Oh the names...the glorious glorious names.

[Doctorgori]

I think vendors should follow some type of industry standard, always. For instance a sample naming convention could be:
A.Tenius “Walt Disney” [t] A.S.D
Genus Name 1st Alphabet “A” for acropora- Species name (Tenius) - Cultivar name -[growth habit code] (T for table) - Vendor initials (Aqua SD)

 

[Tired]

I just wish people would stop giving different names to zoas that look almost identical. I think we should have names for zoanthids, mind you- mostly for convenience. If I say I have a "ring of fire" zoa frag, I've immediately made it clear what zoa I'm talking about. No need to try to describe it. If I wanted to buy ring of fire zoas, I could go and search "ring of fire" on a sale website. Simple.

But it goes the other way when things have too many names. For example- I have a zoa frag I got without a name attached. After some looking around online, it looks like an Alien Antivenom zoa. Great. Except it also looks like a Halle Berry zoa. And a Playboy Bunny zoa. And the thing is, the name doesn't seem to be consistent across multiple sources. Which of those names describes one with a bowtie marking? Which one doesn't? What's the difference between them? IS there a difference between all three of them?

I think we need to stop having multiple names for such similar zoa strains. If I have a zoa type that I name Carrot zoas, and somebody finds a strain that looks exactly like Carrots but has a tiny black spot on the mouth, they don't need a different name. Sellers all have pictures of what they're selling. Just post a picture, and say "Carrot, but with a tiny black spot on the mouth", instead of naming it Flaming Dot or something.

I personally kinda like the funny names some corals get. And like I said, useful enough to help tell them apart in discussion. But I wish online sellers would stop naming things (especially things that already have names!) wild stuff to try and sell it for more based on a tiny difference.

 

[FraghouseCorals]

Names are the best and only way to keep track of corals and lineage. Only problem is the guys that have a similar coral and try to sell it under the signature name.... but that’s why you buy from a reputable coral dealer. Let’s be real Latin names are not a solid way to keep track of corals, you ask what species a coral is and get 15 different answers and in my opinion people absolutely love names.

 

[FraghouseCorals]

There is no winning or losing in this thread. Just personal opinions. Mine included. I don't play in the boutique or chop shop market. I also don't judge those that do.

I recently saw a "sale" that listed 4 boutique named corals such as the Walt Disney and Home Wrecker with 2 others for a measly $650. Original asking was $1200. Knocked down and then an additional 30%. I've paid more for a bottle of wine so again back to that comment of mine above about thinking it is silly or not - I have no say because I'm just as silly with my other hobby. Well, my wiser and better halfs hobby honestly.

But for a bit of clarity I'm also active scuba diver and I've never seen a Walt Disney on a reef crest. I have seen Acropora though It is a fine line for sure but a market I'm not a player in. Pretty they are but just not for me.

All the best and hope everyone has an amazing holiday and staying safe!

$650 was about full retail on those lol slight discount that’s about it

 

[User1]

$650 was about full retail on those lol slight discount that’s about it

I don't know what is retail, sale, etc - the banner just caught my eye. Hopefully my post wasn't taken has a slam against the seller. As I said it is something I don't partake in but understand and let the hobby run its course. As I said I have vices that make zero sense especially when a gem tang is on the table in the form of a empty wine bottle

Similar discussions are happening now about the trident and reagents We just can't win in this hobby. What I do know though is that the market is obviously able to sustain those prices as hobbyist buy them.

 

[polyppal]

So what makes a coral “signature” or “name branded” over the same species type without the fancy name?
Brighter colors, pigments, growth patterns?

I say this with some skepticism. The hot names back in the day of internet pioneering coral sales were Steve Tyree, Reefer Madness, ORA, etc.
They started all the gimicky names for common coral species that live on the reef.
Ok so they were aqua-cultured and removed a few times from the ocean, grown in controlled environments, fragged, and regrown to make them more hardy for aquariums.
So the funky names, the non-scientific ones we all get bombarded with from a marketing stand point.

It reminds me of weed strains more than anything else, but the big difference is we as humans developed those new cannabis varieties thru real cross pollination and development.
So to me those kooky names are more justified.

None of that is happening in the coral world.

Somebody went out into the ocean and yanked this amazing coral from the sea with CRAZY plethora of colors that evolved all on its own with no help from humans.

So I have seen corals names change over the years from one fun name to the next.

Do you all like the names or would you really prefer to know the name on a more accurate scientific level from a more common sales perspective?
I like the fun names, but after being in the hobby for a long time now, I don’t think they help us much.
They change like the seasons depending on who the big sellers are.
It keeps us from being more accurate and confident in our knowledge.

If you sell corals and call them signature, or name brand thats a bit far fetched when nature did all the work and you were just at the right place and the right time.

So who or where is the epicenter of the designer names these corals are named?
Is it the one who sells the most and everyone else agrees?



In the great words of Thor Ordinson,
“All words are made up”

Good points, I think the 'brandings' are stupid. Mostly because I could've thought up funnier ones... Once I've placed them in the tank, I make it a point not to use the 'designer' names anymore.

It would have made more sense if corals were named using something more scientific, like the L-Number System used for Plecos/Catfish in freshwater. That would probably be boring too though ('hey man, is that frag C-372!?!')

 

[Fishfinder]

Using a number or a numbering system is the exact same thing. You’re providing identification to an individual variety.

 

[Fishfinder]

Things need names to make them identifiable. I have a fish in my aquarium. That tells people nothing at all. It’s a fish. But I have a male golden rhomboid fairy wrasse in my aquarium. That ridiculous long name makes it identifiable

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

I honestly don’t care personally. When I first got into zoanthids I used to know them all. Now the ones I knew are called something else! Ha!

For me it’s all about what I like and how much the asking price is. If I like it and the price is reasonable then I’ll take a Frag!

 

[Thaxxx]

Even most the sellers don't know the scientific names of the corals they are selling. That's why for the most part, you don't know what your buying.

 

[sp1187]

my personal favorite
Cherry Corals CC Unlimited Dragon Fur
way I heard it, it was suggested they give GSP a fancy name so they could charge big $$ for it.

 

[FraghouseCorals]

I don't know what is retail, sale, etc - the banner just caught my eye. Hopefully my post wasn't taken has a slam against the seller. As I said it is something I don't partake in but understand and let the hobby run its course. As I said I have vices that make zero sense especially when a gem tang is on the table in the form of a empty wine bottle

Similar discussions are happening now about the trident and reagents We just can't win in this hobby. What I do know though is that the market is obviously able to sustain those prices as hobbyist buy them.

I think it’s because you mentioned alcohol brothaman this is a pretty clean forum.

 

[FraghouseCorals]

Even most the sellers don't know the scientific names of the corals they are selling. That's why for the most part, you don't know what your buying.

Yep lol been keeping sps since 05 and I don’t know but a hand full.... I even have corals of the world books but in reality the only way to know 100 percent is to send a piece of the skeleton to a lab. That’s why nobody goes by the scientific names anymore... that’s a thing of the past only the old school guys did. Times change. I guess we could all number them and call it a day but what fun is that lol names are goofy and fun for the hobby.... Iv never named a coral thinking oh man this is going to make me rich lol I price corals on how rare they are and try to stay within market price or other vendors get mad lol my way around this is to offer deep discounts