paid 550 for the fish plus tax and shipping came to 710... i drove it to jersey which wasnt far out of my way for 140 after keeping him for a year, healing his torn fins, his chimple went away and he no longer looked sickly thin. so no it wasnt free but i recovered 20% of what i paid after rehabbing an unhealthy fish. end of thw day they are very rare, banned in manyg states so the market is limited, and seeing my fish find a good home was important to me