- Easy
- 20–30 minutes
- No glue
- about 4.3 × 3.8 in (10.9 × 9.6 cm)
With its bright orange stripes, rosy cheeks, and happy smile, this chubby little clownfish brings ocean vibes right to your desk. Grab our free printable fish paper squishy template to craft a glossy, squeezable pillow measuring about 4.3 × 3.8 inches (10.9 × 9.6 cm). The PDF download includes 3 versions—full color, a coloring page, and a blank outline—formatted for both US Letter and A4 paper. Pair your tropical fish with our sea turtle paper squishy for a cute underwater buddy set!
What you need
How to make it, step by step
1Print the template
Print your tropical fish sheet at 100% scale on plain printer paper, making sure “fit to page” is turned off. Check the scale line in the top corner—it should measure exactly 2 inches (50 mm on A4). If you chose the coloring page, color the stripes and fins now with bright markers or pencils and let the ink dry completely before moving on.
2Tape the pieces
Lay strips of wide clear packing tape over the front and back fish shapes only, rather than taping the entire sheet. Smooth each strip from the middle of the round belly outward toward the fins without pulling—stretched tape can wrinkle later. This glossy coat makes your paper strong, shiny, and ready for lots of squishing.
3Cut out both pieces
Cut out the front and back tropical fish pieces along the solid black outer line. Take your time curving around the top fin, the two little side fins, and the rounded tail fin, making sure to keep the narrow white border intact all the way around.
4Add a tape border to the back
Place the back piece printed side down onto strips of clear tape with the sticky side facing up. Trim the tape about 1 cm (½ inch) past the paper edge, then snip into this tape border every 2 cm (1 inch) right up to the paper, paying extra attention around the dips between the body and fins so the flaps fold smoothly.
5Join front and back
Line up the front fish piece on top of the back piece with the white sides facing together. Fold each sticky flap over the front edge one by one and press it down firmly around the fins and body. Leave a 4.5 cm (1¾ in) gap open along the edge, right where the pink line in the illustration shows, for stuffing.
6Stuff it
Tear your plastic bags, cotton, or fiberfill into small pieces and push them in through the gap. Tuck tiny bits into the top fin, side fins, and tail fin first, then fill the round orange body until it feels soft and puffy—stop before it gets too tight so the seams don’t pop.
7Close the gap
Fold the remaining tape flaps over the opening and seal the gap shut with one extra strip of regular clear tape. Run your finger firmly along the entire outline, especially in the curves next to the tail and fins, so every edge stays tightly closed.
8Squish!
Your tropical fish is ready! Give its round cheeks a gentle squeeze and watch it puff right back into shape. If you want a slow-rising paper squishy, prick one tiny pinhole in the back piece so the air escapes slowly.
Free Tropical Fish Squishy Template
- Color
- Coloring page
- Blank, design your own
- Step-by-step guide
One free PDF: the template in three versions (pages 1–3) and the step-by-step guide (pages 4–5). Print the template at 100% on plain printer paper.
Tips for the perfect squish
- The tape wrinkles on the belly. Use shorter strips of packing tape across the wide orange body and lay them down smoothly without pulling. Stretched tape creates ripples once you cut the fish out.
- My squishy feels too hard. You packed a little too much filling into the round body. Gently open the gap, pull out a few pieces of stuffing, and tape it shut again.
- A curve splits open. The dips next to the tail and side fins take extra tension when squeezed. Place a new short strip of clear tape across the edge, overlapping the old ones, and press well.
- Marker colors smeared on stripes. Dark outlines and bright orange markers need a moment to set before taping. Always let colored pages dry fully so the white clownfish stripes stay crisp.
Questions
What paper works best for a paper squishy fish?
Standard plain printer paper (80–100 gsm / 20–24 lb) works best because it bends easily around the round belly and small fins. Cardstock is too stiff and won’t squish nicely.
Can I use glue instead of tape to seal the edges?
No, glue doesn’t stick to tape-covered paper, so the seams would pop open when you squeeze it. Folding the snipped tape border over the edge holds best.
What can I stuff my tropical fish squishy with?
You can use plastic grocery bags for a light, crinkly feel, or cotton balls and fiberfill for a soft pillow texture. Small pieces of memory foam also work well for a slow-rising squishy.
Can I make a bigger fish or an ocean squishy set?
Yes! To make it bigger, print the page at a larger scale like 120% with both pieces on the same sheet so they match, or pair it with a chubby shark paper squishy for a fun ocean collection.
Can I make these with a class or party group?
Yes! Print one sheet per person and cut the tape strips in advance. Kids can color the coloring page while you help with the taping, and you should plan about 30 minutes.
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