WHO DO YOU GO TO FOR ZOAS?

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Hey zoa collectors, when you're on the hunt for a pack of great zoas, who are your go-to vendors/sellers? Give 'em a shout out in this thread! Tell us why you recommend them.

 

[kschweer]

WWC always delivered for me as well as cherry corals. I also got lucky to have a good number of zoa collectors fairly local so I was able to buy and trade locally a lot of the time.

 

[Opus]

I do most of my buying at the local frag swaps. We usually have 4 or 5 a year and there are usually some good out of area sellers there such as JF, Golden Basket, ReefKoi or 2 Guys. Online I really like Legendary Corals.

 

[dbl]

Unique Corals doesn't necessarily sell the high end stuff, but they do have some nice pieces at reasonable prices. If you're looking for a large colony to start off a collection, they usually have some very reasonable, large colonies you can pick up as a starting show piece.

 

[Michael Naegeli]

Jason Fox, Chris- Reefkoi, Todd- cherry Corals. I really like dealing w Danny @ So cal. I also like Rich- Cornbred, when I am able to win a good deal on eBay auction, otherwise prices just Wayyy too high. He is a marketing genius I must say. His Corals are very high quality, but trying to justify paying those price tags surely makes me want to wait for another vendor to grow em out and get off them for fraction of the price usually. I buy Zoa’s from many many more peeps as well but these guys consistently bring the fire.

 

[tankstudy]

Cherry Corals

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-Have purchased from them in person and online.
-The quality of their live stock is top notch. You can tell that these organisms are very healthy. Usually more heads than pictured.
-Large variety of zoa's and paly's , old school morphs & new morphs consistently, which means you can purchase a lot at once when buying online.
-Good prices overall.
-Very good packaging on all online orders.

Strictly fish Miami

-Have purchased from them online.
-A good variety to choose from. A lot of your OG morphs and newer popular morphs.
-Very high quality.
-Good prices overall.
-Very good packaging on all online orders.

Aznutty Saltwater Connection - Frost

-Have purchased over the phone and in person.
-Superb individual to deal with. Had same day shipping and arrival for a very large order.
-Looking for new and extremely rare morphs? This is where I go when I want something amazing.
-Good variety to choose from.
-Very high & rare quality of goods.

I have purchased from countless vendors and online sites but when I'm hunting zoas and palys, these three are the first I look in to. I've had zoa's and paly's show up sick, freshly cut, dying, infested, leaky bags, poor packaging and with no water in a SEALED BAG many times so I'm big in to vendors with healthy specimens, good prices, good shipping and excellent communication.

I have not done all the vendors on this forum though. There are a few vendors that have me interested constantly though. I may pull the trigger one day.

 

[vetteguy53081]

AZ nutty and AquaSD

 

[larryl]

Cherry corals or AquaSD.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

@Rakie, here are a few ideas

 

[Hanfam1111]

My Fav for Zoa’s is by far Josh Pork Samdwich all he deals with is Zoanthids! https://mkt.com/jpszoas

 

[Hanfam1111]

JK. It’s all pictures but still very cool

 

[WWIII]

Cherry corals because they have a wide selection and the corals always come in with fantastic color.

 

[vetteguy53081]

That was back in 2014 and yes he did dump 30 pieces which were DOA when he got to event. He is much improved

 

[ZoWhat]

Aznutty Saltwater Connection - Frost....for sure!!!!

He makes other vendors at Frag Swaps very very mad....

He'll show up selling entire zoas rocks the size of your palm for $40.....while his competitors the next booth over selling the same colorful zoas for $40 for tinnie tiny 3 polyp fragplugs.

It's fun watching vendors FUME when Frost has 30 people holding cash in their hands waiting to buy while their booth is EMPTY

 

[tankstudy]

Just FYI take for what it’s worth. Many collaborate this story

I recall this story from way back. These individuals were not happy with him and tried to drive him off. They stated he was banned from the event but from what I recall, those who hosted the event came on to the forums to call out these individuals who had picked on frost.

If he had thrown these in to the garbage alive, people would be swarming those dumpsters. The story doesn't really add up. Anyone who is selling corals as their sole source of income wouldn't chuck away live organisms that are worth money. Corals have different popularity levels across the states, if it doesn't sell today, it may sell next weekend in a different part of the country.

This is an old story but its good reminder that some folks will go to extremes to hurt you if they don't like you. There is a lot of money to be made at these swaps and I mean ALOT.

20% of my current inhabitants are from Frost.

 

[Somuchflo99]

yourreefaquarium.com

 

[ZoWhat]

FROST BACKSTORY:

Frost being banned from certain Frag Swaps is true....

....but NOT bc he was throwing livestock in the trash

....but bc his prices are so outrageously ridiculously low, he blows away all the competing Vendors at Swaps. Totally 'urinating off' Vendors at the Swap. Talking severely jacked-up angry Vendors who have banned together to blackball Frost from Swaps.

I personally witnessed at two Swaps, Frost selling zoa rocks the size of your hand with 200+ polyps for $40-$60. Meanwhile all other Vendors had 3 polyp fragplugs for the same price.

BIZ MODEL
Frost will buy a zoa rock for $20 wholesale and sell it for $60. Tripling his money which is cool bc of his time and effort being a Vendor.

Other Vendors will buy the same zoa rock for $20.....frag it up into 30 fragplugs and sell each fragplug for $40 each. Not cool to us hobbyists taking a $20 zoa rock and making $1200 in frag sales....can you say "gouge"..."swindle"...."hustle"

I have heard from LFS owners that Vendors REFUSE to participate at a Swap where Frost is on the Guest List.

I believe the "garbage dump" story in a MADE UP story by Vendors to tear down Frosts biz model = low price / high volume

 

[Hanfam1111]

Thank you for clearing. That’s why I was sure to state “take it for what it’s worth” my business has been wrongly attacked online by my competitors and it sucks having to try and clear your name. Thank you for the detail!

 

[Zeal]

I try and buy from locals. I cannot justify paying $40+ for shipping. Lucky live in South florida I have quite a bit of stores I can visit, and I try to do online auctions and pick up at the store or meet the person

 

[tankstudy]

Thank you for clearing. That’s why I was sure to state “take it for what it’s worth” my business has been wrongly attacked online by my competitors and it sucks having to try and clear your name. Thank you for the detail!

Yes being slandered online is quite awful.

These days, I question good and bad reviews. It's good to pick apart the information and etc.

Frost is an unfortunate victim. I feel that if enough vendors threaten not to come because of him, local clubs either have to remove him or have no frag swap at all. Which is quite dirty.

Here in the Midwest I have seen, vendors at Farmer's Markets, band together and drive out farmers/vendors who have better deals or varieties using false accusations. Similar to frag swaps, buying a lot from one vendor at the Farmer's Market can reduce your overall price as well. Once they remove these individuals, the prices skyrocket. It's really common in the big cities here. Prices have gotten so high at times that "Whole Foods" looks like a 50% discount store.

I don't dig this practice at all.

Sad part is, these vendors will still treat you like trash even if you pay their absurd prices. Folks who are willing to use dirty practices aren't good folks to do business with.