News — arowana

A rare exotic fish has become a coveted status symbol and all-around obsession.

Prized for its glimmering scales and sinuous body, the Asian Arowana is one of the world’s most expensive aquatic creatures, with some rumored to fetch up to $300,000,  according to Emily Voigt, author of “The Dragon Behind the Glass: A True Story of Power, Obsession, and the World’s Most Coveted Fish.”   While not all are priced in the six figures, a young Arowana in Singapore could go for $300, while rare adult white albinos could cost $70,000 or more.

Arowana, also known as “dragon fish,” are not the typical pet fish. They are bred throughout South East Asia and can grow to be around three feet long (about the size of a snowshoe). Some owners are so enamored with the fish that they’re splashing money on plastic surgery for the pets — $90 for an eyelift and $60 for a chin job.

Many even believe that the fish brings good luck and wealth. Tales abound of Arowana sacrificing their lives to jump out of tanks and warn owners against bad business ventures and other dangers.

Protected by the Endangered Species Act, the Asian Arowana is nearly depleted from the wild. In 1975, 183 countries signed a treaty classifying it as a rare species and banning the fish from international trade. To this day, it cannot legally be brought into the United States.