I know they are not "exactly" the same....but

[lion king]

There are differences in these two fish, for one my flagfin has blue lips; but do you think the rarity of this fish is worth the $820 price difference. Is there something I'm missing about some fish that have high price tags? Just wondering.

https://m.liveaquaria.com/divers-den/product/430878/armitage-angelfish

 

[tehmadreefer]

It’s s completely differently fish...

 

[DSC reef]

I prefer the flagfin to be honest.

 

[tehmadreefer]

The armitage is quite rare which is why the higher price tag. I’d agree that the flagfin certainly looks better however.

 

[lion king]

That's kind of the point, what's the justification for someone spending that kind of money. Is it just for sake of saying "I've got something rare". I certainly wouldn't say the armitage is a striking beauty. I saw a dragon eel at an lfs a couple of days ago for $2000, and I would say yes, if it's in your budget, totally worth it.

 

[Jesterrace]

To me the rarity factor can only justify so much expense. For example I can understand why someone would spend $80-$90 on a Potter's Dwarf Angel, due to being more rare than Coral Beauty or Flame Angels (and they are absolutely beautiful to boot), but when you are talking about a difference of nearly $1000 between two fish that look similar (or in some cases the much cheaper one actually looks better) simply because one fish is significantly more rare, it isn't worth it. Even if money were no object, there is only so much wow factor one can get from a fish. It's like the $7500 Captive Bred Clarion Angel. Yes, it's very rare, pretty and captive bred, but the idea that you can buy a used GT Mustang or Motorcycle for the price of one just doesn't make good sense in my book.

 

[mort]

People will always see the appeal of rarer species. A lot of these rare fish are sold to people who don't publicise the fact and are true fish collectors. They are completely different to the people who have to show off their latest purchase all over the net (again some might be truly into fish collecting but others use it as a measuring device). Lots of the price comes from how common the fish is or how hard it is to collect.

I once took a skimmer to a scruffy old customer who used to come to the shop in a van that had the back door held on with gaffer tape. He had an Aston Martin, Ferrari and a few more cars in his drive way plus a wrought iron butterfly fish, conspic angel and other rare fish that he'd never mentioned.

My advice would be keep what you enjoy and don't worry about what others think. I make no shame that one of my favourite fish is a sixline wrasse although it's one of the cheapest and most common you can get.

 

[lion king]

People will always see the appeal of rarer species. A lot of these rare fish are sold to people who don't publicise the fact and are true fish collectors. They are completely different to the people who have to show off their latest purchase all over the net (again some might be truly into fish collecting but others use it as a measuring device). Lots of the price comes from how common the fish is or how hard it is to collect.

I once took a skimmer to a scruffy old customer who used to come to the shop in a van that had the back door held on with gaffer tape. He had an Aston Martin, Ferrari and a few more cars in his drive way plus a wrought iron butterfly fish, conspic angel and other rare fish that he'd never mentioned.

My advice would be keep what you enjoy and don't worry about what others think. I make no shame that one of my favourite fish is a sixline wrasse although it's one of the cheapest and most common you can get.

Yeah but those fish are breath taking, and I know it's all relative to ones financing. But in the real world, I could buy an Armitage, but just dont see the point. I'm sure there are more fish you could think of, that just doesnt deserve their pricetag. I'll take a poor man's clarion, a passer; or a poor man's candy basset, I actually had one and couldn't tell much difference.

But if I could afford a conspicuous, wrought iron, and a dragon eel; now we are talking.

 

[mort]

Yeah but those fish are breath taking, and I know it's all relative to ones financing. But in the real world, I could buy an Armitage, but just dont see the point. I'm sure there are more fish you could think of, that just doesnt deserve their pricetag. I'll take a poor man's clarion, a passer; or a poor man's candy basset, I actually had one and couldn't tell much difference.

But if I could afford a conspicuous, wrought iron, and a dragon eel; now we are talking.

There are lots of fish that are popular because of their perceived rarity I agree. I can't understand why anyone would want a tricolour tang, just don't see their appeal. I was offered a black tang for 50 quid but again am just not into them and find my scopas much nicer.
So I completely understand what your getting at but the truth is people will pay for the difference so vendors will try their luck. We had a few clarion at a wholesaler I used and their price kept coming down as no one wanted them, the same happened with a personifer they had but the false personifer angels flew out. So at the end of the day they can charge what they like but it doesn't mean they will get it.