Brasil Reef - Fórum de Aquário - Aquarismo - Marinho, Corais e Água Doce

Bladefin Basslet: $10,000


This cute little guy goes for as much as $10,000. Its name comes from the funny blade-like dorsal fin. Found mostly in the Caribbean with coloring ranges from vivid orange to white. Quirky with a good deal of personality, this fish is definitely on collector’s lists due to its rarity. It only reaches a size of approximately 1.5 inches and is considered a deep water reef fish, which accounts for the difficulty in collecting specimens. Imagine finding something so tiny, so deep down and then having to catch it? It’s no surprise that seeing these fish for sale is a rare occurrence.

3. Peppermint Angelfish: $30,000


Collectors have offered as much as $30,000 for this very exotic fish. In 2012, there was only one available for public viewing. It was found at the Waikiki Aquarium having been captured by a Smithsonian Institute research expedition. It’s a deep water fish, which accounts for the rareness of encountering these beautiful fish. The average diver does not go to those depths. The fish is striking with stripes of red and white hence its name. Since 2012 they have been in high demand by private collectors wishing to add something rare and exotic to their aquariums.

2. Freshwater Polka Dot Stingray: $100,000


This particular fish was recently on display in Taiwan. It has a unique genetic mutation on the front of its head causing it to look u-shaped instead of round, which is normal for rays. Currently it’s one of the most expensive aquarium fish in Taiwan with a price tag of $100,000. Interestingly enough this particular stingray would never be able to survive in the wild as it can’t hunt the shellfish it eats with its misshapen head. In captivity, it must be fed from hand to survive.

1. Platinum Arowana: $400,000



Number one on the list is the Platinum or White Arowana. This fish has a value of approximately $400,000. It is so valuable that a micro ID chip is implanted into it before it reaches sexual maturity to help identify and authenticate it. The color is the result of a very rare genetic mutation. More common types of Arowana include: the Red Arowana, Green Arowana, Yellow-Tail Arowana, Silver Arowana, Black Arowana and Australian Pearl Arowana. They are found in nature in South America, Southeast Asia and Africa. In captivity they require at least a 300 gallon tank with plenty of live food such as crickets and worms. They can reach a size of about 35 inches and they can live for more than 50 years. They are intelligent with the ability to recognize individuals and they can be trained to be hand-fed. Although they are a fabulous fish, they are not necessarily the perfect pet for the average home aquarist for some of the reasons listed above.