TOP 7 Most Expensive Aquarium Fish in the World

TOP 7Most Expensive Aquarium Fish in the World


1. Asian Arowana
This large fish is the most highly sought-after fish in the world and is considered to be so high value that they are given a microchip before they are sold. These fish can sell for $200,000 or more, with a Platinum Asian Arowana selling for $400,000 or more. These fish do reach over 4 feet in length and require a large tank of at least 250 gallons.
2. Flowerhorn Cichlid
The most expensive aquarium fish that has been sold on record was a Flowerhorn Cichlid that sold in Malaysia in 2009 for $600,000. This hybrid species of Cichlid can be purchased at an affordable price if you’re not looking for a showpiece, though. Sometimes, you can find Flowerhorn Cichlids for $150 or so, so keep your eyes peeled if you’re interested in this unusual fish.
3. Freshwater Polka Dot Stingray
These attractive rays can reach around 30 inches in size and require a tank of at least 180 gallons, although it is often recommended to keep them in a tank that is 200 gallons or more. They are beautiful and hard to find, and to purchase a Freshwater Polka Dot Stingray you should expect to spend $1500 on the low end, but these fish can sell for up to $100,000.
4. Peppermint Angelfish
Peppermint Angelfish are red and white candy-striped fish that only reach around 3 inches in length, making them one of the smaller fish on the list. They can sell for around $30,000 and are exceptionally rare. So rare, in fact, that there’s currently one on display in the US and that’s in Hawaii at the Waikiki Aquarium. They require a 125-gallon tank to ensure plenty of space and comfort for your investment.
5. Masked Angelfish
The Masked Angelfish is a black and white fish that reaches around 8 inches in length. Females have a mostly white body with a black “mask” on the face and black on the fins, while the males look similar but have an orange “mask”. These fish can sell for $20,000 and, although not rare in the wild, are difficult to catch due to commercial fishing laws, making them highly sought-after in the aquarium market.
6. Bladefin Basslet
These tiny fish only reach around 1.5 inches in length but can sell for $10,000. The reason they are so expensive is that they are wild-caught and extremely difficult to catch because they live around 500 feet deep in the ocean around reefs. In order to catch these tiny fish, submersibles must be used, which is accounted for in their price
7. Neptune Grouper
The Neptune Grouper is a strange looking fish that lives around 800 feet deep in the Pacific Ocean. They must be brought to the surface using a special decompression technique that keeps the fish from dying during the transition, which accounts for much of their $6000 price tag. These fish reach around 6 inches in length and can live in excess of 30 years in captivity.