Are we been ripped off

[SpSDrew]

Depends on who you are buying from. I would rather pay double knowing I am getting a clean piece from a well known seller or store. Why? I do not have to QT my own corals and invest in a separate system.

I also realize I am paying for this persons time, additives, electricity, and so on for this piece so I am fine buying a "fair" to high amount for most pieces.

 

[areefer01]

Depends on who you are buying from. I would rather pay double knowing I am getting a clean piece from a well known seller or store. Why? I do not have to QT my own corals and invest in a separate system.

I also realize I am paying for this persons time, additives, electricity, and so on for this piece so I am fine buying a "fair" to high amount for most pieces.

Your post makes sense. And it is a choice. Thumbs up.

 

[Fishingandreefing]

That’s everything in life.

 

[MarineandReef Jaron]

How do we grow produce that fills our grocery store shelves? Seems to work out ok here in California.

The produce is grown outdoors on a farm using natural sunlight and rainfall not in a warehouse with artificial light and city water.

Aquacultured corals are grown in a warehouse with artificial light, seawater, filtration, and supplementation. making them extremely expensive. Mariculturrerd corals are grown on a section of actual coral reef. This is what we need yet it is becoming increasingly illegal.

 

[Tonycass12]

Buying from local reefers is key. Ive wanted a walt Disney frag for the last couple years but wouldn't even consider it with how expensive they are online. Went to pick up a nice chunk of pearlberry from a local that I've gotten a couple things from and he tossed in a chunk of walt Disney for free. Im not sure ill every buy from the big retailers again, the closest I get is Adam at "battle corals" and thermans "indor ecosystems". Both of those guys I would still consider extreme side of the hobby but not one of the big retail names like wwc or tsa.

 

[face]

LFS is good if you want tank fillers and really common stuff that is large and you arent worried about pests. If you want rare specific aqua-cultured pieces your going to have to pay up. Think about it. Its a lot easier to go out in the ocean with a hacksaw and collect a few 1000 pieces than it is to grow 1 little polyp into a colony. I use to buy from LFS years ago but I would always end up with lots of pests some very bad and the death rate is higher for many of these corals because they arent adapted to captivity well. Now I only buy from well established hobbyist who have been aqua-culturing for years. I have had excellent results with longevity, few pests and no surprises. I know what I am getting as I know the size of a frag plug so I'm not expecting a massive colony just because I paid $500.

 

[face]

totally agree, I haven’t felt ripped off yet since I’ve started in the hobby. I’ve saved a ton of money just waiting for deals and shopping in different states. It’s all about being disciplined. It’s all an investment to me and a very good one. I just understand the risk. I don’t think the hobby has reached its peak yet.
I often come on R2R to ask if a price of coral or fish is too much before buying which helps out a lot. Lover the platform so far. Wish R2R create an app

They had an amazing app... But for some reason canceled it... Really was the best thing in a decade.

 

[Nano_Man]

Bump

 

[i cant think]

Are we in the hobby been ripped off on frag prices . Size-quality

I wouldn’t say sizewise as generally acros are fast growers when we get them truly going. I’ve had a few of my acros for 6-7 months and some of them are mini colony size.
However, name wise I would say we’re being ripped off. Over here we don’t really do anything to do with the name and we use basics;
(Millepora, Tenuis, Turaki, Tortuosa) and then the colour morph.

Yes, we get a few that are named however in the LFS I work at we prefer to make the customers happy and keep it simple instead of ‘Ultra rare rainbow acropora turaki’. The other thing is over here Acros haven’t hit the market too much and most European tanks are generally going to be Softies/LPS.

 

[twentyleagues]

Just getting back in after 12 years. I see corals I wanted back then for a fraction of the price today. I also see corals I had that I'd give frags away going for hundreds of dollars. As time goes by things change, tastes change. Price is relative to what's "in" right now. Crazy color acros have always been expensive, but I see ones now that are cheap compared to then. I agree with whoever said wait and prices will come down. All I know for certain is it's a bad time for me to want to start a new tank with mostly euphillia or whatever they've been renamed as.

 

[fish farmer]

Just getting back in after 12 years. I see corals I wanted back then for a fraction of the price today. I also see corals I had that I'd give frags away going for hundreds of dollars. As time goes by things change, tastes change. Price is relative to what's "in" right now. Crazy color acros have always been expensive, but I see ones now that are cheap compared to then. I agree with whoever said wait and prices will come down. All I know for certain is it's a bad time for me to want to start a new tank with mostly euphillia or whatever they've been renamed as.

I got lucky with hammers, got several before the Indo ban, finally seen a few back to reasonable prices.

 

[Slicktop]

LFS's have overhead like everyone else in the great economy we are in at the moment! Everything is crazy expensive. I am fortunate that I have a LFS that loves my frags and trades me live goods for them. I want them to thrive and be profitable. I do agree some of these frags selling for 500-600 each is insane, but if someone is willing to pay for them I dont blame the seller.

 

[I never finish anythi]

As long as we keep paying they will continue to raise .

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

I think this is probably the most discussed topic on R2R tbh

 

[Nano_Man]

Bump

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

What sort of explanation are you trying to find? I used to work at a shop, I was just messaging a collector in Bali 2 seconds ago, I've been in the hobby for a while...what would you like to know?

 

[Cichlid Dad]

I know LFS has to make a profit, I just shop around the LFS’s and buy the lowest price.

what really bothers me are those home frag sellers that sell for the same price as LFS.

That's because people pay it. If you look hard enough you will find somebody selling frags at home for good prices you just have to network to find them

 

[BroccoliFarmer]

What sort of explanation are you trying to find? I used to work at a shop, I was just messaging a collector in Bali 2 seconds ago, I've been in the hobby for a while...what would you like to know?

Sounds like someone is trying to get other people to back his/her/its perspective. Pretty obvious that OP continually bumping this thread to get attention. I chuckle..we get a few of these a month, each one whining about the expense of an expensive hobby. I hear bird watching is pretty cheap. I get ya started:

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

Exactly...this is the most brought up subject on the site!

Sounds like someone is trying to get other people to back his/her/its perspective. Pretty obvious that OP continually bumping this thread to get attention. I chuckle..we get a few of these a month, each one whining about the expense of an expensive hobby. I hear bird watching is pretty cheap. I get ya started:

 

[BroccoliFarmer]

Exactly...this is the most brought up subject on the site!

That or 'please ID my xxx coral' so that I can know how much i can charge for a frag of it..assuming it makes it past my 2 week old tank's death trap