Fish are creatures of the water that are much sought after by pet-keepers. There are hundreds of varieties of fish and their market value might go up to a mind-boggling 3.5 million dollars! This is the heftiest price of a fish ever sold. The rarity and nutritional value of the fish grabbed such a handsome price in the food industry but aquarium fish for the show isn’t too far behind. It might lead you to think ‘Which is the most expensive aquarium fish?’
Here is a List of the Top 5 Most Expensive Aquarium Fish in the World
5. Bladefin Basslet Fish
Looking at the small size of the fish, it wouldn’t feel that it is worth a huge sum of 10,000 US dollars. Its unique colors in red and white, and the rarity in the availability of this fish makes it a much-coveted fish as a pet. The fins of the fish look like blades and thus, the name originated.
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They might be small in size but they need a lot of free space like a 50-gallon freshwater aquarium or tank because of their aggressive characteristics.
4. Masked Angelfish
The beauty of simplicity is unparalleled, and that’s why this fish sports a price tag of 20,000 US dollars. People who are genuinely interested in fish keeping try to collect this fish to keep as a pet.
One of the most intriguing facts about this fish is that it is born female but turns into a male during the course of its life. Plus, a maximum of two such fish is spotted each year making one of the rarest varieties of most expensive aquarium fish in the world!
3. Peppermint Angelfish
If you think two spotted in a year is rare, imagine having only one specimen of a particular variety available for the world to see. This is the most expensive reef fish in the world whose value was offered up to 30,000 US dollars to the Waikiki Aquarium, Honolulu.
The name stems from its appearance as a peppermint sweet! It requires a high freshwater aquarium of 125 gallons of water to be properly maintained.
2. Freshwater Polka Dot Stingray
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The beautiful black body of this fish with white spots is the reason why it carries a price of 100,000 US dollars. The genetic mutation of this fish makes its head look U-shaped rather than the usual round one. They span over 18 inches and need a freshwater aquarium of at least 500 gallons. Their high metabolic rate needs them to be fed twice a day.
1. Platinum Arowana
If you are thinking ‘What is the world’s most expensive aquarium fish?’ Platinum Arowana is the one. Breeding it is difficult and when it is paired with its genetically mutated silver body, it makes itself worth 400,000 US dollars. It needs a fish tank of at least 250 gallons capacity.
Its maintenance cost is high too as it needs professional care and its diet consists of crustaceans, small fish, and insects.
These are some of the most expensive aquarium fish in the world. The price of each might seem a little over the top for a pet fish but they make up for it with their rarity. So if you are into fish keeping, these are the most incredible choices.
We have also published a dedicated article about Most Expensive Pets, Kindly check it for your reference.