Rare Saltwater Fish To Buy At Absolutely Fish
by Christopher Fong
Here at Absolutely Fish we are no strangers to unique and exotic aquarium fish that you don’t see everyday. However, several fish over the years on the saltwater side have made a long lasting impact on our staff for being exceptionally rare having come through the shop on only a handful of occasions and commanding an exceptionally high price tag due to their scarcity and the difficulty of obtaining such fish. Here are some of our favorites.
The Conspicuous Angelfish (Chaetodontoplus conspicillatus) is Absolutely Fish’s “flagship” fish and is deeply intertwined with our history. It makes several appearances in our profile photos on certain social media websites and is showcased on the mural that is painted on the front of our store. The Conspicuous Angelfish hails from the remote seas off New Caledonia and sections of the Great Barrier Reef. These fish are priced at $7,000+ for wild-caught specimens and around $3,500 for aqua cultured individuals. We have kept dozens of aquacultured specimens over the years.
The Dr. Seuss Soap Fish (Belonoperca pylei) is a member of the Serranid family and are very closely related to liopropoma basslets. These fish come from the deep water reefs of Micronesia and the surrounding islands in the central pacific. Living at 150 Feet and below these fish are adapted to cooler dimly lit waters and should be offered the same in captivity like most other deep water fish. Absolutely Fish was the first to receive these fish in the entire country in the early 2000s and at the time it was priced at $5,000.
The Sunrise Hogfish (Bodianus sanguineus) is another deep water fish endemic to the outer reefs of the Hawaiian Islands and is often times found at depths of 200-400 feet. Known for it’s vivid red and yellow coloration this fish has become a firm favorite for the avid collector of rare marine fish. In 2004 Absolutely Fish acquired this majestic fish with a price tag of $3,000+.
The Wrought Iron Butterflyfish (Chaetodon daedalma) a stunning metallic black marine fish endemic to the cool waters around central and southern Japan, specifically the Izu and Ogasawara islands. In the wild they are know for forming large schools in the rocky reef habitats that they inhabit and feed mainly on zooplankton, invertebrates and algae. In 2006 Absolutely Fish had one of these stunning fish priced at $5,000+.
Finally, a fairly recent addition to the Absolutely Rare Fish Hall of Fame is the Neptune Grouper (Cephalopholis igarashiensis). Another rare and deep water fish inhabiting coral reefs at depths of 260-820 feet in the Indo pacific. This fish is know for it’s vibrant red/orange body along with it’s striking yellow stripes. Absolutely Fish received one of these beauties in 2026 and is a must see if you get the chance the see it while it’s still here!