Purple Tang

Hilltop Aquariums · Aug 2, 2020

I have a 4.5-5” purple tang. I have had this fish for about 4 years. I might be breaking down my tank and was wondering how much it would be worth?

Nigel35 · Aug 3, 2020

Beautiful Fish! I would say a fair price would be around $150-$200.

Kryptonian · Aug 3, 2020

Just bought a 3.5-4” for about $135 so ya, $150-200 is probably right.

Bepis · Aug 3, 2020

Id say $160-225 seen some go for 250

Hilltop Aquariums · Aug 3, 2020

Thanks everyone!

Squidward · Aug 4, 2020

You've had it 4 years and it's only gotten that size? I'd thought it would be pretty good size after 4 years. But $125 - $150 is a good asking price.

Hilltop Aquariums · Aug 4, 2020

It is a decent size and pretty thick, It wasn’t much bigger then a half dollar when I got it.

ReefDude716 · Aug 4, 2020

at least 200 don’t forget with the pandemic a lot of the imported fish prices have sky rocketed all over in the US. I’m in Buffalo my and a coral beauty angel went from 35-40 to 70-80 dollars and is the case for a lot of other fish except for clowns for captive breeding and a select other few

Nigel35 · Aug 4, 2020

I agree with ReefDude716, Prices are going to be higher for fish like that. At my LFS I saw one that was about an inch long for $225 or something outrageous! Something to definitely consider.

vetteguy53081 · Aug 4, 2020

Depend on region/area. By me- $125-$140

JumboShrimp · Aug 4, 2020

I agree with the group’s consensus. I’d pay $150 any day of the week if I wanted it, $250 if I needed it ‘really badly’ as my last-fish to complete the collection. Best wishes!

Flame2hawk · Aug 4, 2020

I have a philosophy that Fisk keepers should help each other out so as long as you’re not losing money and getting decent value, I certainly wouldn’t sell for retail. It’s a beautiful purple and as such think $150 is very fair.

Hilltop Aquariums · Aug 4, 2020

I’m hoping not to have to re home any of my fish but if I have to I’d rather let him go at a reasonable price to a good home.

Katrina71 · Aug 4, 2020

+1 a good home is what matters the most. Your baby is a beauty!

nereefpat · Aug 4, 2020

Flame2hawk said:
I certainly wouldn’t sell for retail.

I agree. Most of us don't own fish stores. I don't know why hobbyists seem to always want to be paid retail prices.

cancun · Aug 5, 2020

I was at a LFS the other day, they had a trade in purple tang for 400.00. That's not a typo!!! A few years ago I bought mine for 150.00. He came from a tank breakdown as well.

JumboShrimp · Aug 5, 2020

I don’t doubt it. Especially if it was a ‘boutique’ LSF— the kind as fancy as a plastic surgeon’s office

. We have some in Central Florida.

mattzang · Aug 5, 2020

i think with fish buying an "established" fish kind of gets a premium from me, especially fish that are kind of difficult. like i just paid $100 for a copperband because it was QTed, but more importantly it was mowing down frozen food. retail those fish are like $30-40, but one that's used to living in an aquarium and eating frozen? i'm down to pay a lot more for that

tangs don't really do it for me, so idk what i'd pay for a purple tang, but that's just how i see the hobbyist selling an established fish vs a lfs

cancun · Aug 5, 2020

mattzang said:
i think with fish buying an "established" fish kind of gets a premium from me, especially fish that are kind of difficult. like i just paid $100 for a copperband because it was QTed, but more importantly it was mowing down frozen food. retail those fish are like $30-40, but one that's used to living in an aquarium and eating frozen? i'm down to pay a lot more for that

tangs don't really do it for me, so idk what i'd pay for a purple tang, but that's just how i see the hobbyist selling an established fish vs a lfs

I agree on paying more for a established fish used to aquarium life already. I have payed more for established fish myself. But 400.00??

By the way that LFS wasn't a boutique one eaither. I did a double take! IMO for nice fat and happy purple tang I could see 200.00 maybe a tad more.

Flame2hawk · Aug 6, 2020

cancun said:
I agree on paying more for a established fish used to aquarium life already. I have payed more for established fish myself. But 400.00??

By the way that LFS wasn't a boutique one eaither. I did a double take! IMO for nice fat and happy purple tang I could see 200.00 maybe a tad more.

Prices right now are off the charts. There’s no reason for a shop that got a fish from a home tank to charge those ridiculous prices except that he can....Glad I got most of my stock before pandemic.