This is a repost
Nothing against on line store.
I have noticed this question on several sights and I thought I would share a little something that is the biggest Zoanthid and Palythoa secret on the net. So you wanna know where to find those crazy colors, ...continue reading. Here's the big secret, the best place to find great polyps.......................is right where you live. Yes, that's the big secret. The majority of my best, brightest, most beautiful pieces have been found here in my own state. Whenever I travel, I make it a point to stop by as many LFS as I can, and guess what, I can always manage to find them in your town, city and state as well. To be very honest, I once found a stunning shimmering two tone pink Palythoa. I saw the colony just sitting there over 2 months ago, that's right, it sat there untouched by a single reefer. It was a huge branch rock, 5" x 6" covered with 60 stunning Pink Palys. I knew what they were when I saw them and I ask how long had they been there in the store. The reply, " for several weeks".
I mentioned this once before so I thought I would share this again. Most LFS do not invest in the proper lighting to showcase the true fluorescence of that which we are all striving to find. I mentioned some time ago about "reading the lights", simply knowing or asking about the K value and wattage of the bulbs over the tanks and using this information to determine the actual color of the corals you are viewing. I paid $ 39.00 for the pink paly which was a steal for its size, color and rarity. Though not truly a rare piece, but it's only the third time I have ever seen it.
The mistake that so many make is taking a quick scan from a distance and asking these questions, " Do you have any rare zoos", "do you have any crazy reds, neon blues, electric yellows, flamingo pinks or flame oranges", "do you have any PPE, Ked's Red, Safe Cracker Red's, Tubb’s Blues, RPE’s and STD’s etc". Don't limit yourself to what everyone else has, or the latest craze of this special name or that special name. I take a magnifying glass with me whenever I enter a LFS. I check or ask to see what type of lighting scheme they are using. I take a quick glance from above the tank if possible and I compare what I see from the front. Of course knowing the K value makes this process of finding a crazy color much easier. The pink Paly that I spoke of, appeared a dull brown with just a very slight hint of what appeared to be a dirty pink. I moved as close as I could and used my eye piece to focus on the oral disc and what I call the spokes that were radiating from the center of the polyp. I caught a subtle glitter line that hit the polyp and I knew instantly what it was. Keep in mind that it sat there for months, and I'm sure numerous zoo keepers never noticed it. Why? They were looking for the obvious, the blues, the reds, the stunning yellows etc. I find zoas and palys wherever I am when I decided to look. Yes, your state and my own.
Also, look in the far corners on the back of the tanks at your LFS. There is almost always a 3 or 4 polyp frag just laying there that has falling off a mother colony. You should also ask your LFS to get you the colors you are looking for. Yes, it's just that simple. I took a trip last year and I called ahead to a few stores which were near my hotel. Mind you, I called a full month in advance. I politely explained my situation and what I was looking for. To make a long story short, everything that I ask for, with the exception of one color, was there when I arrived. I also found and extremely rare Eagle Eye type of zoo colony, but the skirts were cream, yes, orange and green eyes, orange rings and cream skirts. I have never seen anything like it.
This is not rocket science, more likely than not, what you are looking for is right there in your own backyard. Just try it and see, what can it hurt. I have often found pieces that LFS never even knew they had, yet it had been there all along,.....for months.
Hope I didn't sound cocky or anything because I'm not. Just wanted to share that you can pass over a true gem, while searching for the Hope Diamond.
Just my opinion and nothing more.
Mucho Reef
PS The most stunning polyp I have ever seen was found in a LFS, and it was sitting there for weeks and no one noticed it.
Nothing against on line store.
I have noticed this question on several sights and I thought I would share a little something that is the biggest Zoanthid and Palythoa secret on the net. So you wanna know where to find those crazy colors, ...continue reading. Here's the big secret, the best place to find great polyps.......................is right where you live. Yes, that's the big secret. The majority of my best, brightest, most beautiful pieces have been found here in my own state. Whenever I travel, I make it a point to stop by as many LFS as I can, and guess what, I can always manage to find them in your town, city and state as well. To be very honest, I once found a stunning shimmering two tone pink Palythoa. I saw the colony just sitting there over 2 months ago, that's right, it sat there untouched by a single reefer. It was a huge branch rock, 5" x 6" covered with 60 stunning Pink Palys. I knew what they were when I saw them and I ask how long had they been there in the store. The reply, " for several weeks".
I mentioned this once before so I thought I would share this again. Most LFS do not invest in the proper lighting to showcase the true fluorescence of that which we are all striving to find. I mentioned some time ago about "reading the lights", simply knowing or asking about the K value and wattage of the bulbs over the tanks and using this information to determine the actual color of the corals you are viewing. I paid $ 39.00 for the pink paly which was a steal for its size, color and rarity. Though not truly a rare piece, but it's only the third time I have ever seen it.
The mistake that so many make is taking a quick scan from a distance and asking these questions, " Do you have any rare zoos", "do you have any crazy reds, neon blues, electric yellows, flamingo pinks or flame oranges", "do you have any PPE, Ked's Red, Safe Cracker Red's, Tubb’s Blues, RPE’s and STD’s etc". Don't limit yourself to what everyone else has, or the latest craze of this special name or that special name. I take a magnifying glass with me whenever I enter a LFS. I check or ask to see what type of lighting scheme they are using. I take a quick glance from above the tank if possible and I compare what I see from the front. Of course knowing the K value makes this process of finding a crazy color much easier. The pink Paly that I spoke of, appeared a dull brown with just a very slight hint of what appeared to be a dirty pink. I moved as close as I could and used my eye piece to focus on the oral disc and what I call the spokes that were radiating from the center of the polyp. I caught a subtle glitter line that hit the polyp and I knew instantly what it was. Keep in mind that it sat there for months, and I'm sure numerous zoo keepers never noticed it. Why? They were looking for the obvious, the blues, the reds, the stunning yellows etc. I find zoas and palys wherever I am when I decided to look. Yes, your state and my own.
Also, look in the far corners on the back of the tanks at your LFS. There is almost always a 3 or 4 polyp frag just laying there that has falling off a mother colony. You should also ask your LFS to get you the colors you are looking for. Yes, it's just that simple. I took a trip last year and I called ahead to a few stores which were near my hotel. Mind you, I called a full month in advance. I politely explained my situation and what I was looking for. To make a long story short, everything that I ask for, with the exception of one color, was there when I arrived. I also found and extremely rare Eagle Eye type of zoo colony, but the skirts were cream, yes, orange and green eyes, orange rings and cream skirts. I have never seen anything like it.
This is not rocket science, more likely than not, what you are looking for is right there in your own backyard. Just try it and see, what can it hurt. I have often found pieces that LFS never even knew they had, yet it had been there all along,.....for months.
Hope I didn't sound cocky or anything because I'm not. Just wanted to share that you can pass over a true gem, while searching for the Hope Diamond.
Just my opinion and nothing more.
Mucho Reef
PS The most stunning polyp I have ever seen was found in a LFS, and it was sitting there for weeks and no one noticed it.
