Should a Propagated coral cost more?

[Randy]

I wanted to do a poll and see what the everyone thinks.should a propagated coral cost more than wild caught.Please explain your answer.

 

[Randy]

can a mod add the t in propagated in my thread and poll title and delete this post?Thanks

 

[Vamp75]

I see a lot of debate coming.... I'm out of this one

 

[maverick451]

Per polyp yes

I think that a 5-10 polyp frag of a nice morph should sell for the same price as a mediocre wild rock that may contain 60-100 polyps or somthing.

I dont know about in the US but here in the UK 95 of the wild caughts are brown or green, certainly arent worth the same money as a healthy frag of a nice colourfull morph

 

[Kigs!]

propagated corals should be more used to the aquarium environment, compared to the wild ones that might take time to adjust to captivity. plus there is the element of control when it's propagated such as hitchhikers, diseases, etc etc. i wouldn't mind paying more for a propagated coral.

 

[fishes2889]

I said no, simply because a coral is a coral. Whether it grows in the ocean or in your tank it should be the same price for the same kind of coral. JMHO

 

[minibowmatt]

yes. Someone has spent a little more time and money assuring that a captive raised coral is acclimated to common aquarium conditions. However, if the retailer does not incur and extra cost purchasing propagated corals, I do not feel that the retailer has the right to charge more for it.

 

[fishes2889]

Actually with a little more thinking, i think there is a fine line on the differences in prices. I mean i see the point where the person who is propping is spending more time and energy into it but the price shouldnt double just because its propagated. Maybe an extra 5 to 10$ if its a proppgated coral.

JMHO Steve

 

[minibowmatt]

But IMO glueing a frag to a plug doesn't make it automatically propagated or aquacultured.

But if it's truely tank raised, propagated, aquacultured or whatever, then yes I would charge more and pay more for those corals.

Coralnutz hit the nail on the head...
This is the heart of it.

 

[fishes2889]

So the new gowth of the coral you fragged would be considered propagted if you fragged it....right?

 

[minibowmatt]

the new growth would have to be fragged, and then allowed to grow out. The frags from the grown out colony would be considered F1 Propagated. IMO.

 

[Azurel]

I agree with Matt and Jeremy.....New growth that is fragged off wild colony and then grown for sale and propagation would be aqua-cultured. Same thing with fish, the offspring of a wild pair would be F1 and cost a bit more, but the offspring of the F1s would cost even a bit more cause you(the Propagator) have spent more resources on the second batch of non-wild caught, which in business the cost would be pushed on to the consumer. I think after the first batch of captive bred fish the price would be stable and level off. One has to remember in any business that the overhead that is incurred to due business will dictate the price first, then supply and demand.

 

[Randy]

Some good points.
I should have said 100% propagation.

 

[fishes2889]

I agree with Jeremy and Matt too its just the price i dont understand sometimes why its higher fro the same peice of coral....

 

[patedship]

Sorry I voted for no, but I ment to click on the yes(dang tab key)

 

[mecold]

I vote yes. Pretty much the same thing as everyone else said, but with the addition of personal experience. The captive frags I have recieved have a 95% chance of long term survival. The maricultured have about an 80%, and wild have about a 60%. But this is my experience.

 

[cardgenius]

I say yes, but like steve said, just because its propagated doesnt mean it should be double in price.

 

[JeffReef]

It depends; If I'm buying, I'd say "No." However, If I'm trying to sell I'd say "Yes."

Seriously though, I'd pay more for 100% aquacultured corals just because I think that the survivability of these corals are better in aquaria than the wild caught ones. I, however, would not pay double the cost- maybe around 25% more is fair price to me.

 

[twon8]

i say yes, it has proven its color fastness and durability.

and most of the price i would charge is the amount it takes to get it out of my tank; id prefer to keep it for less.

 

[Randy]

Everyone has some good points here.

Here is the same question asked at my reef club.Any help in showing the the right way would be nice.

http://marshreef.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=21070