A fish called the Asian arowana (Scleropages formosus) is a really popular pet among those who can afford it. One fish can set you back thousands of dollars, all the way up to $300,000 for a single fish! Be warned, it is illegal to own one in the United States. The Asian arowana was once just a nondescript fish with little value found in southeast Asia, but in 1975, it was classified as a threatened species. That meant they were rare, and were suddenly a hot commodity. Talk about unintended consequences! In the years since, the price for an Asian arowana has skyrocketed, and the demand grew because owning one let everyone know you could afford it. Arowana farms thrived, and new and colorful varieties were developed, all priced on how rare they are. Globally, owners want to show off their specimens, and there are even practitioners of fish plastic surgery to improve an Asian arowana’s appearance. Showing off isn’t so easy in the US, where the fish are traded illegally on the black market. Read about the Asian arowana at The Hustle. -via Nag on the Lake
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Source: neatorama