We’re used to the idea of horses costing millions of dollars, and even some dog breeds tip over the six-figure mark. However, some exotic animals, including pet fish, can also command eye-watering prices.
Most types of expensive fish are the preserve of elite collectors and are rarely kept privately. This is not only due to their sky-high value, but their specific needs requiring intense maintenance and dedicated (and also highly costly) aquarium systems. However, wealthy and advanced hobbyists are also known to purchase pet fish that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Besides being a scaly status symbol in certain cultures, the appeal of expensive fish lies in their rarity, unusual colors and also uniqueness – much like the valuable gemstones some resemble as they flicker through the water. Pedigree comes into it, too, with certain bloodlines commanding higher prices. And, of course, such exclusivity can even be an investment – so long as you know how to nurture this precious commodity.
Prices vary, with some individuals hitting record highs, but here’s a glimpse of 20 of the most expensive pet fish in the world – with saltwater, freshwater and pond habitats – exceptional specimens will be at least four figures and most considerably higher. However, some more ordinary examples can be picked up much more cheaply.
Here’s a clue: if they’ve got platinum in their name, they’re bound to command very deep pockets, however, the record-breaker is a Kohaku Koi, with one individual selling for $1.8m in 2018.
Most expensive pet fish
1. Platinum arowana
Platinum arowanas have commanded prices as high as a jaw-dropping $400,000, and are considered the most expensive pet fish. This is on account not only of their beauty, but they are also rare – difficult to breed in captivity – and they are believed to bring luck to their owners.
Arowanas are already highly sought-after and this genetic mutation that creates their shimmering silver appearance makes them especially valuable.
2. Peppermint angelfish
These stunning candy-striped saltwater fish are something of a status symbol, being highly expensive, extremely rare and requiring specialist knowledge to keep them healthy.
In the wild they live 400ft below the surface, meaning a trained diver is required to collect them – and then both fish and collector have to decompress carefully. Very few people keep them as pets; they’re more likely to be seen in public aquariums.
3. Grand champion koi
The most expensive koi fish ever sold went for $1.8million. While there are thousands of koi born every year, a very select few are deemed to be sufficiently high quality to be classed as Grand Champions. This means they are show quality, being meticulously bred to produce vibrant, unblemished color patterns and great conformation.
You’re paying for a lifetime of koi breeding knowledge, time, effort and resource into creating a rare and exceptional specimen.
Plus, in Japan, they are associated with good fortune and prosperity.
4. Golden crossback arowana
All arowanas are believed in Asian culture to bring luck and prosperity, and their rarity ups their value even more.
The golden version is cherished for its stunning color – and is also associated with money. As gold relates to wealth, the custom is to keep a golden arowana in the office and a red one (representing happiness) in the home.
5. Polka dot stingray
These striking fish, whose natural habitat is the Brazilian River Xingu, are treasured by aquarists and collectors on account of their rarity and stunning appearance. They can cost up to $100,000.
Watch out, they have a venomous spine, though they are not considered a threat to humans.
6. Masked angelfish
With its contrasting white body and black mask, this is a striking Hawaiian reef fish. It's native deepwater habitat makes collection and breeding extremely tricky, hence the sky-high prices for this sought-after specimen.
Simple, elegant and extremely rare, this stunner could set you back $20,000.
7. Platinum alligator gar
While most alligator gars are olive or brown, the platinum version has a pigmentation disorder (leucism) that gives its bright white color, which is extremely desirable to aquarium enthusiasts as it is exceptionally rare in the wild.
Besides their unique and striking appearance, their size (around 8ft) and slow growth rate also drive up the prices as it takes time and effort to develop them.
8. Conspicuous angelfish
Also known as Rock Beauty, the “conspic” is rare and found only in a limited geographical area. This also drives up the price due to the costs of transporting them from their native remote habitats.
A further expense is their delicate natures – wild-caught specimens are tricky to acclimate and fussy eaters, while those bred in captivity still require significant time and effort. Enthusiasts believe it’s all worth it for the beauty and uniqueness of these angelfish.
9. Flowerhorn Cichlid
The jury’s out on whether these vivid hybrid fish with their bulbous foreheads are cute or just too weird. Their high cost is down to breeders selectively breeding for colors and patterns – not all turn out to be stunning, but those that are rake in the money. Plus, they are believed to be lucky.
Take care, they’re very aggressive towards any other tank mates.
10. Golden basslet
The golden basslet is a gorgeous golden color blend of yellow and tangerine, which can command figures of up to $8,000 for this tiny specimen.
It’s hard to find and collect, being a secretive little character that lives deep down in the ocean, and requires specialist diving techniques.
11. Neptune grouper
Expect to pay around $20,000 for the rarest of the grouper fish, its high cost due to its rarity and that it’s hard to collect from its deep-sea habitat as decompression techniques are essential. They are found on coral reefs 80–250m deep in the Indo-Pacific.
They’re also blessed with stunningly vivid sunset stripes that camouflage perfectly with the bright coral of its native surroundings. They are popular not only with aquarists but also in the Japanese culinary market.
12. Clarion angelfish
Export restrictions and breeding challenges have pushed up the price of this dazzling angelfish, which is popular due to its striking bright orange color with electric blue stripes.
They are a protected species in their native Mexico, and extremely rare.
13. Bladefin basslet
These torpedo-shaped red and white basslets have a prominent blade, hence the name, and a pointy snout. They are found in deep reefs in the western Atlantic.
They are highly prized by specialists thanks to their striking appearance and the difficulty in collecting them. Though only three inches long, they command huge prices, setting you back around $10,000 for one stunning little specimen!
14. Hybrid koi
Highly experienced breeders who are masters in bloodlines and fish conformation drive up the prices of their meticulously bred hybrid kois.
They have been bred specifically for their radiant, symmetrical patterns and perfect shape, with award-winning ancestry.
The breeders have spent years creating such high-quality specimens and the results command a premium.
15. Japanese dragon moray eel
What a stunner the Japanese dragon moray eel is! Their orange body with white and brown spots is mesmerising to look at, and they are strictly for expert handlers as they grow very large and are naturally aggressive.
16. Super red arowana
Like all arowanas, the super red is highly prized, much for its symbolic status, as they are believed to be lucky in Asian culture. This is further accentuated by its fiery red color, which resembles the mythical Chinese dragon.
Collectors love their shimmering scales, streamlined physique and the fact that they are considered a luxury commodity.
17. Wrought iron butterflyfish
Two things certain to drive up the price of pet fish are rarity and beauty, and the wrought-iron butterflyfish ticks both boxes.
They are exclusive to Japanese waters, and therefore are very rare in aquariums outside their homeland due to the logistical challenges of exporting them.
Looks-wise, they are stunners, with a metallic black body with a lattice pattern and yellow trim.
18. Emperor angelfish
Emperor angelfish are strikingly marked – and their captivating patterns undergo enormous change as the juvenile becomes and adult. So much so, that they were once believed to be different species!
The juveniles are dark blue with electric blue and white rings, while the adults are equally vivid in yellow and blue stripes.
Whatever their stage, these are highly sought-after and expensive fish that are challenging to breed in captivity, which drives up the prices for wild-caught specimens from the warm waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
19. Platinum guppy
Platinum is synonymous with wealth and luxury and this unique coloring elevates the humble guppy into a rare and expensive specimen.
It’s a rare and highly sought-after gene strain which requires a lot of time, experience and effort on behalf of breeders to produce these show-quality guppies, with the right platinum coloration, specific metallic appearance and flowing fins.
You can still pick them up relatively cheaply, but if you’re after a show-grade platinum guppy, expect to pay accordingly.
20. Gem tang
Gem tangs are pricey due to their attractive spotty pattern on a jet black body, with yellow accents, alongside the difficulty in collecting and transporting them from their native Mauritius.
They are a prized addition to any saltwater aquarium, being not only beautiful but generally a peaceful tankmate – however they are likely to set you back well into four figures.
Read next: Most expensive pets in the world
Edited by Georgia Guerin.
