Rarest, most expensive reef fish

[SS_Sean]

What is the rarest, most expensive reef fish? I'm talking one that will fit in a home aquarium of standard to large size. Say 500g max. I'm not talking Shamu, here.

I found this one on sale for $3500. I know that very type of fish went for $5000 when the first batch of them was bred in captivity....

http://www.liveaquaria.com/diversden/ItemDisplay.cfm?c=2733+3&ddid=220735

What have you found out there?

 

[gobolts23]

Peppermint Angel....25K

 

[danimallaminad]

+1^ to the peppermint but rarest doesn't always mean most expensive.

 

[SS_Sean]

+1^ to the peppermint but rarest doesn't always mean most expensive.

I knew someone would mince words... rarest and most expensive.... go!

 

[WayneL333]

I think a Personatus Angel would give the pep a good run for its money.

 

[SS_Sean]

Peppermint Angel....25K

Ooooh... I just read Chingchai has one over in Thailand. Way cool addition to his tank!

 

[WayneL333]

Forget about Thailand. Hedgedrew has a PAIR along with a Narcosis over in Long Island!

 

[SS_Sean]

Forget about Thailand. Hedgedrew has a PAIR along with a Narcosis over in Long Island!

I would expect nothing less....

 

[SS_Sean]

I guess the Clipperton Angelfish is very rare, also!!

 

[CedzAquAddictio]

How reef safe do they have to be? Just asking because some of those listed above aren't documented to be reef safe...

 

[MikeandNicole]

I guess the Clipperton Angelfish is very rare, also!!

Rare in the hobby yes. Rare near the island no

 

[MikeandNicole]

My holy trail would br p. nursalim, there are none in the hobby and it has never been collected so no idea on price but I would wager pretty high.

 

[bullitr]

I think a Personatus Angel would give the pep a good run for its money.

ballina angelfish will be the ultimate
http://australianmuseum.net.au/Ballina-Angelfish-Chaetodontoplus-ballinae/

 

[sc50964]

Apolemichthys kingi

 

[SDguy]

Since the genus is relatively reef safe, I'm gonna say Chaetodontoplus niger? Ballinae?

 

[snorvich]

The only one I would love to have would be Personatus Angel which is my eye is simply gorgeous. But there is no way . . .

 

[Dmorty217]

+1^ I'm with snorvich on this one, the masked angel is my pick too. Last time I saw a pair for sale they wanted 50K for them.

 

[humaguy]

the baby personatus that came thru hof a few years back was sold for 15k...
she was unfortunately lost in hurricane sandy.....

rare in the trade is not often rare in the wild...
great to see all the rare fish that have become avail over the past 2 years or so...
waiting for the next batch of peps, and saying that even a few years ago would have been unimaginable...

 

[albano]

The only one I would love to have would be Personatus Angel which is my eye is simply gorgeous. But there is no way . . .

Hmmmm, thought you might mention Leafy Sea Dragon!

 

[snorvich]

Hmmmm, thought you might mention Leafy Sea Dragon!

Because of my avatar? (which is a pregnant male leafy, image taken south of Australia around kangaroo island). No, I loved watching them in the water and photographing them; it was really quite an adventure. We had to have a safety diver over the leafy to keep it from rising in the water column and getting decompression sickness. They are cold water animals (I was pretty chilled) and need live food. I saw them at the Shedd exhibit but would never even think to try them in my own tanks. Wondrous creatures though.