Could someone explain to me why some zoas cost $100+pp, are they harder to care for or something? I would love some crazy colored zoas to spice up my tank but I can bring myself to spend that much for a single polyp lol
Cost Of Zoas
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Mattyice008
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When buying zoas and palys, it honestly comes down to how crazy it looks, and how much someone is willing to pay for it. Normal zoas and palys, or pieces that have been around for a loooooong time or significantly cheaper. Dragon eyes, eagle eyes, etc. are very cheap and can get nice size colonies for a few bucks. On the other hand, we constantly have new zoas/palys being morphed, discovered, found, and the more colors and crazy looking they are, the more expensive. For instance, the kraks I believe first went for over $2,000 for a frag..now they're way down. Growth rate is also a factor in considering price. Rastas, a very popular zoa, used to be very expensive for 1 head, sometimes near $100+, slowly over the last 3 years, they've gone to $50/head, $30/head, now I sell mine and can find them at $5-10$/head. Hope this helps!
bfam4t6
Active Member
^Pretty much what he said. But, having spent some time working at an LFS and unpacking shipments, I can tell you that some zoas are very very very common, and thus, very cheap. Other zoas are extremely rare. Sometimes, the really cool morphs that nobody has seen come into the store and melt. There are too many possible variables as to why some melt and others don't to address in this post, but let it suffice to say that some zoas are just notorious for melting. Where I live, everybody complains of African Blue Steels melting. I've tried them twice. Melted both times. Why the other 15 colonies in the same tank did not melt is totally beyond me. But, those zoas that always melt become pretty rare pretty quickly.
So, rarity is certainly a factor. And for me personally, growth rate plays a big role. If I know that something took me a full year to grow only 5 polyps, well guess what...I'm not selling any of those polyps for $5 a piece. The price goes up as the growth rate goes down. On the same token, if I know that the latest and greatest high priced zoa is a fast grower, then I'm not about to spend $200 for a polyp when I know that the market will shortly be flooded with them at much lower prices.
So, rarity is certainly a factor. And for me personally, growth rate plays a big role. If I know that something took me a full year to grow only 5 polyps, well guess what...I'm not selling any of those polyps for $5 a piece. The price goes up as the growth rate goes down. On the same token, if I know that the latest and greatest high priced zoa is a fast grower, then I'm not about to spend $200 for a polyp when I know that the market will shortly be flooded with them at much lower prices.
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mfinn
likes zoanthids
It's also about the hype.
ritter6788
Coral Fraud Private Eye
+1
Or believe you can flip it for the same big bucks.
Notice the same crowd selling the same high $ corals hyping up each other's for sale threads? It starts with the vendors then sellers that buy and chop at the first sign of growth hoping to cash in on the same vendor profits.
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mfinn
likes zoanthids
Absolutely.
I like zoanthids and see some of the new pieces being offered for sale at dollar amounts (per polyp ) that I wouldn't pay for if it were 10 polyps.
But I guess it's " each to his own".
But I see another effect of it. It seems like it's raising the price of common stuff like eagle eyes to a price per polyp.
mrBananas
Community Member
Yeah, it's easy to assume something is rare because you've only seen it once or twice. I think vendors make the same mistake (or intentionally) and so certain pieces get rediculous price tags.
For example, this piece: Ultra Palythoa Combo - WYSIWYG
Compared to the frag with 3 that I got at my LFS for $10: http://i.imgur.com/laBOE8J.jpg http://i.imgur.com/4Zdg8Bb.jpg
For example, this piece: Ultra Palythoa Combo - WYSIWYG
Compared to the frag with 3 that I got at my LFS for $10: http://i.imgur.com/laBOE8J.jpg http://i.imgur.com/4Zdg8Bb.jpg
Akwarius
2500 Club Member
Good score mrBananas!
When considering zoa price also factor in reputation of the seller and coral health. An LFS might sell you something cheap, but will they replace if it melts in a week?
Also wysiwyg pics always makes a coral more valuable!
When considering zoa price also factor in reputation of the seller and coral health. An LFS might sell you something cheap, but will they replace if it melts in a week?
Also wysiwyg pics always makes a coral more valuable!
Dragonreef202
Well-Known Member
With all corals you pay for what you like. Some may be more expensive than others. I look for zoas and paly's that are not on people's top list. They are always looking for the next best thing.
Bombertech
Community Member
Rarity definitely comes into play. As mentioned before, the Krakatoa started at a bid of $20 or so, ended at $600, then the next one went for over 2K. The mother colony melted and all of a sudden the supply is down to zero. The going price is still high and will continue to be high as there are only a few people who have them. Once/if the strain evolves to be more hardy, they will be propagated and the price will come down, same as anything.
If you know your zoas strains, LFS's are the way to get good deals if they are not well versed with zoas. I picked up my original mother colony of Red Hornets 2 years ago from a LFS, 40 polyps for $20. People take in stuff to trade all the time so you never know what might be sitting in their frag tanks.
If you know your zoas strains, LFS's are the way to get good deals if they are not well versed with zoas. I picked up my original mother colony of Red Hornets 2 years ago from a LFS, 40 polyps for $20. People take in stuff to trade all the time so you never know what might be sitting in their frag tanks.
