Rare Black Elegance

tdileo · Jul 30, 2017

So I found something new recently.. A black and green elegance/catalaphyllia.
This is a photo of the one I was looking to buy for $600 at an LFS

Pretty crazy looking right? I had no clue these exist and can't even find them online! Does anybody know more about this specific color variation and why its so rare?

tdileo · Jul 30, 2017

Also I am curious if you all think it is worth $600. I don't have any rare corals but I have an SPS dominated tank with a HUGE spot on the sandbed this guy would grow amazing on. I think it would do really well but I've never had an LPS coral before lol

trevormass7 · Jul 30, 2017

Looks amazing

tdileo · Jul 30, 2017

trevormass7 said:
Looks amazing

Yeah, very cool looking piece but the price is craaaazy

trevormass7 · Jul 30, 2017

I think I'd pay it

tdileo · Jul 30, 2017

trevormass7 said:
I think I'd pay it

I would but convincing my parents to let me do it is the hard part lol. I don't really need the money right now and while I know the money could go towards my college or a car once I finish up high school I still have a few years left

trevormass7 · Jul 30, 2017

Yeah I just finished my first year so I understand how your parents feel[emoji23]

ksfulk · Jul 30, 2017

Something else to think about is if the elegance would be a good fit for your tank - regardless of the price. Many fleshy LPS corals like elegance or wellsos will not appreciate the high flow that most SPS tanks have. The high flow can cause the flesh to not fully extend and the coral can be battered to the point where it wastes away. While they can adapt, elegance are also notorious for not surviving well in the home aquaria, particularly if they are indo variants.

LobsterOfJustice · Jul 30, 2017

Will it look the same under the lights you are running on your tank? Once time I paid $80 for two heads of orange hammer at a show only to find it was the same green hammer I already have 200+ heads of at home once it was under my lighting. You can blast corals with some weird light and make them look almost any way you want.

samnaz · Jul 30, 2017

Wait a Sec.. you've never had any LPS? How's that even possible?

samnaz · Jul 30, 2017

It's beautiful and all but going to college/getting a car is a better idea.

Like I said, it's nice looking, but it's $600 and that's just insane. Seriously, my Torches are just as nice. And I never paid more than $60.

tdileo · Jul 30, 2017

samnaz said:
It's beautiful and all but going to college/getting a car is a better idea.

Like I said, it's nice looking, but it's $600 and that's just insane. Seriously, my Torches are just as nice. And I never paid more than $60.

I think its the rarity factor that gives it its price. Normal elegance corals are already kinda pricey. I can't drive for 2 years anyway so I can still save up more money towards a car haha

Kmsutows · Jul 30, 2017

I would definitely ask to see it under whiter lighting. I doubt it'll look any where near the same. Even if it did that price is insane.. I recently saw one similar but with hot orange and yellow tips in regular day lighting and even that was 450

tdileo · Jul 30, 2017

Kmsutows said:
I would definitely ask to see it under whiter lighting. I doubt it'll look any where near the same. Even if it did that price is insane.. I recently saw one similar but with hot orange and yellow tips in regular day lighting and even that was 450

I'm going to see it in person today and planned on asking to see it under whites. The only similar thing I can find online is black with yellow tips for $700. But the owner said since I'm a kid and I really like it he can do $500.

rock_lobster · Jul 30, 2017

600$ for a coral with an extremely high mortality rate in captivity. maybe 10% survive that are purchased but probably less.

maroun.c · Jul 30, 2017

Any idea on the source of it?
I just picked up a black torch for a friend. It's still in my tank. Looked more brownish first few days but gaining black now. I have an elegance graden with 3 elegance that are in a bit more flow as tank is SPS dominated.
Tough call. Good luck

tdileo · Jul 30, 2017

maroun.c said:
Any idea on the source of it?
I just picked up a black torch for a friend. It's still in my tank. Looked more brownish first few days but gaining black now. I have an elegance graden with 3 elegance that are in a bit more flow as tank is SPS dominated.
Tough call. Good luck

It is from Indonesia but has been doing great in his frag tank. Currently about 8 inches extended. Saw it in person today and it is breathtaking!

Vaughn17 · Jul 30, 2017

ksfulk said:
Something else to think about is if the elegance would be a good fit for your tank - regardless of the price. Many fleshy LPS corals like elegance or wellsos will not appreciate the high flow that most SPS tanks have. The high flow can cause the flesh to not fully extend and the coral can be battered to the point where it wastes away. While they can adapt, elegance are also notorious for not surviving well in the home aquaria, particularly if they are indo variants.

I had an Indo elegance for almost 4 years. IMO, elegance need to be spot fed on a regular basis to keep them healthy.

tdileo · Jul 30, 2017

Vaughn17 said:
I had an Indo elegance for almost 4 years. IMO, elegance need to be spot fed on a regular basis to keep them healthy.

I would think so as well. I spot feed all of my corals except GSP, toadstool, kenya trees, and zoas. I may start feeding my zoas to get some extra color or growth though.