Average price of magnifica nems in your area?

[sonofgaladriel]

Our LFS range between $40 and $150 depending on size and coloration. $40 gets you a small to medium (6" or so) brown/tan base. $70 gets you a medium large (8") blue/purple base. $150 would get you a HUGE red (never seen one) or blue base with green/yellow.
That is of course, WHEN, they can get them, which isn't too often here in KC.
So, would it be foolish to order one online for $200?:eek2:
Even though my tank has been set up for 4 years now, with most of the rock from a 180 that was up for 4 years before that, I'm still not confident enough in my tank or abilities after losing 3 this past year.
As bad as I want it, there's just too much risk for me to hit the 'buy it now' button.

 

[elegance coral]

Diver's Den just had one for $130 (I think). They get them in every now and then, but they don't last long. It's hard to go wrong with a 14 day guarantee. I bought my Purple base about two weeks ago, here locally for $70.

 

[sonofgaladriel]

Yep, I saw that one. They have a purple base with green, a bit bigger (8"), but its $199 plus shipping. It looks great, but $240 (with shipping) is just too high for my blood.

 

[sonofgaladriel]

Of course, its already gone! Wow, that was fast!

 

[elegance coral]

LOL. They don't last long on the websites. If you can get them locally for $70, you may just want to have the LFS call you if/when they get one in. I don't think the $70 I paid for an 11 inch Mag was bad at all. Sure beats $240 for an 8 inch Mag.

 

[Ron Popeil]

in oregon, the price ranges from 60 to 80 dollars. 100 or so for spectacular specimens, which is usually never.

i ordered several from LA many years ago, none survived, and their guarantee was only for live arrival, which with these anemones...is impossible to tell if it was suffering from shipping or it was doomed to slowly die off over the next few days. usually the latter and then no money back.

i would say buy local. you may have to do some distance driving to get a good specimen, and you may find plenty of disappointments...but at least youll be fully responsible for where your money goes. two hundred dollars for something you cant personally choose, especially with this species of anemones, is bound to fail.

 

[Flighty]

Word of warning on the divers den. When they say purple magnifica, they may mean that the tentacles are purplish in the picture and have no relation to the base color. The 14 day guarantee is fantastic, but make sure you clarify the color they are talking about or can see it in the picture.