clarity and overall appearance, and compliance with class.

Some observations about the 2026 entries from Yanong are, “Some of the nano tanks at the fair were probably two to five gallons. Established planted tanks – when done well – are very appealing and relaxing, a window to an underwater aquatic garden or nature.

“One of the coolest tanks was a tank which included a topside “mini-fishing village” diorama, complete with miniature figures and shops/houses,” Yanong said. “It even had a small “fogger” to add a “misty” look to the top of the tank.”

Learn more about the fair aquarium contest here. And check out the 2026 Florida State Fair Creative Living Competitions Aquarium Competition Handbook for youth and adult entries here.

The Florida State Fair runs from Feb. 5 to Feb. 16 in Tampa.