Anybody else find coral trends funny?

[Winwood]

I by no means have seen it all, but now that I am in my thirties I find it entertaining to follow coral trends. When I was 17, I worked at a local reef shop and at the time Tonga blue mushrooms were all the rage. Then it was ricordeas, followed by zoanthids, acans, scolys etc.. All were priced outrageously depending on what was considered super rare at the time.

Now it's acropora, and people spend sooo much money on a single frag that they can then go see, I had it for three months and it finally put off a new branch. I understand the appeal, don't get me wrong. I just don't understand the obsession.

For me some of the most beautiful corals are the classics like turbinaria, platygyra, euphyllia, any number of grown out brain coral etc.. I find it perplexing that people zero in on one type of coral, when we are given so many options, and they are all wonderful.

 

[FullBoreReefer]

I agree on there being trends for sure.

But the species dominant tanks are usually because of specific tank requirements. Sometimes it truely is one or the other...

 

[crissie]

There are definite trends (the same with fish) but I think mostly it comes down to what people find beautiful. People who adore SPS will rarely opt for anything different and vice versa. Those who love corals in general are usually the ones who will pick out whatever catches their eye rather than a specific type.

 

[AcroporAddict]

I remember when pulsing xenia was hot...ugh!!!!!!

I have 465 sps tank, and I have gotten rid of most of my monti caps and a lot of my enrusting montis. They can become real pests. I also dislike fast growing sps corals as well. The faster they grow, the more work you have to do to keep the tank balanced. Chunking one large SPS colony can open up a lot of real estate for new frags.

 

[Winwood]

There are definite trends (the same with fish) but I think mostly it comes down to what people find beautiful. People who adore SPS will rarely opt for anything different and vice versa. Those who love corals in general are usually the ones who will pick out whatever catches their eye rather than a specific type.

Can't agree more. For a while it was fairy/flasher wrasses and anthias. Whatever happened to the hutchi anthias for that matter? It's funny to see Achilles tangs going for so much now. I bought my first one at a wholesaler in 2000 for $8. They were no more special than a yellow tang back then. I see gold rim tangs going up now too. Will they become the next must have? I just find it silly the way things are priced.

 

[Winwood]

I remember when pulsing xenia was hot...ugh!!!!!!

I have 465 sps tank, and I have gotten rid of most of my monti caps and a lot of my enrusting montis. They can become real pests. I also dislike fast growing sps corals as well. The faster they grow, the more work you have to do to keep the tank balanced. Chunking one large SPS colony can open up a lot of real estate for new frags.

I hear this a lot now about the monties. The encrusting types just take over. It wasn't just a few years ago when everyone was trying to get their hands on a superman or reverse superman or sunset extravaganza or whatever.

 

[crissie]

Can't agree more. For a while it was fairy/flasher wrasses and anthias. Whatever happened to the hutchi anthias for that matter? It's funny to see Achilles tangs going for so much now. I bought my first one at a wholesaler in 2000 for $8. They were no more special than a yellow tang back then. I see gold rim tangs going up now too. Will they become the next must have? I just find it silly the way things are priced.

Funny you should mention Achilles Tangs, I was in my LFS today and they had a couple in - £110 (roughly $180) - couldn't believe it! Only 3 years ago I picked one up for £45 ($65 ish).

In England, 2 or 3 years ago - Amir Khan bought a Gem Tang (expensive enough at they were £3k+) and the price doubled over night! Literally!

 

[Winwood]

I don't want to necessarily steer this towards a fish discussion, BUT why is everybody freeking out about about a pintail wrasse or a clarion angel. The pintail looks just like any flasher wrasse and the clarion is a local fish for anyone in the US for the most part.

 

[crissie]

Because expensive = desirable!

 

[snorvich]

I totally agree that there are both coral and fish fads. And that some people buy them because they are "in" and "expensive" but usually that they are "rare" (read expensive).

 

[ca1ore]

All were priced outrageously depending on what was considered super rare at the time.

Chuckled at your post as I have been around this hobby long enough to see a lot of fads come and go. I guess its ultimately down to the basics of supply and demand. Just because somebody say something is 'super rare' doesn't mean it actually is, so price adjustments will happen pretty quickly. If something is hard to get, but commands a premium, folks will try to frag it, or somebody will import more, and the price goes down.

 

[ca1ore]

Funny you should mention Achilles Tangs, I was in my LFS today and they had a couple in - £110 (roughly $180) - couldn't believe it! Only 3 years ago I picked one up for £45 ($65 ish).

110 quid not bad for an Achilles these days, and will probably get worse given the changing legislative landscape in Hawaii.

 

[jgalen0025]

There are trends in every facet of our lives,one just has to look around a bit every 3-5 years. Believe it or not you are probably part of many.

 

[atreis]

Some people are driven by fashion - it's not really different from popular clothing styles, car styles, etc... In addition, since the hobby involves by nature some amount of conspicuous consumption, many people want to have whatever it is that's currently "in".

 

[Reef Frog]

It's part supply & demand and part fashion. I think it's part of human nature to want the "new & different." This phenomena is seen in many hobbies and in other facets of life. I've seen it in the plant world and the poison dart frog hobby for example. Beanie Babies, limited edition shoes, you name it.

A story in the auto industry - An executive at Mercedes Benz was asked by an industry newspaper "Why doesn't MB make a less expensive car - you would sell millions."' His reply: "Our customers wouldn't stand for it."

 

[AdamNC]

Reptiles are the same way. I remember seeing Amazon Basin Emerald Tree Boas in the mid 80's to early 90's going for about $100-$200. Finally got around to buying my female about 2 years ago and ended up paying $2500.00. Northern Emeralds going for $50-$150, now going for $400.00 for a cbb one.

 

[Winwood]

The latest one that gets me is if you label something "Australian" look out!

 

[mussel and hate]

The trends are web-driven. I suspect commercial interests help steer the public with high res glam shots posted on various forums. I'll see a tank chock full of colorful sps mini colonies that has been in operation for perhaps six months. The photography is exquisite, everyone salivates, the tank crashes, rinse, repeat.

 

[kpg007]

I fall for this sometime too. I recently spent $430 on three (3) SPS frags from Reef Raft. Got them home and kind of went meh, I have better stuff already.

I must also say a picture is worth a thousand words and in some cases a thousand dollars. With the web, a great photo can drive demand sky high. I never post a sale without a photo, and I almost always sell out without much trouble.

 

[Ralph ATL]

I am happy to see SPS becoming more popular again, after a few years "shoved in the closet", lol...