Top 7 ornamental fish species that are 'more expensive than gold'

If you're passionate about tiny aquarium fish and have nothing but money in your pocket, then get yourself one of these 7 super expensive aquarium fish species!

Fish are a diverse species, varying in color and shape. Colorful, eye-catching fish are often kept as pets to beautify living spaces. Besides the familiar species, there are many incredibly unique varieties. Their rarity and uniqueness can fetch prices in the billions of Vietnamese dong. Below are seven of the most expensive fish on the planet, compiled by The Richest.

7. Australian Flathead Perch – $5,000

This is a rare fish, found only in Australian waters. Flathead perch rarely leave their hiding places, except when foraging. They swim very fast, are small in size, and are not commonly seen, making them difficult to catch. They have striking colors, with a red body, orange fins, and white stripes along their bodies. The first person to sell this species was an American fisherman in 2011. Since then, it has created a minor craze in the aquarium fish market and has become very popular.

6. Neptune Grouper – $6,000

This beautiful fish is so rare that you'd be hard-pressed to find it in any pet store. It's a deep-water species, making it extremely difficult to catch. The Neptune Grouper changes color throughout its life cycle, sometimes appearing orange, sometimes yellow, and other times a vibrant pink.

5. Golden Basslet – $8,000

Golden Basslets are the smallest members of the grouper family, found in both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Although hardy and adaptable to captive conditions, they are rarely sold commercially. Catching Golden Basslets requires deep-sea diving, which drives their price up significantly.

4. Bladefin Basslet – $10,000

You might find it hard to believe, but this tiny fish, only about 3-4cm long, can fetch up to $10,000 per fish. This species lives primarily in deep-sea coral reefs in the Caribbean and rarely ventures out into the open. The most distinctive feature of the Bladefin Basslet is its long, salt-white fin on its back, resembling a horn. Fish breeders say that the longer the "horn," the higher the fish's price.

3. Peppermint Angelfish – $30,000

According to The Richest, in 2012, only one Peppermint Angelfish was on display worldwide. This fish was brought in by a Smithsonian Institution oceanographic research team and displayed in a large tank at the Waikiki Aquarium. Peppermint Angelfish live at depths inaccessible to ordinary divers, requiring specialized equipment to catch them. This is why they are extremely rare in the aquarium world. The price of a single Peppermint Angelfish can reach half a billion Vietnamese dong.

2. Polka Dot Freshwater Stingray – $100,000

The Polka Dot freshwater stingray, first exhibited in Taiwan a few years ago, caused a sensation among aquarium enthusiasts. This species is of moderate size, not as large as saltwater stingrays, and its striking black body is distinguished by unusual white spots. A small genetic mutation causes the front part of the Polka Dot stingray's head to be U-shaped instead of round, making it even more valuable. Furthermore, due to this genetic mutation, the stingray has difficulty catching prey and cannot survive in its natural environment; in captivity, it needs to be hand-fed.

1. Platinum Arowana – $400,000

At the top of this expensive list is the arowana, and the "king" of arowanas is the Platinum albino arowana. A product of a special genetic mutation, the Platinum arowana is pure white from head to tail, while normal arowanas can be red, blue, black, or yellow… The price of an arowana also depends on its color. White arowanas are the most expensive, costing as much as a supercar, followed by red and yellow arowanas, and finally, the cheapest are the silver arowanas.

Platinum Arowanas typically live in rivers in South America, Southeast Asia, or Africa. A mature Arowana can grow up to 90cm in length and live for up to 50 years. These fish are exceptionally intelligent, possessing a strong sense of personal recognition and often being trained to be hand-fed.

According to Nguyen Binh/danviet