Are coral prices getting extreme?

[Dr. Dendrostein]

Sorry in advance if this is I'm the wrong section. There wasnt a general coral discussion.

So I'm fairly new to the hobby. Since I started researching say a year to year and a half ago I realized imo that corals are getting really expensive. I saw a well known place asking $45 for green star polyps. Normal frag size. I have also seen recently that torches are through the roof.

Anyway I wanted to create a poll to see how yall feel about it.

The polyps hard to swallow what some go for. But if you do your homework right, buying the corals that thrive, might get you a return on investment in due time . I'm into NPS ( non photosynthetic), but the day I have SPS or LPS corals. I would like to buy colonies, instead of frags. Unless it's a nano aquarium. Time will tell.

Thanks for sharing, comrade

 

[RJ F.]

I love what everyone has posted! So much good info for me and new places to look. I can def see how it really depends on where you shop, when you buy, and what you are getting. I'm still learning about frag swaps in my area. I have a few LFS but honestly I haven't been very happy with their selection. One of the LFS has GHA growing on every frag plug. Another has "premium zoas" for $80 and it just doesnt make me want to buy them.

Maybe I'll just save up for that $2000 inferno anemone.

I also dont want ppl to mistake my thread with complaining. I truly am grateful we have such a selection. Technology has come so far in our hobby and makes it possible for ppl like me to even have a thriving reef tank

 

[Graffiti Spot]

I think the main contribution to the high coral prices is the quality and color of stuff that has been brought in in the past 5 years has been way better than the past, that combined with only Australia sending out corals has made collectors and vendors change their prices and way of business. But I wonder how bad prices would be if led/filter/photography hadn’t become an accepted practice for selling corals.