Considering shutting down. Help pricing fish?

southerntnreefer · Mar 30, 2022

I can price gear, that's easy.. fish and coral is where I struggle. Let's start with fish. What could I expect to get for healthy established specimens? Thoughts? Still toying on ideas. Photos to show size of tang etc.

Clowns x3 l2 are at least 4 years old. All 3 bonded.

Captive bred royal gramma

Flame Hawkfish

Tomoni tang

3x chalk bass

Coral beauty

Watchman goby

kred47 · Mar 30, 2022

southerntnreefer said:
I can price gear, that's easy.. fish and coral is where I struggle. Let's start with fish. What could I expect to get for healthy established specimens? Thoughts? Still toying on ideas. Photos to show size of tang etc.

Clowns x3 l2 are at least 4 years old. All 3 bonded.

Captive bred royal gramma

Flame Hawkfish

Tomoni tang

3x chalk bass

Coral beauty

Watchman goby

Maybe 60 for the bonded clowns
- 50 for the tomini tang
- 15 for the ymg
- 40 for the flame hawkfish
- 20 for the royal gramma
-80 for the bass

I’m just going off what I’d pay. You’re not going to get fish store or online prices, so I think these are good prices to get some serious buyers in your area interested.

Utubereefer · Mar 30, 2022

I’d ask a couple more bucks than what you want to get so there’s room for negotiation.

ROB2005 · Mar 30, 2022

You don’t mind me asking why you’re considering shutting down?

DeniseAndy · Mar 30, 2022

I would be interested in a few of those. For pricing, I would look at what they are retail and go maybe 75% of that. Then leave for negotiation a bit. Good luck!

southerntnreefer · Mar 30, 2022

kred47 said:
Maybe 60 for the bonded clowns
- 50 for the tomini tang
- 15 for the ymg
- 40 for the flame hawkfish
- 20 for the royal gramma
-80 for the bass

I’m just going off what I’d pay. You’re not going to get fish store or online prices, so I think these are good prices to get some serious buyers in your area interested.

That's about what I was thinking. Not looking to get rich honestly. That's not why we have tanks. I would just want good homes for em. Good to know I was on the right page!

southerntnreefer · Mar 30, 2022

ROB2005 said:
You don’t mind me asking why you’re considering shutting down?

A few reasons. We travel a fair amount, so it's one more item that I have to have my daughter watch. ( I do have apex and fill control) and this tank has been fighting me since day 1. It's what I get for going 100 percent dry...

DeniseAndy · Mar 30, 2022

Sometimes we have to do what works best for us. Good luck on whatever you decide.

However: if you are traveling north nearish Cincinnati and want to bring your fish, let me know.

southerntnreefer · Mar 30, 2022

DeniseAndy said:
Sometimes we have to do what works best for us. Good luck on whatever you decide.

However: if you are traveling north nearish Cincinnati and want to bring your fish, let me know.

That's how I'm feeling. I'm toying with moving a few to the 32 biocube I have in storage and going from there or exiting completely.

mindme · Mar 30, 2022

southerntnreefer said:
I can price gear, that's easy.. fish and coral is where I struggle. Let's start with fish. What could I expect to get for healthy established specimens? Thoughts? Still toying on ideas. Photos to show size of tang etc.

Clowns x3 l2 are at least 4 years old. All 3 bonded.

Captive bred royal gramma

Flame Hawkfish

Tomoni tang

3x chalk bass

Coral beauty

Watchman goby

Good luck, but I doubt you'll get more than $40 total for all those fish.

Sure, they are worth more and would sell for more in a fish shop. But the thing people seem to forget is that they don't have a fish shop. They don't have customers coming in constantly all day every day. They don't see that while that fish may be up for sale at $70, it may have taken weeks with many people looking at it before it actually sells.

Now you could maybe get out there and hustle and work your but off on internet forums and other marketplaces and get more. But it won't be easy and it most likely wouldn't be worth the time. It's not easy getting eyeballs on your stuff.

And then there are some fish stores who simply won't buy them at all, or even give store credit. Many seem to, but they aren't going to pay more than what they can get from their supplier to start with, and they'll probably want to pay less than that because they could just order it from the supplier.

I've had to just give my fish away multiple times when moving. The only time I really sold my fish was about 10 years ago and I sold me entire setup, tank, equipment, everything to someone. Even then, it was pretty cheap overall, as I just wanted someone to take them before I moved.

southerntnreefer · Mar 30, 2022

mindme said:
Good luck, but I doubt you'll get more than $40 total for all those fish.

Sure, they are worth more and would sell for more in a fish shop. But the thing people seem to forget is that they don't have a fish shop. They don't have customers coming in constantly all day every day. They don't see that while that fish may be up for sale at $70, it may have taken weeks with many people looking at it before it actually sells.

Now you could maybe get out there and hustle and work your but off on internet forums and other marketplaces and get more. But it won't be easy and it most likely wouldn't be worth the time. It's not easy getting eyeballs on your stuff.

And then there are some fish stores who simply won't buy them at all, or even give store credit. Many seem to, but they aren't going to pay more than what they can get from their supplier to start with, and they'll probably want to pay less than that because they could just order it from the supplier.

I've had to just give my fish away multiple times when moving. The only time I really sold my fish was about 10 years ago and I sold me entire setup, tank, equipment, everything to someone. Even then, it was pretty cheap overall, as I just wanted someone to take them before I moved.

We have a pretty strong reef club. When I tore down my old 220 to get rid of multiple tanks in the house, I had all fish gone in a day! I'm still trying with the idea, and I don't "have" to take it down so I've got time. Not looking to get rich by any means, ultimately a good home is what I'm after.

mindme · Mar 30, 2022

southerntnreefer said:
We have a pretty strong reef club. When I tore down my old 220 to get rid of multiple tanks in the house, I had all fish gone in a day! I'm still trying with the idea, and I don't "have" to take it down so I've got time. Not looking to get rich by any means, ultimately a good home is what I'm after.

Good luck. More time will definitely allow you to get more for them.

My experiences have not been so positive, but I also do not belong to any reef clubs.

DeniseAndy · Mar 30, 2022

I have rescued some fish locally in the past also. I did pay for them, but I like getting trusted fish from other reefers and giving them a good home. I am sure you will find that if you have some good local reef clubs. I would do that long before giving them to a fish store where they may get sick.

southerntnreefer · Mar 30, 2022

DeniseAndy said:
I have rescued some fish locally in the past also. I did pay for them, but I like getting trusted fish from other reefers and giving them a good home. I am sure you will find that if you have some good local reef clubs. I would do that long before giving them to a fish store where they may get sick.

Oh I always do that. Ive got buddies building out tanks still. Livestock and coral shouldn't take long to find homes.

southerntnreefer · Mar 30, 2022

Thanks all! I'll likely have more questions on coral, as I never know what to price something at for local hobbiest. Again I'm not looking to get rich just get things moved out.

kred47 · Mar 31, 2022

southerntnreefer said:
That's about what I was thinking. Not looking to get rich honestly. That's not why we have tanks. I would just want good homes for em. Good to know I was on the right page!

Exactly, sorry to hear you’re shutting down though, but at least it’s a little bit of money back in your pocket

acanman · Mar 31, 2022

Where are you at in tn? I'm interested and in East tn

southerntnreefer · Mar 31, 2022

acanman said:
Where are you at in tn? I'm interested and in East tn

We're in southern middle TN.

southerntnreefer · Apr 3, 2022

Pulled the trigger. Sold all of my live items. Snails, critters, live rock, coral and fish to my buddy for 600 bucks. He's upgrading his tank toa 300. Felt good about the deal. Working on cleaning up the gear and the tank for sale now.

southerntnreefer · Apr 4, 2022

I really think someone should write up as part of the 52 weeks of reefing, all the work it is to rear down a system, clean gear, etc. It's alot of work for sure!! Tank will be dry and ready for sale Tonight though. My hydras and Trident have found a new home already, and other items being looked at. If they don't move locally I'll post em here for shipping.