In feng shui, fish and the number of fishes in an aquarium is always important. You can use fish either in a koi pond outside your home or in an aquarium inside your home. Both uses are auspicious, especially feng shui goldfish, such an Arrowana and black moor.

Combination of Nine Fish Is Auspicious Feng Shui

The best combination of nine fish in your house in an aquarium is eight goldfish or Arrowana fish (a Chinese good luck fish often referred to as a dragon fish and is best used in a koi pond due to grown size of over four feet) and one black-colored goldfish (black moor). With the combination of eight red and one black fish, the fish symbolize prosperity, energy, and good fortune. The number eight is the major prosperity number for feng shui practices.

How One Black Fish Enhances Feng Shui

The one black goldfish is most important since its purpose is to absorb any negative energy that enters your home. The black goldfish therefore becomes a symbol of protection. If the black fish dies without any known cause, such as under-oxygenated water, overfeeding, or lack of food, it is believed the fish died from absorbing bad luck that was meant for you. In fact, many people believe that if any fish in the tank dies without a justifiable cause, then its sacrifice was to spare you the bad luck that was headed your way.

Remove and Replace Dead Fish Immediately

You want to always remove a dead fish from the tank immediately and replace it as soon as possible. There are many practitioners of feng shui who give their dead fish a nice burial and say prayers or mantras for them. It’s common knowledge black fish die more often than the goldfish; there are some biological explanations, such as the moor has poorer vision and cannot compete fairly for the food.

Many Asians count on their pet fish for good luck

SINGAPORE (Reuters Life!) – During these tough financial times, some Asians are seeking solace in faith. Others are pinning their hopes for a turnaround on their pet fish.

In the Chinese culture, owning a fish is considered a good investment because the Mandarin characters for fish and water are associated with wealth and plenty.

And a Singapore-based firm which exports more than 500 species of ornamental fish to 65 countries around the world says its business appears to be recession-proof. It even expects to turn a profit this year.

“In tough times, you tend to believe in religion even more, but you may also keep some fish,” said Kenny Yap, executive chairman of ornamental fish breeders and suppliers Qian Hu, one of the biggest in Southeast Asia.

“Many different types of fish are about luck.”

One of the most auspicious fish species in Chinese culture is the arowana or dragonfish, which is believed to have the power to bring luck and prosperity.

Some Chinese believe they are descendants of a mythical dragon and place high value on dragon symbolism. The red and gold arowana variety are especially prized, as their colors are seen as being traditionally lucky in China.

Yap said arowanas contribute 60 to 70 percent of Qian Hu total sales volume of ornamental fish in China, its major market.

A typical high-grade silver arowana, measuring 15-18 cm costs between $1,400 and $2,000, but some bigger, rare fish can fetch tens of thousands of dollars. The fish can live up to 25 years and can grow up to one meter in length.

Toh Wee Kai, who owns a printing shop in Singapore, said his business has been doing well ever since he put an arowana on display some seven years ago.

He had since bought eight more, as well as five large stingrays, which cost 12,000 Singapore dollars ($8,200) each.

“My first fish attracts a lot of customers. So after one, I started to get more,” Toh said. “Most Chinese businessmen believe breeding arowanas will bring them good luck.”

Qian Hu’s Yap said the firm aims to distribute tropical fish in India in two years’ time to tap into the country’s expanding and increasingly affluent middle class.