Fish in Subnautica 2 serve two critical purposes: food and bioreactor fuel. Choosing the right species maximizes both your hunger and water restoration and your base power output. This guide ranks the 7 best fish by combined food value and energy potential, with tips on where to catch and breed each one.
Why Fish Choice Matters
Fish in Subnautica 2 serve two critical purposes: food and bioreactor fuel. Choosing the right species maximizes both your hunger and water restoration and your base power output. This guide ranks the 7 best fish by combined food value and energy potential, with tips on where to catch and breed each one.
Ranks 7 to 5
7. Boomerang
A common shallow-water fish. Low food value but very easy to catch in the safe shallows. Good emergency food for early-game players. Energy value in the bioreactor is modest.
6. Hoverfish
Found in kelp forests. Decent food value when cooked and a reasonable bioreactor fuel. Easy to catch in bulk with a propulsion cannon.
5. Spadefish
A flat fish found near the grassy plateaus. Better nutrition than Boomerang and solid bioreactor energy. A good mid-tier choice for both purposes.
Ranks 4 to 2
4. Peeper
The most iconic fish in the game. Cooked Peeper restores a good amount of hunger and a small amount of water. It is also a key story item that carries an infection-fighting enzyme. Easy to farm in alien containment.
3. Holefish
Found in caves. Higher food value than Peeper and good bioreactor energy. Less common but worth seeking out for the nutrition boost.
2. Oculus
A deep-cave fish with excellent bioreactor energy output, one of the highest per-fish values in the game. Lower food value, so save Oculus for fuel rather than eating.
1. Reginald - The All-Around Champion
1. Reginald
Reginald is the best all-purpose fish in Subnautica 2. When cooked, it restores the most hunger of any common fish. It also provides strong bioreactor energy. Best of all, Reginalds breed readily in alien containment, so you can set up a self-sustaining farm that supplies both food and power indefinitely.
Food value (cooked): High hunger restoration, some water.
Bioreactor energy: Among the highest per-fish values.
Where to find: Grassy plateaus and open water near the safe shallows.
How to Breed Fish for Infinite Supply
To create an infinite food and fuel supply, build an alien containment unit in a multipurpose room. Catch two of the same species (Reginalds or Peepers recommended) and place them inside. Add some flora to the tank to create a food source. Within a short time the fish will lay eggs that hatch into more fish. Harvest the adults regularly to keep the population growing and supply your kitchen and bioreactor simultaneously.
Food and Energy Value Summary
| Fish | Cooked Hunger | Cooked Water | Bioreactor Energy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reginald | Very High | Low | High |
| Oculus | Low | Low | Very High |
| Holefish | High | Medium | Medium |
| Peeper | Medium-High | Low | Medium |
| Spadefish | Medium | Medium | Medium |
| Hoverfish | Low-Medium | Low | Low-Medium |
| Boomerang | Low | Low | Low |