JAPANESE KOI, THE WORLD'S MOST EXPENSIVE FISH, CULTIVATED IN ŽEPČE, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

In a time when many in Bosnia and Herzegovina are departing for Germany, Johan Bikelhaupt has taken a journey in the opposite direction. He relocated to Bosnia and Herzegovina, settling in a village near Žepče, where he now cultivates Japanese Koi – the world's most expensive fish.

In a modest pond beside his home, Johan potentially harbors fish worth millions of euros. Yet, he hasn't bothered to ascertain their exact value, as profit isn't his driving force.

- I'm not in this for profit, but out of love, Johan states.

However, his most cherished treasures are not these rare fish but his wife, Dragica, a Žepče native and the love of his life.

- I lived in Germany for 12 years, where I met Johan. We got married, and in 2007, we decided to move here. Our friends were puzzled, wondering what we were doing. But now, when they visit, they marvel at how beautiful life is here, says Dragica.

As shared with journalist Srećko Stopović, Johan brought his hobby of cultivating Japanese Koi with him to Bosnia and Herzegovina. While his father raised Japanese Koi in Frankfurt, it was in a small basin. Johan had always dreamed of owning a larger fishpond. This dream became a reality on the estate near Žepče, which he developed with his wife.

- Japanese Koi are a river of wealth and are exceptionally valuable on the market. If they inhabit healthy, quality water, they can live up to 80 years and reach prices as staggering as 2 million euros for a single specimen. Of course, such value is attributed to originals, whereas many fish in ponds are not genuine, explains Dragica.

Do the Bikelhaupts possess at least one of these pricey originals in their pond?

- We don't know, and we'll never find out. Here, there's no possibility of obtaining a certificate, as in Germany or Switzerland. Plus, the testing required for such certification costs around 15,000 euros. We didn't even attempt it; it's not of interest to us, say Dragica and Johan.

So far, they admit to selling only two fish, without disclosing the sale price, and gifting two small ones to friends for their aquariums.

- Many were interested, especially Arabs, but we decided to withdraw the sales offer. After all, this is our hobby. Alongside Japanese Koi, we also have two common carp, gifted by a friend who, unfortunately, is no longer with us. We treat all our fish equally, making no distinction between them, explains Dragica.