Top 10 Most Expensive Fish In The World

This article is about the top 10 most expensive fish in the world. It is full of curious information on some exotic and rare breeds of fish.

But What makes these fish so expensive? Is it their rarity, their look, or just some hypes? Is there any myth or popular believe behind their price?

We shall discuss all these and more.

Do you know that there are more than 30,000 species of fish around the world?

Fishkeeping is such a popular hobby. In the U.S., around 139 million freshwater aquarium fishes are kept as pets.

People enjoy eating fish due to its excellent nutrient value. Fish contains a lot of protein and calories. For example, Oily fish and whitefish are high in energy and protein and high in omega-3 fatty acids.

Usually most expensive sea fish live in hidden areas that they’re rarely seen. And, obviously, hard to capture.

Their coloring, fascinating behavior, and rarity make some of them so costly to buy. which is often the case with some marine species that have to be wild-caught because they can’t be bred in captivity.

Let’s dive down to this special world of expensive fish.

Table of Contents

What are the top 10 most expensive fish in the world?

Rank	Name	Price
1	Platinum Arowana	$4,00,000
2	Freshwater Polka Dot Stingray	$1,00,000
3	Peppermint Angelfish	$30,000
4	Masked Angelfish	$20,000
5	Bladen basslet	$10,000
6	Golden Basslet	$8,000
7	Neptune Grouper	$6,000
8	Australian Flathead Perch	$5,000
9	Wrought Iron Butterflyfish	$2,700
10	Clarion Angelfish	$2,500

1. Platinum Arowana- $400,000

The most expensive fish in the world is the Platinum Arowana. It costs more than $400,000.

Beauty with a brain – That’s how you can describe this fish. Fish collectors can spend thousands of dollars to buy it, as it is one of the most intelligent fish in the world. Not only that, but this fish is also a scarce breed.

The fish has a platinum coating, metallic gold-like scales, and large-pointing teeth, making them unique. This is due to its unique genetic mutation.

Why is Platinum Arowana so expensive?

You will get a certificate after purchasing this fish. A unique microchip will be inserted within its body for authenticity and tracking purposes.

One of the reasons for its rarity is the fish cannot breed quickly.

These fishes grow almost as large as humans in length, and the fishes are monsters of the aquarium world. It is one of the largest fish.

Arowanas come in several colors, including gold, silver, and grey, the platinum color.

In South-East Asia, Arowana is considered a good omen to bring prosperity, health, and good luck.

2. Freshwater Polka Dot Stingray- $100,000

Freshwater Polka Dot Stingray is a collector’s dream item. This fish is not just an exotic fish but a strange species indeed. It is one of the most expensive fish in the world, with 100,000 dollar price.

As per its name, the Polka Dot Stingray has a dark black body with white polka dots. This beautiful fish is found in the Xingu River in Brazil and is also popularly called Xingu River Ray.

It is tough to come by outside of their native Brazil, mainly because exporting these fishes from there is now illegal.

Usually, it stays buried in the sand, and at night it comes out for hunting. The cycle is similar to other nocturnal species.

Why is Polka Dot Stingray so expensive?

The most expensive sale of this fish is for a unique genetically mutant individual that had a weird U-shaped head rather than the usual rounded shape.

They have protruding eyes that allow them to see what’s above them. They also have unique sense organs around their mouth and nose, enabling them to detect electric fields generated by other animals.

Rays are one of the top predatory fish; therefore, usually, they should be kept alone.

We can say, Ray is one of the most expensive aquarium fish. Generally, its dark color with white spot makes a rare addition to any aquarium.

3. Peppermint Angelfish- $30,000

The Peppermint Angelfish is another costliest fish in the world. It gets its name from peppermint candy, which is known for its reddish-orange and swirling white beauty. So, it just looks like candy.

This small fish grows about 7 centimeters in length, which is a perfect size for aquarium life. This little fish only survive for a maximum of 15 years. However, because of its rarity, collectors pay around $30,000 just for one single Angelfish.

Why is Peppermint Angelfish so expensive?

It is challenging for divers to catch these beautiful colored fish as it is so rare. The fish is frightened by nature and generally likes to hide behind the coral reef and rocks.

Peppermint Angelfish is only found in certain parts of the eastern central Pacific Ocean, specifically around the Rarotonga in the Cook Islands at a depth of 170 – 400 feet.

Currently, there’s just one specimen on view to the public in the U.S. at the Waikiki Aquarium in Hawaii. And that fish is not for sale!

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4. Masked Angelfish – $20,000

The scientific name of Masked Angelfish is Genicanthuspersonatusis. The fish is so rare that collectors can’t catch more than one fish per year. Presently it costs around $20,000.

In the year 1972, Masked Angelfish was discovered and since then has gained immense popularity. The body looks like white marble, with a black mask.

As they grow, their appearance changes in stages. At the initial phase, it has a small black patch on its face. In the mature phase, It posses a black tail and a giant face mask with light blue lips. It grows up to 8 inches.

As you can see in the image above, it has a marble-like white body, a black tail & mask, and yellowfins.

For the male, pelvic and dorsal fins turn to a yellow-orange color.

Why is Masked Angelfish so expensive?

These tropical marine fishes are generally found near the northern Hawaiian Islands. However, there’s a strictly enforced commercial fishing ban in the area, so very few of these beautiful creatures find their way onto the market. Now you know why it is so costly.

If this is not strange enough for you, let me surprise you now.

This Angelfish changes its gender throughout its life term. It starts its life as a female and ends up as a male!

5. Bladefin Basslet – $10,000

The Bladen basslet is a small fish with a huge price tag! It is just 1.5 inches in length and has a lifespan of just five to eight years. This cute little fish is typically found in the Caribbean. They cost a whopping $10,000 each.

This beautiful Bladefin Basslet has a vibrant coloring, with a brilliant white body that has red markings. The white fin looks like a blade.

Why is Bladen basslet so expensive?

These pretty little basslets live in extremely deepwater reefs at over 500 feet, making collecting this tiny fish challenging.

This is the reason why it has joined the club of one of the most prized fish.

6. Golden Basslet – $8,000

Golden Basslet is one of the cutest amongst these top 10 most expensive fish list in 2021. One such fish costs around $8,000.

The fish was discovered in 1860, but in 2011, it is 1st showcased in an aquarium for the general public.

It has a honeycomb pattern on its body, which can be observed from even far away. The Golden Basslet can live for up to eight years and is surprisingly easy to keep.

Why does such a small fish cost so much?

It’s because Golden Basslets are scarce marine fish that live at the extreme depths of 450 to 800 feet in the ocean. And it requires special decompression techniques to bring them safely to the surface.

7. Neptune Grouper – $6,000

At a price tag of $6,000, Neptune Grouper has gained entry into the list of most expensive fish in the world. These fish can be found in the Western Pacific Ocean, specifically Australia, Japan, French Polynesia, and Fiji.

Neptune Grouper has a yellow-shaded body with white stripes across the tail and mid-body. Their eyes are lovely with shades of blue color.

They usually love to eat squid, scallops, and shrimp. A grouper can be 17 inches long and live as long as 30 years!

So, what makes Neptune Grouper so expensive?

One reason is that The fish live at great depths up to 800 feet deep, so when collected for the trade, a unique decompression process is required to bring them safely to the surface.

These fishes can’t withstand rapid decompression. So, it is tough to capture them alive.

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8. Australian Flathead Perch – $5,000

The Australian Flathead Perch is one of the world’s top ten most rare fish with $5,000. It is also known as Rainfordia opercularis.

These fishes can grow up to 6 inches. When they are young, they are much brighter and orange. Blue and yellow stripes run from their mouth to tails as they mature.

This Perch also has blue lines with black edging. It has a flattened skull and a big mouth, and its unusual appearance earns them the name Rainford.

Why is Australian Flathead Perch so costly?

These beautiful orange and blue fishes are rarely seen on the deep reefs of Eastern Australia, ranging from southern Queensland to northern New South Wales.

It’s the fish’s rarity that makes it so expensive to buy.

9. Wrought Iron Butterflyfish – $2,700

Wrought Iron Butterflyfish is famous for its attractive patterns and colors. It cost around 2700 USD.

It is named for its unusual metallic appearance, which looks like crosshatched iron fencing. The Wrought Iron Butterflyfish can grow up to 7 inches in length.

Why to such a high price for Wrought Iron Butterflyfish so costly?

The Wrought Iron Butterflyfish has a metallic look and highlighted yellow tipped fins; these fish have an assertive schooling behavior and tend to stick together in groups of at least ten.

But It isn’t easy to adjust to accepting food in the aquarium. They are found only around Japan’s Izu Islands.

10. Clarion Angelfish – $2,500

The Clarion Angelfish is one of the most expensive saltwater fish globally. This is also the most precious fish ever sold (for $2,500).

It has a bright orange shade across its body and a bluish glow on the rear edges and over its face. The young fishes have blue bars on the sides, which gradually disappear with age. They reach a maximum length of about eight inches. One interesting thing is, these fish can live for up to 40 years!

These fishes are found in Revillagigedo Islands, Mexico. But these fish are typically captive bred in Bali.

Clarion Angelfish swims and finds food in the daytime, and rests at night. Their diet includes algae, sponges, tunicates, and small invertebrates.

Why is Clarion Angelfish so expensive?

These fishes were sold for $5,000 and considered as the most expensive captive-bred fish. IUCN Red List mentioned them as species in danger; that is the reason for their extremely high price.

I hope you enjoyed our article on the top 10 most expensive fish in the world.

Most of the fish on this list are incredibly expensive because of their rarity. Some are extremely beautiful or very difficult to collect.

However, even if you can’t afford to spend thousands of dollars on one of these beauties, you can still create a beautiful aquarium on a more modest budget.

Top 10 Most Expensive Fish In The World | Strange Facts