Summary
There are well over 100 critters inAnimal Crossing: New Horizons. These creatures are classified into either the fish or the bug categories and collecting them all will prove a challenge. They can be found nearly anywhere on both the player’s island and the special Nook Miles Islands (a visit requires a Nook Miles Ticket, purchased for 2000 Nook Miles).
This topic will focus on the rarity of the critters, the difficulty of catching each one, and the amount of money they sell for (if the other two categories are equal) to help order the rarest critters inAnimal Crossing: New Horizons, along with the easiest known method for catching them all.
Updated Jun 09, 2025 by Nadia Grace Mullings:Animal Crossing: New Horizons was one of 2020’s most popular games. Released during the COVID-19 pandemic, this game couldn’t have come at a more apt time. Known for its trademark simple, cozy gameplay, many players spend a lot of time tracking down all the wildlife that thrives on their islands. Seeing that this game is well over four years old by now, many players will have successfully completed their Critterpedias.
However, since general interest in the game has long since died down, some players may not have caught all the bugs, fish, and deep-sea creatures available. For those who want to catch every critter, it’s important to realize each animal’s habits, and what is required to allow them to spawn on an island.
21Napoleon Fish
An Eye-Catching Yet Rare Fish
The Napoleon Fish is a distinctive critter, with its"bold blue-green coloring,“as Blathers comments once one has been donated to the Museum. This fish has a huge shadow and can be found for most of the day, from 4 AM through 9 PM. This doesn’t make it any less rare, though, and players will need to have caught 50 previous fish before Napoleon fish begin to spawn on an island.
Mostly, its rarity is down to the fact that they can be found on players' islands for only two months of the year. In the Northern Hemisphere, it’s from July to August, and in the Southern Hemisphere, it’s from January to February. The fact there’s such a restricted window of opportunity will encourage players to search thoroughly for one. However, there is a good reward, as both Nook’s Cranny and C.J. offer a desirable amount of Bells for a Napoleon fish: 10,000 and 15,000, respectively.
20Football Fish
Score Big By Catching One
For those wondering, yes. The Football Fish is based on a real-world fish. As for how it got its name, the man who first discovered the fish kicked one of them while walking along the beach and decided that its flight was similar to that of a football. Like a football, however, the Football Fish isn’t worth too much, with Timmy and Tommy only willing to part with a measly 2,500 bells.
What makes the fish somewhat rare though is not their value or the scarcity at which they spawn in, but instead the requirement to catch 20 fish before they do so. After this requirement has been met, however, they can be found between November and March on Northern Hemisphere islands (May and September in the south) from 4 PM until 9 AM.
19Giant Isopod
Difficult To Catch
There’s perhaps an argument to be made that Giant Isopods technically aren’t all that rare, though being able to catch one of these fast-moving sea creatures is. Players will likely need to follow the critter’s medium-sized shadow for quite some time before being able to catch it. Even then, they’ll probably need to rely on a favorable turn or two.
Another thing that can make the Giant Isopod difficult to catch is its active hours, with the creature only appearing at night and during school hours. Of course, younger players can get around this simply by staying up a little past their bedtimes or utilizing time travel, but for those who don’t like to break the rules, both solutions may prove to be somewhat problematic. The rewards are worth it, however, with each Giant Isopod fetching an impressive 12,000 Bells.
18Ocean Sunfish
There’s Always A Bigger Fish
The Ocean Sunfish is comically large. So much so, that holding it up after catching it completely obscures the playable character. If anything though, this is an understatement, with some Ocean Sunfish able to grow to more than 3 meters in length and weigh up to a tonne.
Selling an Ocean Sunfish at Nooks Cranny will net players 4,000 bells, although taking it to C.J. raises this amount to 6,000. They can be caught during daylight hours between July and September in the Northern Hemisphere or January and March in the South.
17Vampire Squid
This Elusive Squid Is Only Found At Night
The Vampire Squid is a deep-sea creature that, unfortunately for players, moves very quickly. What’s more, they are only available from 4 PM-9 AM, meaning they’re harder to spot under the night sky. They appear on players’ islands from May to August in the North and November to February in the South. Players will need to have already caught a whopping 80 other deep-sea creatures before this squid shows up.
A handy method for catching such quick-moving sea creatures is to corner them against the boundary net thatsurrounds the island. Another handy tip is to approach them very slowly before they start moving again. Though vampire squid can be frustrating to hunt down, catching one is rewarding, as it sells for a hefty 10,000 Bells.
16Spider Crab
Only A Short Window Of Opportunity To Get One
One of the many deep-sea creatures added into the game as part of the July 2020 update, the Spider Crab is among the rarest critters inAnimal Crossing: New Horizons. Despite being available 24 hours a day, there’s only a two-month window during which the Spider Crab can be caught: between March and April around northern hemisphere islands and September and October for anyone living in the south.
Like some of the other rare deep-sea creatures inAnimal Crossing: New Horizons, the Spider Crab is at its most active during nighttime hours. To find one, players will need to keep their eyes peeled for a fast-moving large shadow and then follow it around until they have it cornered. For those having trouble catching it, it can help to dive down at the last possible moment, as the player’s swim speed is a little faster above the water than it is while under it. Upon catching a Spider Crab, players will be able to sell it for a mighty 12,000 Bells.
15Great White Shark
“We’re Gonna Need A Bigger Rod”
The Great White Shark is a fearsome creature and is often referred to as the King of the ocean. Perhaps ‘Queen’ would be a little more apt though, given that the typical adult female is usually much larger than her male counterparts. Either way though, it’s a great catch given that Timmy and Tommy are willing to pay a whopping 15,000 bells per shark.
The fish are active during the summer months in the north and can be reeled in between the hours of 4 PM and 9 AM. Those in the south can instead expect to find them between December and March, although all players will first need to catch 50 fish before they start to spawn.
14Tarantula
If Players Survive Its Attacks, There’s A Nice Reward
The Tarantula is one of only a handful of bugs in the game that are hostile towards the player. With this in mind, players should be sure to have their nets ready before approaching them to avoid getting bitten. They sell for 8,000 bells (12,000 to Flick) and spawn on the ground, so those with cluttered islands may not see them too regularly.
On Northern Hemisphere islands, they can be found during the night between November and April. Those in the south, however, can expect to see them popping up between May and October instead. Due to their high value, many players opt to redesign their islands to increase the chances of Tarantulas spawning.
13Scorpion
Failure To Catch One Really Stings
Scorpions are a little similar to Tarantulas, in that they will attack players if they get too close. A sting from its tail will lead to the playable character passing out and the Scorpion will usually flee. They’re pretty valuable as a result, with Timmy and Tommy offering 8,000 bells per Scorpion and Flick willing to pay 12,000.
These deadly critters spawn in during months that Tarantulas don’t, so expect to find them between May and October if you’re in the north or November and April if you’re in the south. They’re active between the hours of 7 PM and 4 AM and can also be farmed pretty effectively by tweaking one’s island to increase the chances of them spawning.
12Gigas Giant Clam
The Most Expensive Deep-Sea Creature
Despite being available 24 hours a day for five months of the year, the Gigas Giant Clam is the rarest deep-sea creature inAnimal Crossing: New Horizons. According to Blathers, these giant mollusks can measure up to six feet in length and weigh in at around 600 pounds once fully grown. More impressively, perhaps, they can live to be up to 100 years old, making them one of the longest-living critters in the game.
To find a Gigas Giant Clam, players will need to look for a large, fast-moving shadow while diving. They’ll show up during the summer months in the Northern Hemisphereand winter monthsfor those whose islands are south of the equator. Once caught, players can sell their Gigas Giant Clams for 15,000 bells, meaning that it’s tied for the title of most valuable critter inAnimal Crossing: New Horizons.
