A solar energy operated air pump includes a rectangular box having a lower lid connected to the bottom, an upper lid openably covering the top thereof and a solar cell inlaid into the upper lid protected by a layer of transparent painting. Inside the box there are a battery chamber containing spare batteries, a motor having an axis connected to an eccentric cam which respectively pivoted to a pair of push rods. The push rods each has a push plate on free end respectively engaged with a pair of air extractors each of which has an air vessel symmetrically connected to the opposing side walls of the box and each of the air vessels has an air inlet and an air outlet, a three steps switch respectively connected to the motor, the solar cell and the battery chamber. When the motor is operated either by the solar cell or by the batteries, the air extractors pressed by the push plate begins to supply fresh air into the water in a pair through a pair of hoses.