When this Beach Baby hears the words beautiful and fish in the same sentence, she usually thinks this means supper is ready, and breaks out the vinegar in anticipation of a nice piece of salmon.
However, here are an assortment of some of the world’s most eye – catching fish, that aren’t going to end up on your dinner plate – we hope!
These are some of the most exotic, beautiful, and in some cases most expensive fishes ever to grace the oceans on planet Earth.
Many of them you’ll never see in a fish tank, no matter how large.
Some of these fish are literally worth their weight in gold, because they are so costly.
Others are more economically priced, for the less loaded pescaphile, (this isn’t a word but should be!).
Either way, these fish will blow your mind – and possibly your bank balance!
BLUEFACE ANGELFISH
This beautiful fish can be a bit confusing in regards to its proper name, as the blueface angelfish can also be called the yellowface angelfish, and might be confused with another blue angelfish as well as the queen angelfish.
But these last two are without the distinctive caudal eye spot, which is to be found on this species.
Maybe not especially rare, but pretty nonetheless, the young blueface angelfish look rather different until they grow to be 3 to 4 1/2 inches.
Then they suddenly turn into the striking specimen we see here.
WROUGHT IRON BUTTERFLYFISH
Got a few grand or so to spare? This rare Japanese beauty is pretty hard to find in the United States, but if you are determined, it can be purchased for your aquarium.
These are lively little swimmers that make good pets for your fish tank. They are a medium sized fish that may grow to 6 inches in length.
If you are really flush, get a couple, and await the swishing of tiny fins…!
Couples are apparently monogamous during mating periods, although whether you would even be able to put this to the test by having more than one potential mate, will depend on the size of your tank … and wallet!
FLAME ANGEL
As you can see, this alluring fish is bright orange and is clearly the color of fire.
Also known as the flaming angelfish, these make very good aquarium fish, as they are quite easy to keep and feed.
Their preferred meal of choice is shrimp, which is quite easy to purchase.
These little beauties usually settle into established aquariums, with other fish, after an initial period of shyness.
With luck, these may live between 5 and 7 years, and have been known to breed in captivity.
MOORISH IDOL
Despite the fact that these do not live very long, the Moorish idol is supposed to be a’ bringer- of-good- luck,’ and got its name from the Moorish people of Africa.
These look mighty pretty, but can be tricky pets to keep, as they require a big tank, and are quite finicky eaters, sometimes favouring sponges and corals, which can work out to be quite expensive.
These sickle shaped beauties can reach a maximum length of 9 inches.
MANDARINFISH
If you want to add a ‘splash of the exotic’ to your aquarium, look no further than the mandarinfish.
Found in the South Pacific region, near Australia, these incredibly beautiful and vibrant specimens liven up any fish tank.
However, this is a species that only eats live food, so it could prove to be a bit of a challenge to the casual fish keeper to feed.
NEPTUNE GROUPER
We think the Neptune grouper could look a bit happier, all things considered. Valued at $6000, this is one of the most expensive fish in the world.
The reason why it is so pricey, is because it is so hard for divers to collect.
At between 260 and 800 feet down to the ocean bed, this is very deep, and requires a lot of expertise and expense to collect. (i.e. decompression for both the catcher and the fish).
Young Neptune groupers are orange or yellow-ish colored, whereas the mature ones turn a bright pink.
LIONFISH
Lionfish can grow quite big, so you will need a decent sized aquarium to house one properly.
Feeding them should not be too much of an issue, compared to some tropical fish, as they are fairly easy feeders. The only other issue is space.
These make a beautiful, and certainly rather eye catching addition to any tropical fish tank, but a word or two of caution should be sounded if you are a novice fish keeper.
Lionfish are venomous, and can be dangerous to humans, so they need careful handling, for your own safety!
If you are ever stung by a lionfish, make sure you receive medical care promptly, even if you think it’s okay. It could prove to be fatal!
PEPPERMINT ANGELFISH
Only a few centimeters long, but mighty pricey! One of these recently sold for $30,000, so in all likelihood you probably AREN’T going to buy one for your home fish tank.
If you are lucky enough to see one floating along, you’re probably in some sea life center… or a submarine!
Because these live at such great depths, it is very hard for divers to capture the peppermint angelfish.
They live in tropical reefs at depths between 53 and 120 meters. And on top of that, they are a bit shy too!
Their red and white stripes are very striking, and evidently, very highly prized by collectors!
CLOWNFISH
Clownfish are a highly popular addition to any aquarium, and unlike some of the fish on this list, do not cost the earth. They are native to both the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
Depending on the species that you are talking about, they range between 4 and 7 inches in length, and may be yellow, red, orange, or black in color.
Clownfish are actually a name for a type of anemone fish, and as the name suggests, these are dependent on sea anemones for their survival.
This is a type of co-dependency, as the anemone protects the clownfish and vice versa – ain’t that sweet!
