Seems like a waste that could be avoided.
Yeah, that aint happening here.
Being in California, and in the Bay Area specifically, we are kind of spoil and have the option still to buy $10-20 frags at the LFS. One of these stores imports fresh colonies in every 2 weeks or so, but also keeps/carries aquacultured stuff from other local hobbyists and other staples that has been in captivity for awhile. The colonies are kept to their own devices in the tank for ~1 week or so and then most likely they'll get chopped up. The smaller nubs are $10 and the larger frags are in the $20 range. This is for sps only, since the store carries corals up to the $500 price point if you're looking for full colonies.
The owner has been in business for over a decade and grew into the existing space a few years ago. I've frequent the place at both the old location as well as the new one and his care for the corals is one of the better ones for being a brick and mortar joint.
This is one of the aquacultured pieces that I purchased from him in mid April, that's currently in my tank. The original frag was thumbnail size and the mother colony is now over 2 years old. The original owner frags and brings in the pieces to the store for sale as credit. Superman A. hyacinthus approximately 3" around.
In tank and mounted to the Tonga, daylight shot.
Under blues, where the polyps pops.
Some of the selection from the $10-20 frag section, lighted by Kessil AP700s. Excuse my cellphone pics; it picks up way more blues than in these pics. $10 sampling.
$20 sampling.
Couple of pieces that I was checking out in the $20 section. As you can see, while he does frag regularly, he doesn't sell everything and the sps has plenty of time to heal, encrust and grow (as in the piece on the right; the left piece is healed).
I’m in Sacramento, where is this? About to take a trip. I have a few local stores but they’re all garbage. Only bought a few pieces and both came with pestsBeing in California, and in the Bay Area specifically, we are kind of spoil and have the option still to buy $10-20 frags at the LFS. One of these stores imports fresh colonies in every 2 weeks or so, but also keeps/carries aquacultured stuff from other local hobbyists and other staples that has been in captivity for awhile. The colonies are kept to their own devices in the tank for ~1 week or so and then most likely they'll get chopped up. The smaller nubs are $10 and the larger frags are in the $20 range. This is for sps only, since the store carries corals up to the $500 price point if you're looking for full colonies.
The owner has been in business for over a decade and grew into the existing space a few years ago. I've frequent the place at both the old location as well as the new one and his care for the corals is one of the better ones for being a brick and mortar joint.
This is one of the aquacultured pieces that I purchased from him in mid April, that's currently in my tank. The original frag was thumbnail size and the mother colony is now over 2 years old. The original owner frags and brings in the pieces to the store for sale as credit. Superman A. hyacinthus approximately 3" around.
In tank and mounted to the Tonga, daylight shot.
Under blues, where the polyps pops.
Some of the selection from the $10-20 frag section, lighted by Kessil AP700s. Excuse my cellphone pics; it picks up way more blues than in these pics. $10 sampling.
$20 sampling.
Couple of pieces that I was checking out in the $20 section. As you can see, while he does frag regularly, he doesn't sell everything and the sps has plenty of time to heal, encrust and grow (as in the piece on the right; the left piece is healed).
True but too bad we can't find a house for under a million dollars [emoji12]Being in California, and in the Bay Area specifically, we are kind of spoil and have the option still to buy $10-20 frags at the LFS. One of these stores imports fresh colonies in every 2 weeks or so, but also keeps/carries aquacultured stuff from other local hobbyists and other staples that has been in captivity for awhile. The colonies are kept to their own devices in the tank for ~1 week or so and then most likely they'll get chopped up. The smaller nubs are $10 and the larger frags are in the $20 range. This is for sps only, since the store carries corals up to the $500 price point if you're looking for full colonies.
The owner has been in business for over a decade and grew into the existing space a few years ago. I've frequent the place at both the old location as well as the new one and his care for the corals is one of the better ones for being a brick and mortar joint.
This is one of the aquacultured pieces that I purchased from him in mid April, that's currently in my tank. The original frag was thumbnail size and the mother colony is now over 2 years old. The original owner frags and brings in the pieces to the store for sale as credit. Superman A. hyacinthus approximately 3" around.
In tank and mounted to the Tonga, daylight shot.
Under blues, where the polyps pops.
Some of the selection from the $10-20 frag section, lighted by Kessil AP700s. Excuse my cellphone pics; it picks up way more blues than in these pics. $10 sampling.
$20 sampling.
Couple of pieces that I was checking out in the $20 section. As you can see, while he does frag regularly, he doesn't sell everything and the sps has plenty of time to heal, encrust and grow (as in the piece on the right; the left piece is healed).
I've found it depends on where you shop. I've found a few that I trust in the Roseville area and haven't had an issue. The stores in Sacramento that I've been to have been rather dodgy.
Just sold WD to Robert and soon to be his store manager, Frank. We are super spoiled with what SPS he offers there for $10-$20. I got this piece in the $10 section about a year ago.
