Most Expensive Fish You Can Own
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There are about 228,000 known species that live in the ocean, and experts estimate there are another 2 million that remain a mystery. Of these water species, there are several rare fish that humans love to find and collect as pricey pets.
Millions of people worldwide keep aquariums, but the United States is the single-largest importer of ornamental fish in the world, filled with enthusiasts clamoring to find and acquire the sea's rarest treasures. Here, we introduce you to the world’s most expensive fish, ranked from least to most expensive.
45. Discus
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Price Tag: $50-$150
The brightly colored Discus fish is native to the Amazon River basin in South America but is incredibly popular as a freshwater aquarium fish.
"Discus don't cost thousands of dollars, but they are properly one of the most expensive fish you will see in tanks of your friends or in the pet shop," says Christian Steinmeier, an expert on small pet care.
* Pricing information was sourced from Among the Reef, unless otherwise noted.
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Discus are typically purchased as schooling fish, so the price can add up, especially when you factor in their specific needs. Steinmeier recommends keeping them in groups of at least five.
“On top of that, the owner has to fulfill their special needs on nutrition, water quality and tank size," Steinmeier says. "Discus need quite soft water so that faucet water has to be treated in most regions. And they want special food. Frozen mosquito larvae and other insects are their favorites."
44. Pufferfish
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Price Tag: $200
The Pufferfish has become quite the delicacy in the food world, especially because it’s considered dangerous to eat. In fact, chefs have to complete two to three years of specialized training before preparing the fish in restaurant dishes.
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Mostly found in tropical and subtropical ocean waters, Pufferfish can also make excellent pet fish.
If you're worried about the upfront cost, make sure to also consider their food needs, as they have quite a refined palate. Because their teeth never stop growing, they have to gnaw on hard-shelled foods like mussels, shrimp and crabs to file them down.
43. Crosshatch Triggerfish
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Price Tag: $1,300
The Crosshatch has — rather fittingly — a striking crosshatch pattern over its neon green, yellow and blue coloring. It is a cherished fish, and most specialty stores won't stock it, instead requiring enthusiasts to preorder this gem.
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The Crosshatch Triggerfish lives in the Pacific Ocean and can be found at 20 to 100 feet.
Experts recommend at least 200 gallons of water, rocks and caves in this specialty fish's aquarium. That’s quite a tank!
42. Candy Basslet
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Price Tag: $1,500
The bright orangish-pink Candy Basslet has neon purple stripes running down its body, and will set you back about $1,500.
The small fish — less than 3 inches — loves deep coral reefs around 300-feet deep.
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The Candy Basslet can be found in the Atlantic Ocean near the Florida Keys, the Caribbean and South America.
This Candy Basslet is a hard fish to acquire between its small size, love for the deep water and coral home base.
41. Maze Angelfish
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Price Tag: $1,600
The Maze Angelfish's vibrant blue and orange coloring with stripes is so striking we imagine it's difficult for this beauty to go unnoticed.
It grows to be about 9-inches long and feeds mainly on sponges and tunicates.
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It's incredibly hard to find a Maze Angelfish outside of Southeast Asia. It's located in the Western Pacific Ocean from Indonesia to Japan in waters that range from 3- to 100-feet deep.
The Maze Angelfish is considered nonaggressive and would likely get along with other species in your aquarium.
38. Spanish Flag Grouper (tie)
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Price Tag: $1,600+
Like many of the fish on this list, the price of a Spanish Flag Grouper can easily exceed $1,600 if demand is high and supply is low. This bright yellow fish has horizontal orange stripes that run down its body.
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The Spanish Flag Grouper is the only species in the genus Gonioplectrus.
It lives in the Western Atlantic Ocean and, like many rare fish, needs to be preordered.
38. African Basslet (tie)
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Price Tag: $1,600+
The African Basslet is an ultra-rare fish, which means its price can change dramatically depending on the market. If you are lucky, you can sometimes snag this gorgeous fish for just under $2,000. The African Basslet has colorful vertical shades, including pinkish-coral, white, bright yellow and an orangish-red.
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You can find the African Basslet in the Indian Ocean, but it is not common to see it in the aquarium trade.
Once it makes it into an aquarium, though, it survives nicely and is considered reef-safe.
38. Elongatus Anthias (tie)
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Price Tag: $1,600+
The Elongatus Anthias is another rare fish whose price can change dramatically depending on the market. Like other anthias, this unique fish has a yellow and orange body. This stunner, however, has hints of purple and orange on its fins.
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Deepwater divers search for the rare Elongatus Anthias in the Northwest Pacific.
Once you have one, experts agree you should keep your aquarium around 68 to 76 degrees Fahrenheit and consider avoiding tiny fish, as this anthias has a large mouth.
34. Tigerpyge Hybrid (tie)
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Price Tag: $2,000
The Tigerpyge Hybrid is an expensive hybrid of Centropyge eibli and Centropyge flavissimus. Centropyge is a genus of fish in the family Pomacanthidae.
This light yellow fish gets its name from its orange tiger-like stripes that run down its body length.
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The scarce fish is only available in the aquarium trade on a limited basis. So, if you see one available for sale, you will only have a small window to purchase it and can expect the price to increase based on demand.
The Tigerpyge Hybrid, found in the Indian Ocean, thrives in normal reef conditions.
34. Hong Kong Butterflyfish (tie)
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Price Tag: $2,000
The stunning marigold fish is considered one of the most striking yellow fish you can have in an aquarium. The Hong Kong Butterflyfish has a yellow body and black and white stripes near its face.
"As this fish is in the Chaetodon genus, we recommend you exercise care when adding it to a reef aquarium, as there is some risk of nipped corals," the experts at Among The Reef say.
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The Hong Kong Butterflyfish is so rare that you can expect a long journey with diving and aquarium experts if you are interested in acquiring one.
You'll find this particular fish in the Western Pacific Ocean.
34. Pelicier's Perchlet (tie)
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Price Tag: $2,000
The bright orange-red Pelicier's Perchlet is very similar in look to the Hawkfish but is a type of Anthias. It is a deepwater fish that is rarely seen in aquariums, thus ensuring its rarity.
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The Pelicier's Perchlet is found about 300 feet below the surface in the Indian Ocean.
It is best to keep this unique fish in cooler temperatures in the 68-76 range.
34. Bandit Angelfish (tie)
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Price Tag: $2,000
Angelfish are very common in the aquarium trade, and the Bandit Angelfish often tops that list. Despite its vast popularity, it isn't a cheap addition for fish enthusiasts. Like the Masked Angelfish, this angelfish has a black shading across its eyes, but it is much more dramatic and indeed reminds you of a bandit.
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If diving, you will most likely see this unique fish in the deep waters around the Hawaiian Islands. They like a cooler temperature, ideally between 68 and 74 degrees Fahrenheit.
Like other angelfish, it eats algae, coral, clams and shrimp.
33. Aberrant Angelfish
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Price Tag: $2,250
The Aberrant Angelfish is a scarce fish that you can sometimes find in the aquarium trade. It has an iridescent white and purple body with bright yellow, gray and black coloring on its body and head.
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The Aberrant Angelfish is another Centropyge.
Several Centropyge varieties live in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans.
32. Zebra Tang
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Price Tag: $2,400
Another rare beauty from the Western Indian Ocean is the Zebra Tang or Black-Barred Surgeonfish. The laterally flattened fish grows to about 8 inches and has a white body that is a bit iridescent with black stripes that run vertically across it.
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You'll find the Zebra Tang in the Comoro Islands, Madagascar, Réunion and Mauritius. It doesn't live in terribly deep waters — you'll most likely find it in 50-foot deep water in reefs, lagoons and coral seabeds.
The Zebra Tang enjoys algae for meals.
30. Dejongi Basslet (tie)
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Price Tag: $2,500
The Dejongi Basslet is a bright yellow and orange fish that has pops of purple on its fins. This stunning fish is named after the famous Dutch Wholesaler Dejong Marinelife and is considered very rare in the fish trade.
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The Dejongi Basslet is only found naturally in Cuba.
They are tough to locate in the United States, but you can find a few that are captive-bred in the if you are lucky.
30. Gold Crowned Butterflyfish (tie)
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Price Tag: $2,500
The Gold Crowned Butterflyfish is a gorgeous addition to any aquarium. It has yellow striping on its face, a black and white polka dot pattern and black coloring on its upper body, and bright yellow on its fins. Its colorful yellow striping near the face is considered its crown, which makes it noticeably different from its cousin, the Tinkeri Butterflyfish.
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This butterflyfish is ideal for aquarium life. It thrives in a domestic habitat and will eat nearly anything.
It is found exclusively in the Western Pacific Ocean. You'll also see the Gold Crowned Butterflyfish listed as a Yellow-Crowned Butterflyfish.
29. Deep Water Banded Basslet
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Price Tag: $2,600
The Deep Water Banded Basslet has a white and yellow body with violet-brown vertical stripes as well as yellow stripes on its fins.
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The Deep Water Banded Basslet, as you may have guessed, is found in deep waters.
Specifically, divers find these rare fish off the coast of Curaçao and almost 1,000 feet below the surface.
25. Banded Basslet (tie)
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Price Tag: $3,000
The even rarer Banded Basslet is a white fish with thick, violet-brown stripes that start at its eyes and run along its body vertically. This particular Basslet also has iridescent fins.
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The rare Banded Basslet will cost you a few thousand dollars. Due to their limited availability, advance planning with your aquarium expert is necessary.
You can find this Basslet in the Western Central Atlantic.
25. Apricot Basslet (tie)
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Price Tag: $3,000
Another stunning fish to consider adding to your collection is the Apricot Basslet, which will cost you about $3,000 (tied with the two angelfishes listed next). This mostly orange fish only grows to about 4-inches long and lives 300- to 500-feet below the surface.
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The Apricot Basslet is found in the Caribbean. When moved from its habit, experts recommend a reef environment with cooler temperatures of 68 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit.
Despite enthusiasts knowing of it, the Apricot Basslet is still very rare. Divers require at least a month's notice to begin their search for one.
25. Clarion Angelfish (tie)
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Price Tag: $3,000
The bright yellow Clarion Angelfish has vibrant blue stripes when it is a juvenile. As it grows and becomes an adult, it loses its lines, and its yellow hue deepens into a bright orange color.
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You can find this extraordinary fish off Mexico's Pacific Coast. Compared to other fish on the list, the Clarion Angelfish isn't terribly hard to catch, but sadly due to overfishing, the species is considered threatened.
It remains a top choice for aquariums, though, costing you a few thousand dollars to acquire.
25. Interruptus Angelfish (tie)
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Price Tag: $3,000
The Interruptus Angelfish is a gorgeous shade of neon pink, orange, yellow and purple with dots all over. You can find it in the waters surrounding southern and central Japan and the coral reefs near the Hawaiian Islands.
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The stunning fish only reaches about 6 inches and doesn't need a huge tank, but experts recommend various caves and crevices since it is used to deep water and might hate the tank lights.
For food, the Interruptus Angelfish enjoys Mysis shrimp and algae.
24. Tiger Angelfish
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Price Tag: $3,500
The Tiger Angelfish is one of the rarest angelfish you can find. The unique fish has a white bottom with a black and yellow tiger striping.
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They are found in the Western Indian Ocean and thrive in reef conditions. While they are incredibly hard to find outside of South Africa, a few recently made it to the United States via Pacific Aqua Farms.
They get to be about 6-inches long and eat algae, coral, clams and shrimp.
20. Wrought Iron Butterfly (tie)
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Price Tag: $4,000
The next four fish all tie for the 20th spot, costing about $4,000. Aquarium owners in the United States will have a hard time snagging a Wrought Iron Butterfly, though, which is native to the western Pacific Ocean near central and southern Japan. When the rare fish does come up for sale, enthusiasts nearby usually buy them quickly, paying between $3,000 and $5,000.
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This black- and white-patterned fish has a metallic look on its body and a striking, bright yellow lining its dorsal.
Though they only grow to about 6 inches, aquarium experts recommend a tank with at least 150 gallons of water.
20. Hawaiian Yellow Anthias (tie)
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Price Tag: $4,000
The Hawaiian Yellow Anthias is a yellow marigold fish with neon purple coloring on the end of its fins, giving the appearance that they were dipped in color. They are found in Hawaii and will cost you about $4,000 to add one to your collection.
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Fish experts have been able to find a few in the wild and breed more in captivity in Hawaii. These offspring are much less shy than the ones found in the wild, experts say.
Hawaiian Yellow Anthias enjoy eating a few times a day and grow to be only about 2-inches long.
20. Conspicuous Angelfish (tie)
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Price Tag: $4,000
The Conspicuous Angelfish can be spotted by their distinctive coloring. They have yellow faces with blue around their eyes and a bluish-gray color that fades into orange, which then fades into a dark gray and sometimes black bottom. The Conspicuous Angelfish grows to be about 12-inches long.
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They are found from the southern Great Barrier Reef to the central New South Wales coast. Young Conspicuous Angelfish enjoy shallow waters, while adults like coral and rocky reefs and can be found 100- to 130-feet down.
They are somewhat aggressive and grow bolder as they adjust to life in an aquarium.
20. Yellow Spotted Basslet (tie)
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Price Tag: $4,000
The small fish, just 4-inches long, is a close relative of the Golden Basslet. It has a bright yellow stripe that runs from its snout, through the eye, and alongside its upper body. Its yellow spots run along the body and tail base. You'll also notice pink coloring around the eyes.
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Like many fish on this list, if you're hoping to add a Yellow Spotted Basslet to your aquarium, you'll need a few thousand dollars and connections to expert divers who take preorders for exotic fish.
This special gem of the ocean is found in Curacao and the South Caribbean at about 750-feet deep.
18. Dr. Seuss Soapfish (tie)
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Price Tag: $6,000
The Dr. Seuss Soapfish has an iridescent white body with orange coloring on its upper half. Orange spots of varying sizes cover its 3-inch-long body. It's considered an odd fish, and because of its rarity, it runs about $6,000.
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The Dr. Seuss Soapfish swims in very deep water in the Marshall Islands.
When divers have successfully brought one to the surface, they have had to use special decompression techniques.
18. Claire's Fairy Wrasse (tie)
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Price Tag: $6,000
This glowing purple treasure looks like a fairy and will cost you about $6,000 to add it to your aquarium. Claire's Fairy Wrasse is the most famous Fairy Wrasse in the world, hence the hefty price tag.
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Few Claire's Fairy Wrasses have made their way to the United States. If you are a diver, you might have luck finding them in the waters surrounding the Tahitian and Cook Islands.
This impressive fish grows to about 4-inches long and prefers several smaller feedings throughout the day. Fairy Wrasses enjoy brine shrimp and various small crustaceans.
16. Maori Basslet (tie)
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Price Tag: $7,000
The stunning Maori Basslet is a glowing fish with a plethora of colors and patterns. It has a reddish-orange body with stripes and yellow-patterned fins that have vibrant blue and purple markings.
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The Maori Basslet also has elaborate white markings on its forehead that are reminiscent of the facial tattoo of the Maoris, the indigenous Polynesian people of New Zealand, where the fish is found.
It is so rare that it was only recently introduced to the aquarium trade in 2018. It takes a minimum of six months to secure a Maori Basslet for your aquarium.
16. Blue Spotted Basslet (tie)
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Price Tag: $7,000
The Blue Spotted Basslet is another fish that is recent to the aquarium trade and will cost you about $7,000, give or take, considering the market.
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The Blue Spotted Basslet has a similar look as other Lipogramma genus fish, but it has dynamic rows of blue spots on its fins. You'll find the elusive Blue Spotted Basslet in Caribbean waters, but it'll be a challenge to find, as the fish only grows to about an inch long.
Basslets are a fairly peaceful and hardy type of fish, so they get along with most tankmates.
15. Australian Flathead Perch
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Price Tag: $7,500
The extraordinary Australian Flathead Perch will run you about $7,500 or more and will not be easy to find. The stunning fish has vibrant, almost neon coloring that runs in stripes along its body.
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Found in the coral reefs of eastern Australia, this particular fish is not easy to purchase, and few aquatic stores have ever had one.
The Australian Flathead Perch can grow up to almost 10 feet, so if you acquire one, you'll need a decent amount of space. This unique fish can live up to seven years, experts predict.
13. Orange Margin Butterflyfish (tie)
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Price Tag: $8,000
The Orange Margin Butterflyfish is another gorgeous fish that loves the deep waters found around the Hawaiian Islands. This white fish has a metallic sheen, black stripes and bright orange markings around its fins.
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The Orange Margin Butterflyfish was only first collected in 1998 due to how deep it likes to live. Orange Margin Butterflyfish can usually be found starting at 400-feet deep, which many divers don't even attempt to reach.
Like other butterflyfish, this one mostly eats algae, corals and sponges.
13. Golden Basslet (tie)
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Price Tag: $8,000
While the Golden Basslet was first discovered in the 1800s, it is relatively new to the aquarium trade. It will cost you about $8,000 to add this yellowish-orange beauty to your collection.
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The Golden Basslet is small, coming in at about 2-inches long, and it has an orange center that fades into a yolk-yellow color all over. This vibrant, eye-catching color and the fish's rarity are the two main reasons it costs so much.
Divers have to go down about 200 feet to find the tiny Golden Basslet, which is typically found off the coasts of Cuba and the Cayman Islands.
12. PeaceKeeper Maroon Clownfish
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Price Tag: $8,900
The PeaceKeeper Maroon Clownfish is an exciting fish. It was bred in captivity in Israel before being sold to produce all over the world. The white and maroon patterned fish gets to be about 4-inches long, but could grow longer, experts say.
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The record sale of a PeaceKeeper Maroon Clownfish happened on eBay, and the fish sold for $8,900.
This particular clownfish remains elusive since only a few of its offspring are born with the unique pattern that made it famous.
10. Neptune Grouper (tie)
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Price Tag: $10,000
If you are a fan of hot pink and orange, you might consider adding the stunning Neptune Grouper to your aquarium. While groupers are common, this one is rare and, therefore, much more expensive with a price tag of $10,000.
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The Neptune Grouper lives deep in the ocean, so simply finding one is a difficult task. They must be brought up slowly as well. Otherwise, they can die before reaching the surface.
When kept in captivity, special decompression equipment is needed to ensure survival. You can find Neptune Grouper for sale as food in Japan and East Asia.
10. Bladefin Basslet (tie)
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Price Tag: $10,000
The Bladefin Basslet is a small — only about 1.5-inches long — orange and white fish that will cost you about the same as a motorcycle. It gets its name from its blade-like fin. The fact that the Bladefin Basslet is so hard to find is the main reason it demands top dollar.
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If you dive down 500 feet in the Caribbean, you might find a Bladefin Basslet. Check for them in caves and slits as they enjoy hiding. Despite being little, the Basslet is fierce.
The fish is known to be aggressive, especially to fellow basslets, so if you add one to your aquarium, make sure to give it plenty of space.
9. Hawaiin Gold-Barred Butterflyfish
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Price Tag: $12,000
The Hawaiian Gold-Barred Butterflyfish doesn't have an agreed-upon common name, so you can sometimes see it referred to just as Roa excelsa. The $12,000 fish is found in the Pacific Ocean in Guam and the Hawaiian Islands.
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The white fish has yellowish-gold stripes along its body and fins, which is how it earned its common name. It grows to be about 5-inches long.
Since it can be found in waters as deep as 900 feet, a cooler temperature is recommended for its aquarium.
8. Debelius Angelfish
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Price Tag: $15,000
This $15,000 fish is so limited that it is rarely seen in captivity and hard to find in the wild. It lives in the waters of Mauritius, Aldabra, Reunion and the Seychelles Islands.
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The Debelius Angelfish prefers waters 160- to 320-feet deep. You'll most likely find it swimming in outer reef drops and vertical walls.
You will notice its stunning metallic cerulean blue body and bright yellow tail fin.
6. Masked Angelfish (tie)
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Price Tag: $20,000
Snorkeling and diving around the Hawaiian Islands can be spectacular. It's home to countless fish, and collecting them for aquariums is forbidden. But if there, you might get to see a Masked Angelfish up close.
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The Masked Angelfish grows to about 8-inches long but isn't terribly vibrant compared to other reef fish. It has a white body and black banding that looks like a mask across its eyes.
But only a few are collected each year, which aids in growing their popularity. And get this: The Masked Angelfish starts life as a female and turns into a male.
6. Narcosis Angelfish (tie)
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Price Tag: $20,000
If you are looking for a bright yellow angelfish to add to your incredibly rare collection, consider the Narcosis Angelfish, which costs about $20,000. One circular black dot is the only addition of coloring on the bright yellow fish.
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The elusive Narcosis Angelfish only grows to be about 3.5-inches long. You can find them swimming in fore-reef waters that are 360- to 420-feet deep. Narcosis Angelfish have been found in the Tahitian and Cook Islands.
If you're looking for one on a dive, know that the Narcosis Angelfish prefers rocky vertical drop-offs.
5. Peppermint Angelfish
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Price Tag: $30,000
If you find yourself in Honolulu, head to the Waikiki Aquarium and check out the only Peppermint Angelfish available to the public. When you see the small, orangish-red fish, you'll be shocked to learn it costs $30,000.
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The Peppermint Angelfish only grows to about 2.5-inches long and might be the most expensive fish found in tropical reefs.
It's typically seen in the eastern-central Pacific. If you dive near the Cook Islands and Rarotonga, you might spot one — but doubtful.
4. Abe's Angelfish
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Price Tag: $34,000
Abe's Angelfish doesn't grow to be even 5-inches long, but its extreme rarity rill costs you around $34,000. This particular angelfish has a yellow body, black head, back and dorsal fin. It has a white tail fin and a broad white bar before the dorsal fin.
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Found in deep waters in the Western Pacific Ocean, Abe's Angelfish is seldom found in the aquarium trade. It is the type of fish you order and then wait an unknown amount of time to receive.
Only about six exist in captivity, according to aquarium experts.
3. Xingu River Ray
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Price Tag: $100,000
The Xingu River Ray is also known as the "Polka Dot Stingray" for its unique black and white polka dot pattern. It is an incredibly rare fish, and because of that and various protections in place to reduce its sale, it costs $100,000 when you can find it on the open market.
"The Polka Dot Stingray is truly one of a kind and only exists in the Xingu River in northern Brazil," says Torben Lonne, an accomplished diver who runs the site Dive In. "Personally, I think this little guy should stay undisturbed in the Amazon where it belongs!"
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Xingu River Rays are also kind of divas. As predators, this specific ray won't make friends and requires a vast space. "Combined with the 500-gallon tank requirement, it's not the type of fish that would fit in an ordinary fish tank," he says. "Stingrays are large fish and enjoy the freedom to glide around and dislike cramped spaces.
“It's a fish that has extremely high requirements to maintain and can be found only in large aquariums and the mansions of the world's elite that can afford it," Lonne says.
2. Platinum Arowana
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Price Tag: $300,000-$400,000
Yes, you read that right. Arowana fish can sell for up to $300,000 to $400,000 per fish. The rare platinum-colored ones fetch the highest dollar.
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"Because of their rarity, Arowana fish are prized as symbols of prosperity in many Asian countries," says Rafal Wlazlo, who owns Modern Aquarium, a source for live aquarium plants, botanicals and aquarium equipment. "Arowana are costly to care for as well as purchase; they require a 250-gallon tank because they reach 3 feet in length."
Wlazlo says only experienced (and wealthy!) aquarists should keep Arowana fish.
1. Pacific Bluefin Tuna
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Price Tag: $3.1 million
The Pacific Bluefin Tuna has been bred and kept in captivity since 2015, but that’s less about keeping one as a pet and more about it being the most expensive edible fish you can find. The high pricing is thanks to a lack of supply, hence the reason Japanese scientists began breeding them.
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"During the annual New Year's fish auction in Tokyo the past year, a single 612-pound Bluefin Tuna was sold at an exorbitant price of $3.1 million," says Casper Ohm, a marine biologist and editor-in-chief of Water Pollution. “The Bluefin Tuna is mostly used to prepare sushi and sashimi, and if you want to give it a try, you must be willing to pay a bit more than with your regular canned tuna."