10 High-Value Aquarium Fish and How to Care for Them

10 High-Value Aquarium Fish and How to Care for Them

Owning a high-value aquarium fish can be a rewarding experience, not only due to their beauty but also because they often provide an opportunity for fish-keeping enthusiasts to showcase their skills. High-value aquarium fish are often prized for their rarity, color, and unique behaviors, and they may require special care to thrive in captivity. Below are 10 high-value aquarium fish, along with essential care tips.

1. Arowana (Scleropages formosus)

Value: High ($200 - $3,000+ depending on species and size)
Appearance: Large, elongated body with metallic scales, long fins, and a fearsome appearance.
Care Requirements:

Care Tips:

Tank Setup: Arowanas require a lot of swimming space, so ensure the tank is long and spacious (at least 250 gallons). Arowanas are known for their jumping ability, so always secure the tank with a tight lid.
Feeding: Provide a varied diet with live or frozen fish, crustaceans, and high-quality pellets. Avoid overfeeding to prevent obesity.
Tank Mates: Avoid keeping arowanas with smaller, aggressive fish. They may attempt to eat smaller tank mates due to their predatory nature.
Water Quality: Regular water changes (at least 30% every week) are important to maintain water quality, as arowanas are sensitive to poor water conditions.

Tank Size: Minimum 250 gallons for an adult.
Water Parameters: Warm water (75-82°F / 24-28°C), pH of 6.5-7.5.
Diet: Carnivorous, feeding on fish, crustaceans, and pellets.
Special Care: Arowanas are jumpers, so they need a secure tank cover. They require large tanks and a varied diet to stay healthy.

2. Discus (Symphysodon aequifasciatus)

Value: Moderate to High ($50 - $500 depending on strain and quality)
Appearance: Rounded, colorful fish with striking patterns (e.g., red, blue, and yellow).
Care Requirements:

Care Tips:

Water Quality: Discus are very sensitive to water quality, so invest in a reliable filtration system. Keep the water soft (4-8 dGH) and acidic (pH 6.0-6.5).
Temperature: They require stable, warm water, around 82-86°F (28-30°C). Use a heater with a thermostat to maintain a constant temperature.
Socializing: Keep them in groups of 5-6 fish. Discus are naturally shoaling fish, and being kept in a group will reduce stress and encourage natural behaviors.
Feeding: Discus are omnivores but lean toward carnivorous diets. Offer high-quality pellets, frozen or live food (such as bloodworms, brine shrimp), and occasionally vegetables.

Tank Size: 50 gallons or more for a group of 5-6 fish.
Water Parameters: Soft, slightly acidic water (pH 6.0-6.5), temperature between 82-86°F (28-30°C).
Diet: Carnivorous and herbivorous, including high-quality pellets, live food, and occasional vegetables.
Special Care: Discus are sensitive to water quality, so frequent water changes are crucial. They also thrive in groups, which helps them feel secure and reduce stress.

3. Koi (Cyprinus rubrofuscus)

Value: Moderate to High ($20 - $10,000+ depending on variety and size)
Appearance: Large, colorful carp with vibrant patterns. Popular colors include white, red, yellow, and black.
Care Requirements:

Care Tips:

Pond Size: Koi need a large outdoor pond (at least 1,000 gallons). Smaller tanks are not suitable for their large size and need for swimming space.
Water Quality: Koi thrive in well-filtered water with a pH of 7.0-7.5 and moderate alkalinity. Install a good filtration system to maintain clean water and prevent excess waste.
Diet: Feed koi high-quality koi pellets, supplemented with vegetables and occasional live or frozen food.
Winter Care: In colder climates, provide a way to keep a small portion of the pond ice-free during winter. Koi can survive in colder water, but oxygen levels must remain high.

Tank Size: Outdoor ponds (minimum 1,000 gallons for full-grown fish).
Water Parameters: Mildly alkaline water (pH 7.0-7.5), temperature between 59-77°F (15-25°C).
Diet: Omnivorous, eating commercial koi food, vegetables, and occasional live food.
Special Care: Koi need a large, well-maintained pond with high-quality filtration. They also require plenty of space to grow and swim freely.

4. Frontosa Cichlid (Cyphotilapia frontosa)

Value: Moderate to High ($50 - $200)
Appearance: Large, with a distinct hump on the head and a beautiful blue-gray coloration.
Care Requirements:

Care Tips:

Tank Size: Frontosas grow large, so provide a minimum of 75 gallons for a single fish. A larger tank is needed if keeping them in groups.
Socializing: They are generally peaceful, but males can become territorial, especially during breeding. Provide hiding places in the tank for all fish.
Water Conditions: Frontosas require alkaline water with a pH of 7.5-8.5. They do well in hard water.
Feeding: Feed them a high-protein diet, including pellets, frozen food, and live food (such as shrimp or smaller fish).

Tank Size: 75 gallons minimum for a single fish; larger if kept in groups.
Water Parameters: Alkaline water (pH 7.5-8.5), temperature 75-80°F (24-27°C).
Diet: Carnivorous, feeding on high-protein foods such as pellets, frozen fish, and live food.
Special Care: Frontosas are relatively peaceful but can become territorial. They do best in tanks with other large, peaceful species.

5. Clownfish (Amphiprioninae)

Value: Moderate ($20 - $500 depending on species and rarity)
Appearance: Orange fish with white bands, often with black edges, known for their symbiotic relationship with sea anemones.
Care Requirements:

Care Tips:

Anemones: Clownfish naturally live in symbiosis with sea anemones, but they do not need one to survive in captivity. However, if you want to keep an anemone, ensure it's compatible with clownfish and that the tank is large enough.
Tank Size: A 30-gallon minimum is recommended for clownfish. They do well in a community tank with other peaceful species.
Feeding: Offer a varied diet, including high-quality flakes, pellets, and frozen food. They are omnivores, so they’ll eat both plant and animal matter.
Water Quality: As saltwater fish, clownfish require stable conditions with a pH of 7.8-8.4, and the water should be filtered well.

Tank Size: 30 gallons minimum.
Water Parameters: Saltwater tank, with temperature between 75-80°F (24-27°C), pH 7.8-8.4.
Diet: Omnivorous, eating small live foods, frozen foods, and flakes.
Special Care: Clownfish are hardy and easy to care for, but they should be kept in a saltwater tank with a proper filtration system. They can live harmoniously with anemones and other peaceful tank mates.

6. Emperor Angelfish (Pomacanthus imperator)

Value: High ($200 - $300)
Appearance: Striking with vibrant blue and yellow coloration, with bold stripes and a regal appearance.
Care Requirements:

Care Tips:

Tank Size: Minimum 100 gallons for a single emperor angelfish. They need plenty of swimming space and should be housed in a reef tank with peaceful tank mates.
Feeding: Emperor angelfish are omnivores and require a diet of high-quality marine flakes, pellets, algae, and live or frozen foods like brine shrimp.
Water Parameters: They require stable, warm, saltwater conditions with a temperature of 76-82°F (24-28°C) and a pH of 8.1-8.4.
Behavior: They can be aggressive towards other angelfish, so be mindful of their tankmates. They thrive in reef tanks with plenty of live rock and hiding spots.

Tank Size: Minimum 100 gallons.
Water Parameters: Saltwater tank, with temperature 76-82°F (24-28°C), pH 8.1-8.4.
Diet: Omnivorous, feeding on algae, shrimp, and high-quality pellets.
Special Care: They require a large tank with plenty of hiding spots and a stable environment. Some fish may be aggressive, so it’s important to choose tank mates carefully.

7. Mandarin Dragonet (Synchiropus splendidus)

Value: High ($50 - $150)
Appearance: Small, vibrant fish with intricate, colorful patterns that resemble a dragon.
Care Requirements:

Care Tips:

Feeding: Mandarin dragonets require a constant supply of copepods. Ensure your tank has an established population or supplement their diet with live copepods or specially designed frozen foods.
Tank Setup: Mandarin dragonets prefer established reef tanks with plenty of live rock for hiding. A mature tank with a robust copepod population is essential.
Water Quality: They require stable, clean water with a temperature between 72-78°F (22-26°C) and a pH of 8.1-8.4.
Avoid Overcrowding: These fish are small and territorial. They should be kept in a tank with minimal competition for food, especially from other similar species.

Tank Size: Minimum 30 gallons for a single fish.
Water Parameters: Saltwater, with a temperature between 72-78°F (22-26°C), pH 8.1-8.4.
Diet: Primarily feeds on copepods, so a well-established tank with a healthy copepod population is important.
Special Care: The mandarin dragonet is difficult to keep because it requires a constant supply of live food, specifically copepods, which can be challenging to maintain in a tank.

8. Royal Gramma (Gramma loreto)

Value: Moderate ($15 - $40)
Appearance: Small, vibrant purple and yellow fish, often used as a beautiful addition to saltwater tanks.
Care Requirements:

Care Tips:

Tank Size: A 30-gallon tank is sufficient. Royal Grammas are small, peaceful, and work well in community tanks.
Feeding: They are omnivores and will readily eat high-quality flakes, pellets, and live or frozen foods like brine shrimp and mysis shrimp.
Tank Mates: Royal Grammas are peaceful but may be territorial in smaller tanks. They should be housed with similarly peaceful species.
Water Quality: They prefer slightly warmer water (72-78°F / 22-26°C) and saltwater conditions with a pH of 8.1-8.4.

Tank Size: 30 gallons minimum.
Water Parameters: Saltwater, with temperature 72-78°F (22-26°C), pH 8.1-8.4.
Diet: Omnivorous, feeding on a variety of small live foods and flakes.
Special Care: They are generally peaceful and easy to care for, though they should be kept in tanks with peaceful tank mates.

9. Scarlet Badis (Dario dario)

Value: Moderate ($20 - $50)
Appearance: A tiny fish with striking red and blue coloration, ideal for nano tanks.
Care Requirements:

Care Tips:

Tank Size: Scarlet Badis are small fish and do well in nano tanks of 10 gallons or more. They prefer planted tanks with hiding spots.
Feeding: Scarlet Badis are carnivores and need a diet of live or frozen foods like daphnia, brine shrimp, and bloodworms. They may not take to dry foods.
Water Conditions: They thrive in soft, slightly acidic water (pH 6.0-7.5) with a temperature of 72-80°F (22-27°C).
Socializing: They are generally peaceful but can be territorial towards other males, so it's best to keep them in small groups of females and one male.

Tank Size: 10 gallons minimum.
Water Parameters: Soft, slightly acidic water (pH 6.0-7.5), temperature between 72-80°F (22-27°C).
Diet: Carnivorous, feeding on small live or frozen foods such as daphnia and brine shrimp.
Special Care: Scarlet Badis are sensitive to water quality and can be territorial, so they are best kept in species-specific tanks or with other peaceful species.

10. Japanese Koi Betta (Betta splendens)

Value: Moderate to High ($20 - $100+ depending on pattern and coloration)
Appearance: Beautiful, long-finned Betta with unique koi-like color patterns (red, white, black).
Care Requirements:

Care Tips:

Tank Size: Bettas need a minimum of 5 gallons of water with a lid to prevent jumping. They do not require large tanks but need proper space for swimming.
Feeding: Betta fish are carnivorous. Offer a diet of high-quality Betta pellets, frozen food, or live food like brine shrimp or bloodworms.
Water Parameters: They prefer warmer water (75-80°F / 24-27°C) with a pH of 6.5-7.5. Maintain stable water conditions to keep them healthy.
Behavior: Bettas are aggressive towards other males and sometimes towards females, so they should either be kept alone or with peaceful species that won't provoke them.

Tank Size: Minimum 5 gallons.
Water Parameters: Freshwater, with temperature between 75-80°F (24-27°C), pH 6.5-7.5.
Diet: Carnivorous, feeding on Betta pellets, live, and frozen food.
Special Care: Betta fish are aggressive, so they should be housed alone or with very peaceful species. They prefer calm waters and need a gentle filtration system.

Conclusion

High-value aquarium fish offer stunning visual appeal and unique behaviors that can elevate any aquarium setup. However, these fish often come with specific care requirements, such as larger tanks, particular water conditions, and special diets. By providing the right environment and proper attention, you can enjoy the beauty of these remarkable fish for many years.