About
Auction.Fish is a free, open-source web platform purpose-built for aquarium and fish clubs to manage both online and in-person auctions with ease. Developed by the Tropical Fish Club of Burlington, it removes the traditional barriers of club auctions — no venue booking, no professional auctioneer, and no complex paperwork required. For online auctions, buyers can browse and research lots at their own pace, place proxy bids, and participate from home. Sellers can set minimum bids to guarantee fair prices and avoid transporting unsold items. For in-person events, organizers get a full suite of tools: lot and user management, real-time winner assignment, projector-ready lot image display, automatic invoicing, and PayPal payment processing. Standout features include support for Breeder Award and Breeder Participation Programs common in aquarium clubs, role-based administration (multiple admins per auction), member discount pricing with separate seller and club cut configurations, one-click data export for marketing lists, multi-location auction support, and easy copying of lots, rules, and users between auctions. Snipe protection, proxy bidding, buy-now pricing, and detailed auction statistics round out the feature set. Auction.Fish is ideal for tropical fish societies, aquarium clubs, and similar hobby organizations looking to modernize their fundraising and member engagement events. Completely free with no subscription fees, it's accessible to clubs of any size — from small local groups to large regional organizations.
Key Features
- Online & In-Person Auction Modes: Run fully remote online auctions or manage traditional in-person events with dedicated toolsets for each format, including projector display of lot images for live bidding.
- Proxy Bidding & Snipe Protection: Buyers can set maximum proxy bids and the system bids automatically on their behalf, with snipe protection ensuring fair auction endings.
- Automatic Invoicing & PayPal Integration: Generates invoices automatically after auctions close and supports batch PayPal payments, eliminating manual math and payment tracking.
- Breeder Award Program Support: Built-in support for Breeder Award and Breeder Participation Programs, allowing clubs to track and reward member breeding achievements.
- Admin Tools, Stats & Data Export: Multi-admin support, auction statistics, one-click data export for marketing lists, multi-location auctions, and easy copying of lots, rules, and users between events.
Use Cases
- Aquarium clubs hosting annual or seasonal fish auctions entirely online, allowing members to bid from home without attending in person.
- Local fish societies running in-person auction events without needing to hire a professional auctioneer or rent a dedicated venue.
- Club treasurers automating seller payouts, club-cut calculations, and invoice generation to eliminate manual bookkeeping after each auction.
- Fish and plant breeders listing lots with minimum bids to guarantee fair market value and avoid bringing unsold items home.
- Club administrators managing Breeder Award and Breeder Participation Programs, tracking member contributions across multiple auction events.
Pros
- Completely Free & Open Source: No subscription fees, no auctioneer costs, and no venue rental required — the entire platform is free to use for clubs of any size.
- Mobile-Friendly & Easy to Use: Simple enough to operate entirely from a smartphone, with no technical expertise needed by club admins or members.
- Full Auction Lifecycle Coverage: Handles every step from auction setup and lot listing to bidding, winner assignment, invoicing, and payment — for both online and in-person formats.
- Community-Driven with Club-Specific Features: Built by and for aquarium clubs, with niche features like Breeder Award Programs and member discount pricing rarely found in general auction tools.
Cons
- Niche Audience Focus: Designed specifically for fish and aquarium club auctions, which may limit its appeal or suitability for other types of auction events.
- Community-Level Support: As a volunteer open-source project, formal customer support is limited compared to commercial auction platforms.
- No Native Mobile App: The platform is web-based and mobile-optimized but does not offer a dedicated iOS or Android app.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Auction.Fish really free to use?
Yes, Auction.Fish is completely free for both clubs and members. There are no subscription fees, no auctioneer costs, and no venue rental required. It is also open-source.
Can I run both online and in-person auctions on the platform?
Yes. The platform supports both online auctions (where members bid remotely from home) and traditional in-person auctions (with tools for managing the auction hall, projector display, and lot winner assignment on the spot).
How does payment processing work?
Auction.Fish integrates with PayPal and supports batch invoicing, so buyers automatically receive invoices after the auction closes and can pay through PayPal with minimal manual effort from organizers.
What is proxy bidding and how does it work?
Proxy bidding lets buyers set a maximum bid amount. The system then automatically places the lowest competitive bid on their behalf, incrementally increasing it only as needed up to their maximum — so buyers don't have to watch the auction in real time.
Is Auction.Fish only for fish clubs, or can other clubs use it?
While it was built specifically for aquarium and fish clubs, any club that runs traditional lot-based auctions can use the platform. Features like Breeder Award Program support are fish-club-specific, but the core auction tools are broadly applicable.
