Is Dragon Fish a good investment?

Dragon Fish, also known as the Asian Arowana, is a protected fish, and a popular Feng Shui fish.  The scientific name is Scleropages Formosus.

Many people buy young Dragon Fish for the sake of improving the Feng Shui in the office and at home.
Some dragon fish farms mention that you can keep the fish as an investment.

However, if you are keeping Dragon Fish solely as an investment, you might want to think twice.
Many experienced hobbyists buy Dragon Fish after it has reached at least 14 inches.

That is the time when the coloration surfaces.  Even if the fish is the coveted Malaysia CrossBack Golden Arowana, the coloration may not surface after a year.

You may start to wonder if there is anything wrong with the CITES certificate.  You may wonder if the fish farm dares to substitute an inferior fish.

Some dragon fish mature late.  The full coloration may come in after two or three years.

If you want to buy a young fish, and sell after the full coloration appears, you may have to invest 2 years in keeping the fish.

That is why keeping the Dragon Fish for the sake of selling them off at a profit is not such a good investment.

You have to change the water frequently, hope the fish does not develop any defect, plus the food for keeping the fish alive and strong for two years.

Many hobbyists feed different insects, and feeder fishes to their pet Dragon fish, for the sake of enhancing the coloration.

When the Dragon Fish goes on a hunger strike for two weeks, you will feel desperate.  You check the water parameter, check the forums, ask for help, buy different food, and yet the stupid Dragon Fish refuse to eat.

If the fish dies, you would have lost a few thousand dollars of your investment.

After all, getting the tank, filter and the young fish requires an initial investment of a few thousand dollars, especially if you buy the expensive Super Red Arowana fry or the CrossBack Golden Arowana fry.

Since the full coloration appears when the fish matures, you would have spent another few hundred dollars for up keeping the fish.

If the fish lives up to expectation, and you can sell it off at a price of $38,888, you get a few times in return.  If the fish dies or develops defect that diminishes the value of the fish, you may not even sell the fish at cost.

Many people do not buy the Dragon fish for the purpose of selling it away.  They want to keep the Dragon fish for life.

They invest in the Dragon Fish for the sake of improving their business or career prospect.  It is a form of investment as well.

Some businessmen even go to the extent of buying 9 Dragon Fish, and customizing a big tank for them.  Compared to the initial cost of up to a hundred thousand dollars for the premium fish, and the big tank plus all the accessories, the return of a few million dollars far exceed the initial investment.

However, being a Feng Shui fish, the death of a Dragon Fish is a harbinger of worst to come.  When the businessmen see the death of 4 or 5 Dragon fish in the tank of 9 fish, the businessmen know that their businesses are going to enter a difficult patch.

The mystical belief that the Dragon Fish can ward off evil, and bring wealth, has many supporters.  Many people testify to the improvement of good luck after they keep a Dragon Fish.  Many businessmen testify that the death of a Dragon Fish is a warning bell of coming financial difficulty.

Most people invest in the Dragon fish to bring good luck and ward off evil, not for the sake of selling it away.

In fact, many hobbyists cannot bear to part with the fish after a year of bonding.  After all, this is the fish that follows you when you walk from one end of the room to another.

This is the fish that wags its tail to express its happiness of seeing you.  This is the fish that observes everyone in the house with its keen eyes.