Do regular corals need names?

Sikryd · Jul 4, 2009

Should only the rarer/multicolored/brilliant corals be named?

I was just curious how people felt on this.

I like names - its helps identify corals when talking about them.

For me though, I think it should be saved for the brighter/rarer/multicolored/special looking corals.
To me it is just ridiculous to see some of the zoa's, or anything for that matter with an LE or name attached that looks like a pretty regular coral. If I look at a LFS and I don't see anything that pops out at me, I don't see why any of them would need a name to signify them.

It is just ridiculous how many sites I have seen pop up now with EVERYTHING named, LE attached, Enterstorename LE Edition, or whatever.
I had a buddy buy some stuff from a vendor on here, figuring it must be some nice stuff since the pictures looked good, the stuff had "Sticky Punch" and "Gobstopper" in the name. He spent over $200, and NONE of it was nice at ALL. He was sooooo mad.

If it is an orange acro, its an orange acro - it doesn't have to be a Super Duper LE Orenji Monti Cap.....

So I was just curious how you all felt about this.

FaviaFreak · Jul 5, 2009

I don't look at naming corals as a marketing tool personally, although that is a goal of many. I like naming pieces to differentiate from everything else.For example, I know what a South Beach Watermelon looks like in my head just by the name, or if somebody says Mohawk Paly's I know exactly what we are talking about. Some of the not so popular pieces don't hold there names and fade away into obscurity but the nice stuff should have names and they will hold there own

roshi719 · Jul 5, 2009

I voted yes, here's why.

I think names help to clarify which particular morph you are talking about for the types of corals that are commonly collected. I also feel that many vendors overuse the name thing to try to drive prices up. Being as we live in a capitalist society I don't blame anyone for trying to make money. However I think it is up to all of us as hobbyists to not hand our money over to vendors who abuse the name game and are just being greedy. I feel that as long as there are coral collectors, there will be named corals. Vendors will only overuse the naming of corals as long as the continue to make huge profits off of us hobbyists. It is up to us and how we spend our dollars to put a stop to the overpriced coral market. If noone spends $500 for a frag then they won't stay in business very long charging that much!!!

Russellaqua · Jul 5, 2009

I don't care either way really. Common names help identify certain morphs of particularly nice corals, but I prefer the scientific name so I know exactly what is being talked about. If you say Montipora capricornis I know what you're talking about, just like if you say Leng Sy Monti cap. Either works for me.

I-K@ndY · Jul 5, 2009

The only problem I have with naming corals and sometime confuse myself too is that when I have corals that are the same exact one like what other vendors are selling .. For example ( this is just and example and hope people will not be mad ) .. PPE Cyphastria..I acquired a nice size of it but do I have a right calling it the same name? as we all know that prices on those were pretty much up there for a frag?.. is it fair for the 1st people who named it first that people are calling it the same?... I have a few more especially chalices wise that are same with vendors but I only name my own from now on since I can't call it the same as I didn't purchase it from them.. Im confuse myself lol.. sorry hope you get the idea on my problem with naming lol

dots · Jul 6, 2009

I am a big proponet of this, however it simply can't be done. To regulate it takes the power and puts into someone elses hands. Then exactly "who" decides what is rare?

How does one verify that it is what they say it is. Lets face it, fraud is a big part of the hobby since big money became associated with it. Todo that, the costs are pushed up further to do so.

Its simply lost the grassroots community feel which was a big part of naming things, and has been transformed into a business, where everything is rare with funny names, only confusing the naive and new to the hobby. It is too centered around money and if your motivation is to keep what you have valuable or make money off of it.....your not in it for the right reasons.

To name things, try to regulate them for the sole purpose of creating a value on them, will only make things more difficult and divide those who collect and those who don't even further.

I have collected LE SPS for quite a while now, I have not seen very many "new" ones in over a year.

The hobby has changed, people are now unwilling to pay huge prices in this economy and most likely will not return as most don't care if its the "Real Deal" or not and, close enough is.....good enough.

Uphill battle, we purests or collectors can't win between those who will cheat and the apathetic......but just remember, everything can't be expensive because it's rare......and not everything is "rare".........and over time, it should become more difficult to be called "rare".........funny how its the other way around these days?

If you are a collector, seek out others who have the same values and only trade with them. Seek out the vendors that are hobbiests first, businessmen last.

iceman66 · Jul 6, 2009

Nicely put Dots!!

Sea MunnKey · Jul 6, 2009

Very true dots :angel: !!

Paul

Leishman · Jul 6, 2009

iceman66 said:
Nicely put Dots!!

Well put

aerius007 · Jul 6, 2009

I think corals should all be named just for ID purposes. As far as things being rare, LE or anything else like that I think it really comes down to what the market will allow. Believe me on this, there are a ton of corals I would love to have but just cant afford to buy. But because I cant afford them doesnt mean the seller should lower their price. These are luxury items and not a commodity like gasoline. I'd love a new Lamborghini, but that will never happen because I simply cant come up with dollars (to be honest I coulndt even afford one of their OE wheels). I read an article where they asked Gary from Reef Pets about the market going crazy for his purple hornets. This isnt a direct quote but he said something like if the polyp sold for $20 thats great, if it sold for $300 thats great too. Sure things with cooler names might bring more money but nobody has ever been banging on my door making me buy something I didnt want.

I do however think that one somebody does sells something like a purple hornet, tyree acro or anything along those lines it should 100% be the real deal. Not close, but exact. Close enough doesnt cut it when youre paying a premium.

Sikryd · Jul 6, 2009

dots said:
I am a big proponet of this, however it simply can't be done. To regulate it takes the power and puts into someone elses hands. Then exactly "who" decides what is rare?

How does one verify that it is what they say it is. Lets face it, fraud is a big part of the hobby since big money became associated with it. Todo that, the costs are pushed up further to do so.

Its simply lost the grassroots community feel which was a big part of naming things, and has been transformed into a business, where everything is rare with funny names, only confusing the naive and new to the hobby. It is too centered around money and if your motivation is to keep what you have valuable or make money off of it.....your not in it for the right reasons.

To name things, try to regulate them for the sole purpose of creating a value on them, will only make things more difficult and divide those who collect and those who don't even further.

I have collected LE SPS for quite a while now, I have not seen very many "new" ones in over a year.

The hobby has changed, people are now unwilling to pay huge prices in this economy and most likely will not return as most don't care if its the "Real Deal" or not and, close enough is.....good enough.

Uphill battle, we purests or collectors can't win between those who will cheat and the apathetic......but just remember, everything can't be expensive because it's rare......and not everything is "rare".........and over time, it should become more difficult to be called "rare".........funny how its the other way around these days?

If you are a collector, seek out others who have the same values and only trade with them. Seek out the vendors that are hobbiests first, businessmen last.