Part I: "Dragons in their pleasant palaces". The pet detective ; The fish ; The arowana cartel ; Aquarama ; The dragon's den -- Part II: The edge of the known world. The living fish ; The explorers ; Naming rights ; Part III: The super red. In the age of aquariums ; Ghost fish ; Part IV: Fish #32,107. Monsters of our making ; "The authorities will be watching you" ; Beard of the crocodile -- Part V: Into the lair. The paradox of value ; Fish meets world ; Plan C ; Here be dragons

"A journalist's quest to find a wild Asian arowana--the world's most expensive aquarium fish--takes her on a global tour through the bizarre realm of ornamental fish hobbyists to some of the most remote jungles on the planet."--Dust jacket