Do you buy Zoas b/c you like them or is it an investment?

[MightyMoe]

I use the "If it spreads then I can sell some of them and it will pay for itself" when I buy expensive zoa frags, but when it comes time to frag them I don't because the colony looks too nice.

 

[amore169]

I buy them because i like them too.

 

[corigan]

All about the looks to me. If they look cool and I don't have a color morph like it already I am good.

 

[twiggyb]

I buy what I can afford lol. A lot of the rare ones that I see on here I don't really find in my area, but even if I did, I would not spend that kind of money on one little polyp when I can get a nice sized sps or something else for the same price. The "rarity" thing, imo, is stupid and smart in the sense that some of them are very beautiful and some not so much, but some people will pay for the "rarity" of it. If I did have money however, I would buy "rare" ones that looked good imo, not because it's rare. Until I hit the lotto, I'll just have to wait for the titles to be dropped so I can buy a colony at a good price

 

[650-IS350]

Just throwing it out there... but do you really expect anyone to come out and say they buy zoanthids for future profit? I doubt you'd see anyone comeout in public and would expect to get flamed for that... as you know Names/rarity/price is a touchy subject.

 

[deladarkstep]

Just throwing it out there... but do you really expect anyone to come out and say they buy zoanthids for future profit? I doubt you'd see anyone comeout in public and would expect to get flamed for that... as you know Names/rarity/price is a touchy subject.

My interpretation of that is that buying zoanthids for profit or propagation value is a popular thing here, but kept hush hush. I've been in the collectable trading card business in the past and I know how hype and value works. I know that a select few can wreak havoc on prices and create new demand. So to answer your question I know that anyone on here is not going to say... "hey I did this and now I make money, here's my secret". What I am looking for is collectors of these rare or more expensive morphs to explain why they collect them. And does fragging growth justify their expenses. Or if they do that at all.

 

[650-IS350]

I collect them for Looks ( IE' coloration, patterns, morphs, size ).. as for what justifies the price... fragging growth shouldn't IMO justiy a price or higher price.

Being in the collecting business you should be now keen on what makes a value go higher on a specific piece, but one shoudn't compare these corals to one of a kind or no longer made pieces like rare cards, cars, works of art etc. as these are still be made and available in the wild as some might like to compare them too. One colony collected in one reef here is most likely available somewhere else, but hasn't been collected yet in another. Not saying this directly to you but to others that aren't " IN THE KNOW ".

There are some morphs out there that are more pricy as they are hard to propagate or keep alive.. IE' darth mauls, armaggedons etc. it might do well in a current owners tank but the minute it gets fragged and goes to another... it becomes another story in regrads to it longevity. I've tired 4 times with DM's about 3 times with Armaggedons.. some are just finckier than others. Some are just not as available or grow a LOT slower.. IE PPE's and other variants.

 

[deladarkstep]

In the late 90's early 2000's I used to do well selling magic the gathering cards, ( i know geeky) but it wasn't the fact that the cards were rare or never to be made again, it was when a highly respected deckmaker (strategic pro) used a card that was valued @ $0.25 it immediately becomes a $20.00 card. I imagine that's comparable here, if a respected zoa collector finds a new wild colony, regardless of the color or rarity, I'm sure demand will increase. and you could have a common color with a subtle morph that most wouldnt notice going for a lot.


Edit to clarify:. Regardless of Hardiness or growth rate.

 

[deladarkstep]

And by all means, every post I make here with an opinion is usually a guess or philosophical thought. I do not in any means believe I am in the know ( here on RC ). Other places do on the other hand have soap boxes with my name on it lol

 

[fsn77]

I buy what I like. If I only bought zoas (or any other coral) simply with the intent of fragging it over time to make back my money, I pretty much feel like I'd have very little coral in my tanks and very little cash to show for my effort. Now, I've certainly bought pricey corals because I like them, but I also enjoy many of the less expensive corals I've bought. To echo an earlier post, I too like Eagle Eye zoas despite having paid so little to have some. It probably doesn't require mentioning, but I've definitely walked away from many corals I've liked because I didn't like the price tag.

 

[650-IS350]

And by all means, every post I make here with an opinion is usually a guess or philosophical thought. I do not in any means believe I am in the know ( here on RC ).
I don't expect you , I or anyone to be experts here. I my self continue to learn. Why is why I like RC and similar forums as you learn from other people.

When I made the remark in the know, I meant for people who don't know about the type of Hyping, naming etc that's going on with the hobby.

 

[aznpg]

for me its more of something i like

 

[deladarkstep]

And by all means, every post I make here with an opinion is usually a guess or philosophical thought. I do not in any means believe I am in the know ( here on RC ).
I don't expect you , I or anyone to be experts here. I my self continue to learn. Why is why I like RC and similar forums as you learn from other people.

When I made the remark in the know, I meant for people who don't know about the type of Hyping, naming etc that's going on with the hobby.

I know you weren't trying to call me out or anything, I just was being clear that I don't think I know more than anyone else. It's amazing how a ton of threads are made over and over again, but when you read through them, you're bound to learn something. even something as basic as the nitrogen cycle. Anyone offering free bio chemistry courses and algebra?:lmao:

 

[Murphs205]

i buy what i like at the time ,,if i can trade a frag or two of them in due time for something i dont have i will swap the higher end ones ,,,, but dont really sell them. i more less use them for trade for other high end stuff ,,i have about 30 TRUE everlasting gobstoppers that were 4-5 polys a year ago ,,im getting ready to wack them up for trade in the next month

 

[mjoener]

Initially I got them for the sweet color and the rarity in my area, Orange Bam Bams.
That was about 1.5 yrs ago, maybe 2. Now they are over taking my tank. I literally have one colony of over 250 and another of over 300+.
I see them for sale still at the LFS and they still sell for what I bought my intial frag for, so i chop off some and bring it in for some store credit. I run a nano so it helps pay for water changes and food!

 

[Milky3]

I never buy with the intent of selling, now maybe if someone wants to trade a few I am down.

 

[SIR PATRICK]

As stated above- I buy what I like, BUT- just so happens that what I buy and like, others do too. Pretty much everything I buy, eventually grows out, and gets traded for somthing else I like with someone else that likes what I baught.

I guess its almost like an investmant- but not a big one, bacause even if I like it- I still wont pay over $10 a polyp, weather I like it (or realy love it) or not.

Even though just about every zoa I buy because I like becomes an investment of sorts, I dont see it as being baught as an investment.

If I was up for buying for investment- I am pretty sure I would be on ebay more than I am here, and would pay much more than $10/polyp!

The investors vs. hobbiests are pretty easy to point out- weather they post it or not.

 

[SolidDetail808]

I buy because of looks and will try to trade them for others that I don't have.

 

[sagecx]

I buy what i like, although sometimes i use the fact that as they grow i can sell/trade them to justify paying a bit more for a frag then i consider it worth.