~2009 Upcomming and Current Hot Corals~

S Helinski

Active member
Hi Everyone,

I have what might seem like a strange question, or one where the terse reply of "do some research" may be appropriate...

What are some current corals (Limited Edition/Fancy Named/Hard to Find), which are in great demand? I have to ask this question because I haven't been paying attention to any fad-corals in the last year or so, and to be honest, after 10 years in the hobby, few things excite me anymore...

For example, the "Superman Montipora" used to be an extremely rare and highly sought-after SPS. Micro sized frags used to sell for well over $150 back in the day. Currently in WNY and on online sites, chunks can be purchased for far less.

The Acanthastrea Craze is largely over, and it has been suggested that the next craze will focus on different "chalace" type corals.

Aside from comments on this prediction, what are some current specific corals, which are in great demand?

Steve
 
Hard to say, depends more on your local market I'd say.

If supply/demand pricing indicates the online trend, chalices would probably be #1 with some at $250-$350/inch. However, Rochester shops have many entire chalice colonies for $150 and under.

Australian LPS in general are still priced highly. 3 and 4 color scolies and acans have fetched prices like $1800/colony on Aquatic Auctions.

Locally, high end zoanthids and sps are hardest to find IME.
 
I'd say the Chalice thing has peaked.

Zoo's and Palys have hung in there in popularity for a while.

Favia's are trying to break through as the next Fad.
 
Fashion is always unpredictable and is constantly changing. That is why I collect every single coral I can get. If I don't have it, I want it regardless of how popular it is. They say all trends cycle and sooner or later old stuff will become popular again, can you say LE GSP.

I think with the lps trends favia is gaining popularity. I collected lobos for a while hoping they become popular, but didn't happen. Zoas are still going strong. As long as new morphs of zoanthinds will be popping up and people willing to pay over $300 per polyp, I say Zoas are the most trend setting and recession proof corals.
 
RandyO would certainly be the guy to listen to as he has to order based on supply and demand, I reckon.

Based on what I've seen on the selling threads, Chalices are fetching a pretty penny, but prices have come way down. For a while Japanese zoos were all the rage, but they seemed to have poor longevity and survivability. Theres always some hot zoo color combination that someone doesn't have and therefor they look like they've held their value.

As for SPS, I can only go based on my own wants and desires. Icefire echinata is a really hot one right now, fetching top $$$ for 1/4 inch frags. Setosa prices have come down markedly. Purple monster still gets high prices, but also trending down.

There are a few reliable guys that sell frag packs every so often on the selling thread. They have wide selections of things I haven't seen too much of. Beautiful and still not readily available to the masses, still getting good prices. Being an SPS junkie, I look at EVERY SPS sales thread. You start to get a good feel for value and demand.
 
I dont think any type of coral is gonna be more popular than another. Its all based on color
SPS were huge when husbandry improved enough to let them really shine
Acans took off once people realized what kind of color you could get with out high end equipment and chalices i will lump in with them
Zoo's have always been popular enough due to easy demands

So what is popular bright and or rare colors
 
i still see many people loving multicolor acans, and the fact that there are so many colors available the possibilities are endless. zoos and palys morph frequently, so that sector will always have new things people never saw before. i have also seen a few AMAZING echinos that are absolutely stunning. i just started to get into them, however in the LFS there arent too many offered.
 
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JMO

JMO

upcoming and current "hot" corals isn't the best place to be.
(buy low and sell high- know what I mean?)

fast track to the future: Goniopora ;)
 
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