Fishtank (web series)
| Fishtank | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | fishtank.live |
| Genre | Web show, reality show |
| Created by | Sam Hyde and Jet Neptune |
| Presented by | Sam Hyde (seasons 1–4) Bam Margera (season 5) |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 5 |
| Production | |
| Producer | Jet Neptune |
| Production locations | Massachusetts (seasons 1, 3 & 4) Rhode Island (season 2) Georgia (season 5) |
| Camera setup | Multi-camera |
| Original release | |
| Release | April 18, 2023 (2023年04月18日) |
Fishtank, also known as fishtank.live, is an interactive 24/7 reality livestream created by comedian and podcast host Sam Hyde and director Jet Neptune.[1] [2] In each season, a group of contestants ("fish") are housed together in a camera-monitored house for several weeks with minimal rules (typically contestants cannot leave the house, use cellphones, and the windows are obscured with privacy film).[1] [2] Producers stage unpredictable tasks and challenges for the participants, who must endure "unfiltered" conditions while the live feed rolls continuously. Viewers can influence the show in real time by purchasing interactive features—such as playing sound effects, sending text-to-speech messages, or affecting the fish directly via "fishtoys"—to prank, harass, or support contestants.[1] [2] The series premiered in April 2023 and has aired five seasons through 2026.[3] By mid-2024 the series reached one million unique viewers and about 3ドル million in revenue.[a] [3] The show is produced by Hyde and Neptune (operating under their production company Fishnet Inc.[4] ), and in 2024 it migrated its streaming infrastructure to Livepeer Studio's decentralized platform.[5]
Premise
[edit ]Fishtank's format is modeled loosely on "Big Brother"-style reality TV, but with an extreme, real-time interactive element. Eight to twelve contestants enter a furnished house equipped with cameras covering every room, with little to no external entertainment or communication beyond each other.[1] [2] The selection of contestants is curated to include individuals with peculiar and intriguing personalities, with the aim of generating captivating content for viewers.[6] Contestants are typically barred from leaving the house or using phones or the internet for the duration of the six-week[b] game.[1] [2] Producers (including Hyde and Neptune) periodically present challenges or twists, such as timed tasks or staged events, that can lead to immunity, elimination, or rewards. Many of these challenges are designed to frustrate or disgust the contestants, whose physical and mental strain often becomes part of the spectacle.[1] Crucially, viewers watch the live stream 24/7 and can pay to affect the environment. For example, viewers may purchase virtual tokens (or "fishbucks") to send prerecorded voice messages or trigger house events, or buy in-game items ("Fishtoys") that alter conditions (such as turning lights on or off, silencing a contestant, or forcibly handcuffing two contestants together).[1] [2]
Reception
[edit ]Public and critical reception of Fishtank has been mixed and polarizing. However, the series has attracted a sizeable online audience and dedicated fanbase. By mid-2024, the show had amassed over one million viewers and generated significant revenue through its interactive model.[3] Many commentators have noted the raw, unscripted nature of Fishtank as a selling point.[7]
Comparisons have been made to controversial psychology experiments (the show having been likened to a real-life "Stanford prison experiment" [8] ) due to its manipulative social dynamics. The production has on several instances been accused of disrupting the peace in the communities where it has been filmed. For instance, in January 2024 an animal rescue group reported retrieving ten chickens that had been released inside the Fishtank house as part of a planned comedy bit.[9] During season 4 in 2025, these problems intensified; after the cast was moved from the Swansea, Massachusetts house to the former season-two property in Cumberland, Rhode Island, local police reportedly halted production in response to complaints about unsafe conditions, and the Cumberland property was condemned the following day as an illegal lodging house with a fire-exit violation.[citation needed ]
Cast
[edit ]Hosts
[edit ]- Sam Hyde (2023–2025) – Co-creator and primary host. Hyde frequently appears on-camera (often in character) to explain challenges and interact with the contestants. He hosted Seasons 1 through 4 and was billed under his chaotic persona "Jason Goldstriker."
- Bam Margera (2026–present) – In Season 5 (2026) the show announced a new host rotation; Bam Margera (former professional skateboarder and star of MTV's Jackass ) assumed hosting duties for the latest season.[10]
Production
[edit ]The series is produced by Hyde and Neptune under their production entity (Fishnet Inc.[4] ). In conjunction with this independent production, Fishtank collaborates with technical partners for streaming. Beyond Hyde and Neptune, the show's visible production team has included Benjamin Taylor,[11] a main production member and co-creator present throughout the series; Vance Latta, a former season-one contestant who later joined the crew and has since worked in production roles including camera operation and in-house security; Cameron ("Mints"), who initially worked as a moderator on the platform before taking on a larger on-site operational role from season 4 onward; and Matt ("Maejok"), who joined the crew around Bloodgames and has been associated with the show's live technical infrastructure, including cameras, audio, and servers.
Recurring freeloaders
[edit ]Among the show's most prominent supporting personalities are "freeloaders" (the term used by the series for non-contesting participants introduced to disrupt or reshape the house dynamic) who appear across seasons, generally due to being fan favorites adept at causing chaos in the house.
- Chris LaFon (better known as AirsoftFatty) – A recurring freeloader and occasional comic foil who appeared in season 1, season 2, Bloodgames, and season 3. A YouTuber from Michigan, LaFon became one of the series' most recognizable returning guest figures; his appearances generally emphasized endurance of awkward situations, improvised character work, and physical comedy reliant on his obesity, and in season 3 he briefly entered under the Famous House conceit before remaining as a freeloader thereafter, and late joining the final three fish in the Las Vegas RV arc.
- Frank Hassle (born Cameron Williams) – A fan-favorite freeloader who appeared in seasons 1, 2, and 3, often under aliases such as "Chad King," "Johnson," and "Wild Randy." Among the show's best-known antagonistic guest presences[12] , Hassle was repeatedly used to intensify conflict inside the house through harassment, destruction of property, and confrontational psychological needling of contestants.
- Alex Stein – A friend of the producers who appeared as a freeloader in seasons 1, 2, 3, and 5, as well as Bloodgames. A Dallas-based comedian and online personality, Stein was typically introduced as an outside agitator whose role blended stunt casting with the show's broader taste for provocation; in different appearances he entered under alternate personas.
Series overview
[edit ]Season 1 (Spring 2023)
[edit ]The inaugural season premiered April 18, 2023, and ran for six weeks through May 30, 2023. It featured eight contestants from various locations across North America living under the original Fishtank format.[1] The season concluded with Josie Martinez as the single winner, who received a cash prize of 35,000ドル. During the program, additional characters (called "Freeloaders") were introduced into the house. They could not participate in the competition for the final prize money, but were able to interact with the fish, and, should they succeed in tormenting one enough to make them leave the house, they would receive 1,000ドル. Most of the freeloaders were either fans of the show who wished to join on their own right, or well-known figures from niche online communities; however, some were former contestants who returned with a new role after leaving the house.
Contestants
[edit ]| Name | Role | Age | Gender | Place of origin | Arrived | Status | Days in house |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Josie | Fish | 21 | Female | Arizona, United States | April 18, 2023 | Winner (35,000ドル prize) | 42 |
| Violetta ("Letty") | Fish | 23 | Female | Ontario, Canada | April 18, 2023 | Runner-up (20,000ドル prize) | 42 |
| Chris (Airsoft Fatty) | Freeloader | 25 | Male | Michigan, United States | May 15, 2023 | Left on May 29, 2023 | 15 |
| Frank Hassle | Freeloader | 26 | Male | United States | May 19, 2023 | Left on May 29, 2023 | 11 |
| Vance | Fish | 25 | Male | Auburn, United States | April 18, 2023 | Eliminated on May 25, 2023 | 38 |
| Simon | Freeloader | 23 | Male | Vietnam | May 15, 2023 | Left on May 21, 2023 | 7 |
| Sylvia | Fish | 23 | Female | Tulsa, United States | April 18, 2023 | Eliminated on May 18, 2023 | 31 |
| Brandon Buckingham | Freeloader | 28 | Male | Maryland, United States | May 10, 2023 | Left on May 12, 2023 | 3 |
| Damiel | Fish | 27 | Male | San Francisco, United States | April 18, 2023 | Eliminated on May 7, 2023 | 20 |
| Alex Stein | Freeloader | 37 | Male | Texas, United States | May 4, 2023 | Left on May 5, 2023 | 2 |
| Jonathan | Fish | 24 | Male | Bend, United States | April 18, 2023 | Eliminated on May 3, 2023 | 16 |
| Dontarius | Freeloader | 24 | Male | United States | May 2, 2023 | Left on May 3, 2023 | 2 |
| Lance | Freeloader | 32 | Male | Auburn, United States | April 29, 2023 | Left on May 1, 2023 | 3 |
| Betty | Freeloader | 22 | Female | Alberta, Canada | April 29, 2023 | Left on April 30, 2023 | 2 |
| Ella | Freeloader | 22 | Female | United States | April 27, 2023 | Left on April 28, 2023 | 2 |
| Mauro | Fish | 24 | Male | New Mexico, United States | April 18, 2023 | Eliminated April 26, 2023 | 9 |
| Simmons | Fish | 29 | Male | Suzhou, China | April 18, 2023 | Removed on April 26, 2023 | 9 |
Season 2 (Winter 2023–24)
[edit ]The second season aired December 18, 2023 through January 28, 2024. This season expanded to ten contestants and relocated to a new house with a 1970s retro theme and the fish dressing in period clothing. Unlike the first season, most of the contestants entered with at least some prior awareness of the show’s general premise, though at the outset, production told each contestant individually that he or she was a "plant" and the sole participant who already knew about Fishtank, and that all of the other contestants were unfamiliar with both the program and Sam Hyde; this conceit quickly collapsed as the cast realized that several of them were in fact aware of the show. The season was subsequently presented as an increasingly grueling and psychologically demanding competition, with production gradually pushing the house toward the so-called 'hell house' phase as conditions deteriorated and the property was progressively damaged over the course of the run.
A further storyline involved the fictional "Initiative Group", a made-up cult devised by production and introduced through the attic segments; the conceit was originally meant to continue through the full 42-day season, with any eventual winner needing to join the group at some stage, but the storyline was largely abandoned after about two weeks. TJ was the only contestant to be formally incorporated into the Initiative Group narrative before it was phased out, making it a distinctive part of his arc during the season.
The finale took place in late January 2024, with contestant TJ winning the 50,000ドル cash prize.
Contestants
[edit ]| Name | Role | Age | Gender | Place of origin | Arrived | Status | Days in house |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TJ (Thomas) | Fish | 23 | Male | Henderson, United States | December 18, 2023 | Winner (50,000ドル prize) | 42 |
| Shinji | Fish | 24 | Male | Tokyo, Japan | December 18, 2023 | Runner-up | 42 |
| Frank Hassle | Freeloader | 27 | Male | United States | January 19, 2024 | Left on January 26, 2024 | 7 |
| Chris (Airsoft Fatty) | Freeloader | 26 | Male | Michigan, United States | January 5, 2024 | Left on January 26, 2024 | 21 |
| Alex Stein | Freeloader | 38 | Male | Texas, United States | January 22, 2024 | Left on January 26, 2024 | 4 |
| Greg | Freeloader | 26 | Male | Tennessee, United States | January 10, 2024 | Left on January 26, 2024 | 16 |
| Tayleigh | Fish | 20 | Female | Stephenville, Texas | December 18, 2023 | Eliminated on January 26, 2024 | 39 |
| Trish | Fish | 22 | Female | Illinois, United States | December 18, 2023 | Eliminated and immediately became a freeloader on January 21, 2024 Left on January 26, 2024 |
39 |
| Taylor | Freeloader | 21 | Female | Florida, United States | December 28, 2023 | Left on January 22, 2024 | 25 |
| Britney | Freeloader | 21 | Female | Jacksonville, United States | January 19, 2024 | Left on January 22, 2024 | 3 |
| Duany'ay | Freeloader | 24 | Male | Missouri, United States | December 18, 2023 | Eliminated on January 19, 2024 | 32 |
| CK | Freeloader | 22 | Female | United States | January 12, 2024 | Left on January 18, 2024 | 6 |
| Bliccy ("Ali") | Freeloader | 22 | Female | Connecticut, United States | January 13, 2024 | Left on January 15, 2024 | 2 |
| Nick Rochefort | Visitor | 41 | Male | Rhode Island, United States | January 3, 2024 | Left on January 13, 2024 | 2 |
| Jimmy | Fish | 27 | Male | Ohio, United States | December 18, 2023 | Removed on January 13, 2024 | 26 |
| Brian | Fish | 25 | Male | South Carolina, United States | December 18, 2023 | Eliminated on January 12, 2024 | 25 |
| Delaney | Freeloader | 21 | Female | Myrtle Beach, United States | January 6, 2024 | Left on January 12, 2024 | 6 |
| Charleston White | Visitor | 53 | Male | Texas, United States | January 3, 2024 | Left on January 5, 2024 | 2 |
| Oliver | Freeloader | 24 | Male | Christchurch, New Zealand | December 31, 2023 | Left on January 5, 2024 | 5 |
| Nifty | Freeloader | 25 | Female | Boston, United States | December 21, 2023 | Eliminated on December 31, 2023 | 10 |
| Cole | Fish | 23 | Male | Arkansas, United States | December 18, 2023 | Removed on December 28, 2023 | 10 |
| JC | Fish | 26 | Female | Taiwan | December 18, 2023 | Quit on December 24, 2023 | 6 |
| Megan | Fish | 24 | Female | Sandusky, Ohio | December 18, 2023 | Quit on December 22, 2023 | 4 |
| Summer | Fish | 21 | Female | Kansas, United States | December 18, 2023 | Quit on December 21, 2023 | 3 |
Season 2.5 / Bloodgames (Summer 2024)
[edit ]Between the second and third main seasons, Fishtank aired Fishtank All-Stars Vampire Bloodgames, an interstitial spin-off commonly referred to by fans and promotional material as Season 2.5. The event premiered on June 25, 2024 and ran for approximately two weeks. Unlike the house-based format of the principal seasons, Bloodgames was presented as an outdoor live-action role-playing and survival variant featuring returning personalities from earlier seasons. Unlike the main seasons, there was no single grand prize winner; instead, players aimed to "survive" the game's narrative and challenges.
Contestants
[edit ]| Name | Role (Class) | Arrived | Status | Days on map | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tai | Gunslinger | June 25, 2024 | Finished Game | 14 | Season 1 Freeloader |
| Letty | Witch | June 25, 2024 | Finished Game | 14 | Season 1 Fish |
| Jimmy | Medic | June 25, 2024 | Finished Game | 14 | Season 2 Fish |
| Greg | Hunter | June 25, 2024 | Finished Game | 14 | Season 2 Freeloader |
| Vance | Sniper | June 27, 2024 | Killed by Horde (July 8) | 12 | Season 1 Fish |
| The Duke | NPC (Vampire Lord) | June 25, 2024 | Left on July 8, 2024 | 14 | Portrayed by Sam Hyde |
| Xavier Ravenblood | NPC (Ninja Vampire) | June 25, 2024 | Left on July 8, 2024 | 14 | Portrayed by Jan Rankowski |
| Lore | NPC (Town Crier) | June 25, 2024 | Left on July 8, 2024 | 14 | Portrayed by Duany'ay (Season 2 Freeloader) |
| DJ | NPC (Xavier's Apprentice) | June 30, 2024 | Left on July 8, 2024 | 9 | Portrayed by TJ (Season 2 Winner) |
| The Trapper | NPC (Resident) | June 25, 2024 | Left on July 8, 2024 | 14 | Portrayed by Chip (Production) |
| Goblin | NPC (Troublemaker) | June 30, 2024 | Left on July 8, 2024 | 9 | Portrayed by Jason (Production) |
| Cage the Daywalker | NPC (Vampire) | June 25, 2024 | Left on July 8, 2024 | 14 | Portrayed by Scott Sullivan |
| Voodoo Mama Juju | NPC (Fortune Teller) | June 25, 2024 | Left on July 8, 2024 | 14 | Portrayed by Trisha (Season 2 Fish) |
| Sheriff Ben | NPC (Sheriff) | June 25, 2024 | Left on July 8, 2024 | 14 | Portrayed by Ben (Production) |
| Deputy Brian | NPC (Deputy) | June 25, 2024 | Left on July 8, 2024 | 14 | Portrayed by Brian (Season 2 Fish) |
| King Fattius | NPC (King) | June 27, 2024 | Left on July 8, 2024 | 12 | Portrayed by Chris (Airsoft Fatty) |
| Taylor the Villager | NPC (Resident) | June 25, 2024 | Left on July 8, 2024 | 14 | Portrayed by Taylor (Season 2 Freeloader) |
| Tayleigh | Chudette | June 25, 2024 | Killed in Duel (July 7) | 13 | Season 2 Fish |
| Jon | Paladin | June 25, 2024 | Quit (July 4) | 10 | Season 1 Fish |
| Doctor Mauro | NPC (Doctor) | June 25, 2024 | Left on July 4, 2024 | 10 | Portrayed by Mauro (Season 1 Fish) |
| Wild Randy | NPC (Cowboy) | July 3, 2024 | Left on July 4, 2024 | 2 | Portrayed by Alex Stein |
| Mikael | NPC (Elite Hacker) | June 27, 2024 | Left on June 29, 2024 | 3 | Portrayed by Jet Neptune |
Season 3 (Fall 2024, "Famous House")
[edit ]The third season began in October 2024 and ran into December 2024. It introduced several changes: the house location was upgraded to a large upscale residence, and the cast grew to a dozen contestants (the largest group yet). The season began under the false premise that the participants had been cast as 'Famous Stars' in a separate project titled Famous House, presented to the audience as an over-the-top parody of scripted reality television shows such as Big Brother , but played straight to the contestants, who were selected due to their unfamiliarity with the original show. Subsequently, Famous House gradually transformed to Fishtank, progressively increasing the elements of absurdity and depravity ("boiling the frog") until the "rug pull" moment on day 14.
On November 24, 2024, after the true nature of the reality show was revealed to the "Fish," 12 new contestants were introduced, believing they were participating in Famous House. This created a situation similar to the one initially experienced by the original cast, except that this time, the remaining original Fish (Burt, Binx, Payton, and Simbal) knew the truth and acted as "Plants," playing along with the new cast.
Late in the season, production left the principal house and shifted the remaining action to a recreational vehicle. The mobile finale took the cast out of the house format and turned the closing stretch into a road-trip-style continuation of the show, culminating in a trip to Las Vegas, where the season ended. Although Albert "Burt" Appouh was declared the winner of the season, production did not award him the advertised 50,000ドル grand prize as the prize money had been lost in a roulette bet during the Las Vegas finale.
Contestants
[edit ]| Name | Role | Age | Gender | Place of origin | Arrived | Status | Days in house |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burt | Fish | 35 | Male | New Jersey, United States | October 27, 2024 | Winner (0ドル prize) | 42 |
| Bianca ("Binx") | Fish | 32 | Female | Miami, United States | October 27, 2024 | Runner-up | 42 |
| Chris ("Tank") | Famous Star / Freeloader | 27 | Male | Michigan, United States | November 25, 2024 | Left on December 7, 2024 | 13 |
| Frank Hassle | Freeloader | 35 | Male | Texas, United States | November 16, 2024 | Left on December 7, 2024 | 22 |
| Luke | Fish / Freeloader | 31 | Male | Weston, United States | October 27, 2024 | Left on December 7, 2024 | 15 |
| Mizzy | Fish / Freeloader | 29 | Female | Los Angeles, United States | October 27, 2024 | Left on December 7, 2024 | 32 |
| Jeffrey ("Jeff") | Freeloader | 37 | Male | Massachusetts, United States | November 13, 2024 | Left on December 5, 2024 | 17 |
| Alex Stein | Freeloader | 38 | Male | Dallas, United States | November 25, 2024 | Left on December 5, 2024 | 4 |
| Payton | Fish | 20 | Female | Tyler, United States | October 27, 2024 | Eliminated on December 1, 2024 | 36 |
| Jobe | Freeloader | 25 | Male | United States | November 7, 2024 | Left on November 27, 2024 | 20 |
| Kawan | Famous Star | 22 | Male | Dallas, United States | November 25, 2024 | Ejected on November 27, 2024 | 3 |
| Kevin | Famous Star | 28 | Male | Salt Lake City, United States | November 25, 2024 | Ejected on November 27, 2024 | 3 |
| Lily | Famous Star | ?? | Female | United States | November 25, 2024 | Ejected on November 27, 2024 | 3 |
| Tony | Famous Star | 30 | Male | Long Island, United States | November 25, 2024 | Ejected on November 27, 2024 | 3 |
| Star | Famous Star | 32 | Female | Hartford, United States | November 25, 2024 | Ejected on November 27, 2024 | 3 |
| Sky | Famous Star | ?? | Female | United States | November 25, 2024 | Ejected on November 27, 2024 | 3 |
| Shelby | Famous Star | ?? | Female | Reno, United States | November 25, 2024 | Ejected on November 27, 2024 | 3 |
| Alyssa | Famous Star | 30 | Female | Austin, United States | November 25, 2024 | Ejected on November 26, 2024 | 2 |
| Simbal | Fish | 31 | Male | Queens, United States | October 27, 2024 | Eliminated on November 25, 2024 | 30 |
| Alex B (2.0) | Famous Star | ?? | Female | United States | November 25, 2024 | Ejected on November 25, 2024 | 1 |
| Breezy | Famous Star | 31 | Female | North Carolina, United States | November 25, 2024 | Ejected on November 25, 2024 | 1 |
| Gianna | Famous Star | 20 | Female | New York, United States | November 25, 2024 | Quit on November 25, 2024 | 1 |
| Brandon | Famous Star | 37 | Male | South Carolina, United States | November 24, 2024 | Removed on November 24, 2024 | 1 |
| Braden | Famous Star | 24 | Male | Atlanta, United States | November 24, 2024 | Ejected on November 24, 2024 | 1 |
| Nifty | Freeloader | 33 | Female | Boston, United States | November 17, 2024 | Left on November 23, 2024 | 7 |
| Mule | Freeloader | ?? | N/A | United States | November 22, 2024 | Left on November 22, 2024 | 1 |
| Ian | Fish / Freeloader | 28 | Male | Hamlet, United States | October 27, 2024 | Left on November 21, 2024 | 9 |
| Alex B | Fish | 38 | Male | Louisville, United States | October 27, 2024 | Quit on November 17, 2024 | 22 |
| Connor | Freeloader | ?? | Male | United States | November 7, 2024 | Left on November 17, 2024 | 11 |
| Jean | Freeloader | 60 | Female | Rhode Island, United States | November 13, 2024 | Left on November 14, 2024 | 2 |
| Wyatt | Freeloader | 32 | Male | Pennsylvania, United States | November 9, 2024 | Ejected on November 10, 2024 | 2 |
| La'Ron | Fish | 27 | Male | Chicago, United States | October 27, 2024 | Quit on November 9, 2024 | 14 |
| Alexis | Fish | 28 | Female | Saxton, United States | October 27, 2024 | Quit on November 9, 2024 | 14 |
| Smaack | Fish | 32 | Female | Santa Cruz, United States | October 27, 2024 | Quit on November 8, 2024 | 13 |
| Ted | Fish | 29 | Male | Pennsylvania, United States | October 27, 2024 | Ejected on November 4, 2024 | 9 |
Season 4 (Summer 2025)
[edit ]The fourth season launched June 13, 2025, intending another 42-day run. However, it was cut short on June 30, 2025 after just 18 days of live streaming. According to statements by the producers, all three potential filming locations raised zoning and safety objections, forcing the production to halt. No winner was declared; instead, the remaining six contestants were awarded equal shares of the planned grand prize at 8,000ドル each. This was the first season not followed by any edited episodes release. Season 4 also marked the final hosting appearance by Sam Hyde on Fishtank. Public reaction to the cancellation was mixed, with viewers expressing frustration and confusion over the sudden end.
Contestants
[edit ]| Name | Role | Age | Gender | Place of origin | Arrived | Status | Days in house |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ellie | Fish | 18 | Female | San Diego, United States | June 13, 2025 | Finalist (8,000ドル prize) | 14 |
| Daniel | Fish | 21 | Male | Dallas, United States | June 13, 2025 | Finalist (8,000ドル prize) | 14 |
| Freddy | Fish | 36 | Male | New Haven, United States | June 13, 2025 | Finalist (8,000ドル prize) | 14 |
| Direnç | Fish | 28 | Female | Melbourne, Australia | June 13, 2025 | Finalist (8,000ドル prize) | 14 |
| Aryeh | Fish | 29 | Male | Columbus, United States | June 13, 2025 | Finalist (8,000ドル prize) | 14 |
| Seth | Fish | 25 | Male | Ohio, United States | June 17, 2025 | Finalist (8,000ドル prize) | 10 |
| Violetta ("Letty") | Freeloader | 25 | Female | Ontario, Canada | June 24, 2025 | Left on June 30, 2025 | 7 |
| Bam Margera | Visitor | 45 | Male | Pennsylvania, United States | June 24, 2025 | Left on June 27, 2025 | 3 |
| Ricky Berwick | Visitor | 33 | Male | Ontario, Canada | June 22, 2025 | Left on June 24, 2025 | 2 |
| Angelina | Fish | 22 | Female | Jacksonville Beach, United States | June 13, 2025 | Eliminated on June 20, 2025 | 8 |
| Rachel | Fish | 27 | Female | Bridgeport, United States | June 13, 2025 | Quit on June 19, 2025 | 7 |
| Weck | Visitor | ?? | Male | United States | June 15, 2025 | Left on June 18, 2025 | 3 |
| Jin | Fish | 23 | Male | Osaka, Japan | June 13, 2025 | Ejected on June 16, 2025 | 4 |
Season 5 (2026)
[edit ]The fifth season premiered on March 15, 2026 and ran through April 14, 2026. It relocated production to the Atlanta, Georgia, area, introduced a cast of ten contestants, and reduced the season length from roughly six weeks to 30 days. The season was hosted primarily by professional skateboarder and entertainer Bam Margera, marking the first main season not fronted primarily by Sam Hyde, and a guest-host rotation was introduced including Margera, Neptune, and former contestant Letty.
Season 5 also introduced several structural changes to the format. In place of the relatively spare house mechanics of earlier seasons, production added a more elaborate internal game system, including an in-house economy in which contestants performed daily jobs for cash that could be spent in a market room, along with amenity rooms that unlocked over time. On Day 25, season 3 fish Burt arrived as a freeloader and introduced the fish to "goo production" responsibility which required the remaining contestants to manufacture slime within a newly designated "goo room" in preparation for the finale.
The final competitors, James Drake and the Twins, faced off in a gauntlet of 39 challenges over the course of 24 hours which came down to a goo-wrestling tiebreaker won by James Drake who was awarded the 50,000ドル grand prize. As runners up, the Twins were awarded 20,000ドル.
Contestants
[edit ]| Name | Role | Age | Gender | Place of origin | Arrived | Status | Days in house |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Drake | Fish | 36 | Male | Austin, United States | March 15, 2026 | Winner (50,000ドル) | 30 |
| Bingo | Fish | 26 | Female | Mesa, United States | March 15, 2026 | Runners-up (20,000ドル) | 30 |
| Bongo | |||||||
| Antara | Support robot | 28 | Female | Kolkata, India | March 21, 2026 | Logged off on April 13, 2026 | 24 |
| Violetta ("Letty") | Visitor | 25 | Female | Ontario, Canada | April 4, 2026 | Left on April 13, 2026 | 10 |
| Vimp | Freeloader | 22 | Female | Miami, United States | April 4, 2026 | Left on April 13, 2026 | 10 |
| Duany'ay | Freeloader | 24 | Male | Missouri, United States | April 4, 2026 | Left on April 13, 2026 | 10 |
| Burt | Freeloader | 37 | Male | New Jersey, United States | April 7, 2026 | Left on April 13, 2026 (50,000ドル)[c] | 7 |
| Bliccy ("Allie") | Freeloader | 25 | Female | Connecticut, United States | April 7, 2026 | Left on April 13, 2026 | 7 |
| Bashir | Fish | 30 | Male | Minnesota, United States | March 15, 2026 | Eliminated on April 12, 2026 | 29 |
| Laura | Freeloader | 24 | Female | Honduras | March 27, 2026 | Left on April 9, 2026 | 12 |
| Steel Panther | Visitors | — | — | Los Angeles, United States | April 8, 2026 | Left on April 8, 2026 | 1 |
| Suzette | Freeloader | 51 | Female | New York City, United States | April 4, 2026 | Left on April 7, 2026 | 3 |
| Blane | Freeloader | 27 | Male | Fargo, United States | March 28, 2026 | Left on April 7, 2026 | 10 |
| April Margera | Visitor | 67 | Female | Pennsylvania, United States | April 7, 2026 | Left on April 8, 2026 | 2 |
| Phil Margera | Visitor | 68 | Male | Pennsylvania, United States | April 7, 2026 | Left on April 8, 2026 | 2 |
| Landon | Fish | 22 | Male | Stevens Point, United States | March 15, 2026 | Eliminated on April 7, 2026 Returned as freeloader/janitor on April 8, 2026 Left on April 13, 2026 |
29 |
| Bianca ("Binx") | Freeloader | 34 | Female | Miami, United States | April 2, 2026 | Eliminated on April 7, 2026 | 5 |
| Alex Stein | Visitor | 39 | Male | Texas, United States | April 3, 2026 | Left on April 4, 2026 | 2 |
| Alex B | Freeloader | 39 | Male | Louisville, United States | March 31, 2026 | Removed on April 3, 2026 | 4 |
| Emma | Fish | 23[d] | Female | Milwaukee, United States | March 15, 2026 | Eliminated on April 2, 2026 | 18 |
| JD | Fish | 28 | Male | Bay Area, United States | March 15, 2026 | Quit on March 30, 2026 | 16 |
| Carolina | Freeloader | 26 | Female | Austin, United States | March 27, 2026 | Left on March 28, 2026 | 2 |
| Anissa | Fish | 29 | Female | Marfa, United States | March 15, 2026 | Left on March 26, 2026 | 11 |
| Darius ("Mr. Naked") | Freeloader | 21 | Male | Iowa, United States | March 26, 2026 | Removed on March 26, 2026 | 1 |
| Beth | Freeloader | 25 | Female | Missouri, United States | March 24, 2026 | Ejected on March 26, 2026 | 3 |
| Head | Freeloader | 56 | Male | Philadelphia, United States | March 19, 2026 | Left on March 22, 2026 | 3 |
| Victoria | Fish | 28 | Female | Nebraska, United States | March 15, 2026 | Quit on March 21, 2026 | 6 |
| Charity | Fish | 42 | Female | Los Angeles, United States | March 15, 2026 | Quit on March 17, 2026 | 3 |
| Bezo | Fish | 24 | Male | Orlando, United States | March 15, 2026 | Quit on March 16, 2026 | 2 |
Edited episodes
[edit ]Following the conclusion of the first three seasons and the Vampire Bloodgames spin-off, the raw footage from the 24/7 livestreams was condensed into a series of edited episodes. These productions aim to distill hundreds of hours of unscripted content into a structured narrative arc, highlighting key conflicts, character developments, and major house events for a broader audience. While the edited versions for Seasons 1 and 2 have been completed and released, the episodes for Season 3 and Bloodgames remain in active production.
During a livestream on January 21, 2026, Benjamin Taylor and Jet Neptune discussed the difficulties of post-production and indicated that the project would place greater emphasis on improving its daily recap videos rather than continuing the edited-episode format.[13] Therefore seasons 4 and 5, as well as subsequent seasons, will not receive the sort of full edited-episode treatment produced for the earlier installments.
Season 1
[edit ]| Episode number | Episode title | Synopsis | Release date | Views (YouTube)[e] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot | On the first day, the eight contestants arrive at the house, meet Jason Goldstriker, record introductory confessionals, and compete in a rice-counting challenge. | October 9, 2023 | 702,800 |
| 2 | Full Potential | The series introduces Fishbucks, the first loot crate, and text-to-speech messages. The fish read introductory essays, take part in improv exercises led by Simmons, and clash over household conduct. | October 16, 2023 | 389,402 |
| 3 | Nine Five | The fish are paired for the Baby Challenge and required to cook while handcuffed, while sabotage between teams escalates. After a police swatting interrupts the house, text-to-speech messages expose Simmons' writings, leading to his removal; Mauro then quits the competition. | October 23, 2023 | 361,313 |
| 4 | Alaska | The fish take part in "The Cell", an endurance challenge ultimately won by Vance. Production later stages a disability-themed elimination challenge and introduces Warren as a guest participant; Jon is then eliminated. | October 30, 2023 | 284,082 |
| 5 | Freeloaders | The house is converted into a makeshift indoor campsite with reduced amenities, and the first freeloaders are introduced. Letty's appointment as camp leader creates friction, the freeloaders dump the contestants' belongings into the basement, and Damiel quits after retaliating against Letty's possessions. | November 6, 2023 | 251,868 |
| 6 | The Network | With the camping phase ending, additional guests and freeloaders circulate through the house, including Airsoft Fatty and Frank Hassle. Their arrival intensifies conflict within the remaining cast, especially as Frank's disruptive conduct and the ongoing harassment of Sylvia become central to the episode. | November 13, 2023 | 306,877 |
| 7 | Mad Women | As the field narrows, production introduces further disruptions, including Sean Bey's appearance, Betty's arrival as a doppelganger of Letty, and Mauro's temporary return as a freeloader. Tensions among the remaining contestants continue to rise, and Sylvia is eliminated. | November 27, 2023 | 268,209 |
| 8 | Axis | Late in the season, Alex Stein enters the house with Dontarius, while other former participants also reappear briefly. The remaining fish are subjected to further provocations and shifting alliances as the competition approaches its final elimination. | December 4, 2023 | 298,175 |
| 9 | Pusher | A former contestant returns and one more competitor leaves the game, reducing the field to Josie and Letty. The episode serves chiefly to set up the final head-to-head endgame. | December 11, 2023 | 238,793 |
| 10 | Cell | Josie and Letty face the multi-day "The Cell 2" finale, which combines endurance and performance challenges with continued interference from production and guests. Josie wins the season and the 35,000ドル prize, while Letty finishes as runner-up and receives 20,000ドル. | December 18, 2023 | 304,812 |
Season 2
[edit ]| Episode number | Episode title | Synopsis | Release date | Views (YouTube)[f] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1972 | The contestants arrive at the 1972-themed house, meet host Jedidiah Goldstriker, take part in a rice-counting challenge, and share introductory stories in the living room. | October 13, 2024 | 596,718 |
| 2 | Madhouse | JC assumes the role of an "enemy spy", Summer attempts to prove herself to production, and the fish begin to realize that they all knew of the show beforehand. | October 20, 2024 | 424,169 |
| 3 | True Romance | Summer departs, Brian and Cole compete in the "Gator Squats" challenge, JC leaves the house, Airsoft Fatty appears as Santa Claus, and Jimmy pursues supposed "doll activity". | October 27, 2024 | 324,712 |
| 4 | Boiling Point | CK and Nifty enter as freeloaders, Megan and Cole leave the show, the male contestants fail at assembling a shelf, Sam cuts Trisha's hair, and freeloader Taylor enters the house and kisses TJ. | January 24, 2025 | 280,519 |
| 5 | Initiative Group | Duany'ay and Delaney join as freeloaders, the house competes in a hot-dog-eating contest, Jimmy becomes angry with Taylor, and the fish perform wrestling-style promos. The "Initiative Group" cult plotline is revealed to TJ in the attic. | January 31, 2025 | 197,806 |
| 6 | 1973 | The house celebrates the new year, the fish perform comedy routines, and TJ avoids elimination by choosing to remove Taylor from the show. | February 7, 2025 | 188,280 |
| 7 | Production | TJ begins calling himself "Thomas", Octavius and Charleston White arrive as guests, Taylor briefly returns as a poker dealer, and Brian is eliminated. | February 14, 2025 | 199,285 |
| 8 | Blunder | The fish take part in "The Cell" challenge, TJ cuts off his hair, Abi and Tai enter as freeloaders, TJ boxes Sam, and Jimmy is eliminated after throwing a mallet at Abi. | April 11, 2025 | 201,937 |
| 9 | Great White | Tayleigh punches Trisha, Oliver joins as a freeloader, TJ boxes Ben, and Abi leaves the house. Jimmy returns, but TJ's boxing match with Jimmy leads to Jimmy's departure. | April 18, 2025 | 133,562 |
| 10 | Pasture | Tai leaves the house, Frank Hassle arrives, the fish undertake the "Build a Bed" challenge, Ali and Chris enter, and the "Mommy and Baby Challenge" is held. | April 25, 2025 | 134,967 |
| 11 | Dogpile | The house follows a script for a day, Chris introduces "Chris Points", Duany'ay defeats Oliver in a boxing match, Tayleigh and Shinji are harassed, and TJ boxes Tayleigh. | May 2, 2025 | 121,569 |
| 12 | Painters | Greg and Alex Stein arrive as freeloaders, Trisha and Chris hold a wedding, Jackie visits, Tayleigh and Shinji shave their heads, and Trisha is redesignated as a freeloader. | May 8, 2025 | 171,306 |
| 13 | In Living Color | The final three compete in the "Swamp Olympics", Tayleigh is eliminated, TJ and Shinji face one another in a final boxing match, and the season winner is declared. | May 30, 2025 | 129,164 |
Season 3
[edit ]| Episode number | Episode title | Synopsis | Release date | Views (YouTube)[g] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot | The contestants enter the house under the false premise of competing on Famous House, meet host Jeremy Gold, undertake an opening candy-finding challenge, and learn that the first elimination will be decided by a house vote. | March 8, 2026 | 216,738 |
| 2 | Live | As the contestants settle into the house, Burt begins to stand out among the group, and the first text-to-speech message is sent to him. The house marks Halloween by carving pumpkins, and Mizzy starts to suspect that the show is being broadcast live. | March 15, 2026 | |
| 3 | Hulu | Production receives a call connected to Alex B, contestants begin forming alliances ahead of the next elimination vote, and the cast is misled into believing that Famous House has premiered on Hulu. | March 22, 2026 | |
| 4 | Plant | Suspicion grows that one of the contestants is a planted participant, two teams compete to stage a mock murder scene, the theft of Mizzy's candy causes overnight friction, and Luke's frustration with the rest of the group escalates. | March 29, 2026 | |
| 5 | Sweet | The contestants confront Luke over the previous night, production stages fake scenes and introduces mock sponsorships, several housemates gain immunity from the next elimination, and Luke is removed from the competition after entering the production basement, revealing that he was the plant. | April 5, 2026 | |
| 6 | Smart | The fish react to Luke's elimination, a "last man dancing" competition is held for a trip to Las Vegas, and production introduces the constestants to "computer", the artificial intelligence who has been analyzing them throughout their first week. Text-to-speech messages are turned on. Mizzy is taken downstaris to become the new production plant. | April 12, 2026 |
See also
[edit ]Notes
[edit ]- ^ According to the same report, the first two seasons each logged over 100 million viewing minutes, with roughly 85,000 fans participating in paid interactions.
- ^ Seasons 1–3; season 4 being cut short due to production issues after 17 days and season 5 shortened to four weeks
- ^ Burt was awarded the 50,000ドル grand prize he was previously denied as winner of Season 3.
- ^ Emma was 22 when she entered the house but celebrated her 23rd birthday on March 27, 2026 (day 12).
- ^ as of April 2026
- ^ As of April 2026.
- ^ As of April 2026.
References
[edit ]- ^ a b c d e f g h Davis, William (April 23, 2023). "What is Fishtank? A 24/7 stream contest gone rogue". win.gg. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
- ^ a b c d e f Begay, Mesha (May 8, 2023). "New Mexican man participates in 24/7 stream contest show 'Fishtank'". KOB.com. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
- ^ a b c "Fishtank Hits One Million Viewers and 3ドル Million Revenues Powered by Livepeer Studio". livepeer.studio. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
- ^ a b "Fishnet Inc., Form C (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Nov. 14, 2023)" (PDF). US Securities and Exchange Commission. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
- ^ "Livepeer Studio unveils new video streaming platform". May 8, 2024. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
- ^ Asarch, Steven (May 9, 2023). "Waterboarding and Chaos: Inside the World of Internet Provocateur Sam Hyde's Reality Show FishTank Live". Passionfruit. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
- ^ Masiello, Shawna (May 12, 2023). "Fishtank: the best reality TV show that will never air". POPTOPIC. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
- ^ Laghos, Mario (May 16, 2023). "Are we the fish? | The disturbing reality of Fishtank Live whynow". whynow. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
- ^ Zangari, Paul Zangari (January 28, 2024). "Chickens rescued from online "reality TV-style" set in Cumberland". WJAR. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
- ^ Lambert, Jeremy (March 21, 2026). "Darby Allin Appears On 'Fishtank'". Fightful. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
- ^ Weirich, Nora (March 27, 2026). "Fishtank LIVE producer beats up drunk contestant". EarlyGame – via MSN.
- ^ Haasch, Palmer. "Police are investigating a shooting at YouTuber Boogie2988's home after he said he was being stalked by a banned YouTube personality". Business Insider. Retrieved March 28, 2026.
- ^ @5wcol (January 22, 2026). "no more episodes, just better recaps. #fishtanklive #fishtankdotlive" (Tweet). Retrieved April 8, 2026 – via X (formerly Twitter).