Does anyone else hate these fish prices these days

[William Chiavetta]

I will never go to college if these prices stay the same... They should start giving out a stimulus check for aquarium owners

 

[Gumbies R Us]

My dad, when he had a reef tank 20ish years ago, would always tell me, " I remember when yellow tangs were the cheap fish to buy."

 

[William Chiavetta]

My dad, when he had a reef tank 20ish years ago, would always tell me, " I remember when yellow tangs were the cheap fish to buy."

How much were they when they were the "cheap fish"

 

[Malum Argenteum]

Personally, I think marine fish prices should go up, maybe 4X current prices -- at least enough that the WC ones are noticeably more expensive than CB. They'd be less of a disposable item then, and folks would think twice about cutting corners on their care and be less likely to jam too many of them into too small a tank.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

How much were they when they were the "cheap fish"

He said $20-$40

 

[William Chiavetta]

He said $20-$40

WHAT!? I wish they were still that cheap

 

[William Chiavetta]

Personally, I think marine fish prices should go up, maybe 4X current prices -- at least enough that the WC ones are noticeably more expensive than CB. They'd be less of a disposable item then, and folks would think twice about cutting corners on their care and be less likely to jam too many of them into too small a tank.

... IDK I think that people will still do the same thing. Especially the people with too much money

 

[19Mateo83]

WHAT!? I wish they were still that cheap

Small ones were $5-10 at my LFS back in 2008

 

[William Chiavetta]

Tiny ones were $5-10 at my LFS back in 2008

I can only just imagine how awesome that must have been to have a school. Now I can barely afford one

 

[19Mateo83]

I can only just imagine how awesome that must have been to have a school. Now I can barely afford one

Fiji live rock was also $5-6/lb and was loaded with life.

 

[Reefer Matt Verified Media Partner]

Gotta keep the priorities in line. Reefing is for those with money to burn. College should be the first priority, imo. But that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy reefing at the same time. Just gotta prioritize and think about the big picture.

 

[GARRIGA]

Consumers fail to grasp they fuel inflation by continuing to pay outrageous prices. Why I say this? I know better and I still overpay

 

[Badblackdog]

My dad, when he had a reef tank 20ish years ago, would always tell me, " I remember when yellow tangs were the cheap fish to buy."

Yellow Tangs $19.99 all day long back in the day

 

[William Chiavetta]

Gotta keep the priorities in line. Reefing is for those with money to burn. College should be the first priority, imo. But that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy reefing at the same time. Just gotta prioritize and think about the big picture.

I have enough money set aside for college but still I want some extra but reefing is preventing me from it. Reefing is my current priority tho

 

[William Chiavetta]

Consumers fail to grasp they fuel inflation by continuing to pay outrageous prices. Why I say this? I know better and I still overpay

Exactly

 

[William Chiavetta]

Yellow Tangs $19.99 all day long back in the day

now it's 100x that for a good quality tang

 

[Uncle99]

Consumers fail to grasp they fuel inflation by continuing to pay outrageous prices. Why I say this? I know better and I still overpay

I’ve been saying no current prices wherever possible.

I used to buy a colourful torch small colony say $50.

Now you can buy 1 head of the nuclear neon green super star splatter torch for $300 head.

Same torch.

 

[GARRIGA]

I’ve been saying no current prices wherever possible.

I used to buy a colourful torch small colony say $50.

Now you can buy 1 head of the nuclear neon green super star splatter torch for $300 head.

Same torch.

Consumers are being forced to seek alternative goods to afford living. Yet some will still pay $300 likely because they’ve never know prior prices. The young are targeted due to lacking historical perspective. No way I’m paying $800 for a Shroom with warts and I can afford it but that’s just dumb. $500 yellow tangs - no way. It would have to crap reef safe vibrant before I’d pay that. Were the beginner fish when I got started now damsels fetch $12 plus and that’s just crazy. Although I get it. Everything costs more today but some of this just outright gauging because some lack history or must have regardless.

 

[rtparty]

Only fish prices? The whole d**n hobby has lost its mind with pricing

 

[Serpentman2024]

This has never been an inexpensive hobby. However, prices have definitely outpaced inflation. I do remember paying $19.99 for medium to large sized yellow tangs back in the day. Corals too are super expensive vs 10 yrs ago. Not only have prices gone up, frag sizes have shrunk. What some might consider mini colonies now were good sized frags back in the day. And I don't recall paying per polyp all that often.

On a positive note, higher prices ensure that there is money being invested in captive propagation, etc. Given the regulatory environment, we will continue to see restrictions on wild caught livestock. From a sustainability and hardiness standpoint, not necessarily a bad thing. The downside is it is probably driving some folks out of the hobby.