Inexpensive but beautiful fishes.

[Sleepingtiger]

Female Squareback $49

Copperband $49

4 x firefish @ $12 each

Blackcap Basslet - $50 Local reefer

 

[Nemo&Friends]

My fish were all bought at my local LFS between 8 and 2 years ago. Prices were not the same then. All of them were less than $50. The most expensive animal I bought so far, was about 6 month ago, an Harlequin shrimp at $50.00. I will return it soon to my LFS though, as I am running out of asperina stars and will probably get peanuts for it.
The least expensive were my green chromis, about 3 or 4 years ago and I paid $7.00 for each.
I was recently looking into "conditioned" fish at Dr. Reef, and the price of scissortail dartfish were close to $50.00 and pajama cardinals about $30.00. You do have to pay a little more for conditioned fish or quarantine fish.
I do think that you can get many beautiful fish for less than $50.00 ...all fish are beautiful in their own way anyhow.

 

[Duncan62]

Trust me - those are great fish prices. The further inland you are from a major air hub the more saltwater fish prices tend to creep up.

My favorite fish store here all damsels are 6 bucks. Central NC. Pretty but mean. Lol

 

[Rtaylor]

Well, I have to post these guys, not for beginners, but my orange spotted filefish were about $30 each

 

[Rtaylor]

Also love my yellow coris wrasse….under $30

and yellow head jawfish, the most entertaining fish I’ve had

 

[ninjamyst]

I don't know why but Orlando fish price is ridiculously expensive. Must be all the rich retires people jacking up the market....

 

[frankieg2293]

Purple Dottyback (Pseudochromis porphyreus) is always a stunner.

Agreed I just got mine at pet o 20$

 

[frankieg2293]

Agreed I just got mine at pet o 20$

Petco**

 

[Mjl714]

pink spotted goby, $25

 

[Mjl714]

Yellow wrasse, $20

 

[Duncan62]

Well, I have to post these guys, not for beginners, but my orange spotted filefish were about $30 each

WINNER!

 

[Dave Cureton]

How recently were these fish purchased at these prices? It seems like pricing has gone through the roof the last couple of years. The last 2 fish I bought were a Flame Angel @ $90 and a Biota Coral Beauty @ $80. Both from a LFS. Flame didn't make it through QT.

 

[ninjamyst]

Ouch... I remember when flame is $40 and coral beauty is $25

 

[flashsmith]

Lyretail anthias for me $35 each. Especially a fully transitioned male.

 

[Dave Cureton]

Ouch... I remember when flame is $40 and coral beauty is $25

Me too. Coral Beauty was expensive because it's captive bred. It was the size of my thumbnail too!

 

[38bill]

My female Bellus angle was by far the cheapest at $0. Ordered it from Divers Den as a 1.5" long fish and it came to me at a tiny 7/8" long and had fin rot. I called them on it and they refunded my money and told me to keep the fish. The fish recovered and has been with me 13 years this March. Here's an older photo.

 

[Reefing102]

How recently were these fish purchased at these prices? It seems like pricing has gone through the roof the last couple of years. The last 2 fish I bought were a Flame Angel @ $90 and a Biota Coral Beauty @ $80. Both from a LFS. Flame didn't make it through QT.

This^^^

Anything around here besides damsels and “basic” clowns is going to cost $50 plus unless you get lucky with the not so knowledgeable staff at Petco on occasion

 

[Rtaylor]

This^^^

Anything around here besides damsels and “basic” clowns is going to cost $50 plus unless you get lucky with the not so knowledgeable staff at Petco on occasion

Not true. Checkout reefbeauties.com. Free shipping at at $169 and tons of fish under $50. A quick scan has 10 different wrasses for example under that mark (and several others under $55).

 

[MaxTremors]

Ouch... I remember when flame is $40 and coral beauty is $25

I do too. And $25 yellow tangs.

Of my current fish, I have two firefish I got for $6 each, a Bangaii Cardinal for $14 (I think these guys are underrated, I think they are really pretty), and a pinkbar Goby for $25. Also, a $20 six-line wrasse, I think they are one of the prettiest fish in the hobby, but I know a lot of people hate them.

 

[Dave Cureton]

My female Bellus angle was by far the cheapest at $0. Ordered it from Divers Den as a 1.5" long fish and it came to me at a tiny 7/8" long and had fin rot. I called them on it and they refunded my money and told me to keep the fish. The fish recovered and has been with me 13 years this March. Here's an older photo.

Now that's a deal. One of my favorite fish too. I spent $$$ on my pair a few years ago.