Starting to become a little fed up

[Mr. E Wrasse]

I enjoy this hobby and love this site but it definitely has its bad times. It seems like a lot of people on here look at coral more as an investment that they can eventually make a profit off of. I know when I was younger all I thought about was how cool itd be to have not just a salt water tank, but a reef tank with a myriad of corals in every shape and color. I can definitely say I have achieved that but it kind of gets to me when I see people buying a mushroom for example for over 1000 dollars. Yeah that's fine you can pay that much for it if you wanf but I hate the fact that the first thing that comes to mind for the buyer is how much money they can make once the shroom has babies. I feel like its almost a sin to have such a thing in mind. Yes I sell coral if I have to frag it or just have too much and I dont think its bad at all to do it but it seems like some people enter this hobby just to make money and ruin it for the rest of us. And im not talking about the vendors, I think they're great and know that's their living so they have to make money. Just wish there weren't a lot of people out there just looking to rip you off

 

[boehm742]

I completely agree with you that alot of people out there are trying to get "rich" off us which takes the fun out of things and drive prices up. I personally avoid them. Im here for the fun of the hobby and spreading the deals around with others! Thankfully there are still alot of us out there with just as great corals at great prices!

 

[jayhawk]

Although I agree, I can also disagree. Propagation of high end corals eventually drive down prices as more enter into commerce. This may take time but it eventually gets down to the more price conscience collectors. I always thought the name of the game was to collect corals that excited you. I have a collection that covers both ends of the price spectrum. I do not sell frags to individuals but back to my LFS. I take the money and reinvest in other corals. I may not be like other collectors but I do get frustrated when I get high balled by others reefers.

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

100% disagree. Don't let other people's actions effect your enjoyment of the hobby.

 

[RichieT]

Preaching to the choir sir. That's why mini colonies are now 2-3 polyps or a dime size chalice.

And I think there is a big difference between recouping your cost on a high end piece and buying that high end piece for the explicit purpose of making money.

 

[FishLipz]

This is the main reason I've begun to focus on what brought me into the hobby in the first place...the fish and inverts. It's gotten to the point that I won't even look at the sites of vendors that promote the hype and crazy prices. I've decided to fill out my tank with some of the oldies but goodies and not contribute to the fad garbage that has overrun the hobby as of late and start looking at fish and inverts that exhibit symbiotic relationships. Much more interesting to watch than a single zoa or pencil eraser sized chalice booger. Anemone crabs and sexy shrimp in mini carpets. Shrimp gobies and pistol shrimp. Maybe a cleaner wrasse with my big tangs. Im not hating at all either. To each their own. I just choose to spend my money in other places like my family and investing. I may make an exception for a beautiful Colorado Sunburst bubble tip for my clowns though.

 

[Coraloliseffect]

Sad but true

It's interesting how zoas it's all per eye or per polyp.
A recent local frag swap. I did a test submitted almost identical frags of a stunner chalice the Items listed by dimension such as 1", want for way less $$$ than the same item listed per eye.
I guess we have created a market for counting polyps and silly names. Sigh.......


Hey I just got a deal on one polyp of the latest supercalifragilisticexpialidocious Milky Way any one want one in a year when I have 6 polyps I can frag one.

 

[JohnC]

Having been in the hobby for 20 years I have seen a lot of changes. Like any other hobby things evolve and change. I will say in the beginning, there was not a lot of coral available at all, and simply keeping alive and having in your reef some of the garbage corals of today was a challenge. People would look at my reef 20 years ago and be in amazement at all the different life. Fast forward from 1990 to 2013 and the amount of coral available, the quality of equipment available, and most importantly the knowledge gained by reefers in astounding. I can not even imagine what we will be capable of in another 20 years. If this swing in the hobby toward people paying high prices for ultra high end coral keeps the hobby moving forward then so be it. I enjoy what I have in my tanks, and I don't have a lot of high end corals from this week, but I have a lot of what were high end corals from last week lol, Like anything else in this hobby patience is key. Enjoy what you have, and wait until the latest greatest becomes the new hollywood stunner that is saturated in the market by everyone fragging one from their tank, then swoop in and grab one. Yeah I know it's a little frustrating to see a new coral and want one, only to be turned off by the high price, it's also easy to get caught up in the latest and greatest craze. But just remember what got you in to the hobby in the first place, and enjoy where you are at.

 

[TJ's Reef]

It truely is a 'Double edged Sword' for our hobby so gotta take the bad with the good. I to have been in this Reefkeeping hobby a lonnng time (31+ years) am and never have been a member of the 'Flavor of the Month Club' though do have some higher end Coral from trades and purchasing from other 'Old Salts' like myself. So I do support the idea of the BIG $ livestock and equipment as it is a driving force to the success of our industry, personally just don't throw my $'s around that freely. Like some above love my mature Reeftank and do not want a DT full of lil frags colorful or not.

Cheers, Todd

 

[cdness]

This is a tough one for me but it is why I focus on the trading aspects of the hobby. I love to barter corals and trade for stuff I need. I also sell things locally when I need to cut but you don't find much in my tank that I sell more than $15 per frag. It is not to get rich, but it sure helps fund the supplements and sale needed to keep it going.

You will never catch me buying or selling the high end stuff like chalices and per polyp zoas. I cannot stand booger size frags and SPS frags less than 1" It makes no sense at all.

In the end to each their own. If they can afford it, go for it. They will not be recouping their investment with my dollars though.