A Siamese fighting fish in the colors of the Thai flag has been bought for 53,500 baht (£1,200) at an online auction, reports The Guardian.

The fish, which has blue, red and white horizontal stripes, is believed to have sold for more than double the previous record for the species.

Photos of it went viral after Kachen Worachai, 40, who breeds Siamese fighting fish, or Betta, as a hobby, posted them on a private auction group on Facebook.

On Thursday, Kachen, a convenience store owner, said he expected the fish to sell for a few thousand baht. On the second day of the auction, bidding had reached 10,000 baht. The opening bid price had been 99 baht.

“I never expected my fish to go for this price,” Kachen said, adding that unsuccessful attempts had previously been made to breed Betta in the flag’s colors.

The previous record price, 23,500 baht, was for a half-moon Betta, he said.

“The chance of getting a fish with the flag’s exact color is about one in 100,000,” Kachen said. “So many people have tried to breed the Thai flag colors. Luck was really on my side.”