love2skiutah
New member
There is a shop here in Utah, that just got a small Gem Tang in. They are asking around $3,500 for it. Crazy looking fish. I thought I was crazy paying $1,000 for a pair of Cross Hatch Triggers...
Gem Tang
- Thread starter love2skiutah
- Start date
Guygettnby
Well-known member
they are just stupid expensive.... nice looking but i would never pay that much for a fish. i think your crazy for spending $1k on a pair of fish myself. but to each there own and if you can afford it, more power to ya.
savemyreef
Member
I thought they were closer to $5,000. $2500 seems like a steal for a Gem Tang. Not that I have that amount of money sitting around though...
love2skiutah
New member
Yeah, $3,500 is a good deal apparently.....lol
Divers Den had one awhile back, but I can't remember how much it sold for.
Megatrev62
New member
I'm saving for one now. Should be good to go in about 4 years.
Vili_Shark
New member
unless they will show up from a new location, the price will go up.
they probably been over fished in Mauritius.
they probably been over fished in Mauritius.
Luiz Rocha
Salty Dog
It was never really overfished, the problem is that it is very rare and tend to occur in deeper reefs, so it is hard to get to. That is what drives the prices up, but this species was never common in the aquarium trade.
cracker642
New member
Dam. I could never afforf 3500 for a fish especially if they are not an easy fish to keep but hey if you can afford it why not has anyone tried to breed them they would be loaded if they could
ingtar_shinowa
New member
3500 has pretty much been the going rate and pretty stable over the last couple years. They aren't that rare of a fish and have a decent range. The problem with us getting them is laws in the habitats range. Mauritius is one of if not the only place their collection for commercial purposes is legal.
I remember seeing that in South Africa you can collect them in 3-10m of water and keep them as pets without any license, but if you try and sell one its a big time offense.
My wife signed off on one for my centerpiece fish in my new build.
I remember seeing that in South Africa you can collect them in 3-10m of water and keep them as pets without any license, but if you try and sell one its a big time offense.
My wife signed off on one for my centerpiece fish in my new build.
geaux xman
New member
I wonder how much the LFS/online vendors are marking up these fish?
Vili_Shark
New member
Luiz, they cant see even one , no fish.
They really aren't are at all. As of last year there was only one person shipping them out of Mauratius. It's a woman in charge and she won't ship just gem tangs unless you order 10 at time. She pretty much says you want 5 gem tangs then you also need to order 10 other fish. Those 10 other fish can be found elsewhere. The shipping is outrageous as well and that drives up the price of the other 10 assorted fish past what they would normally cost. The gem tangs are everywhere off the coast of South Africa, but it is illegal to export them from that area. I have only seen the 3500 mark on DD and from a few places online. They do pop up here in NJ, maybe 10 a year. They normally go for 2000-2500, although one sold for 1300 a few months ago.
coral_lagoon
Pushrod Powered
evolved
Wrasse Nut
Not as much as you might think; ultimately it depends on the order size.
Freight/import from the Mauritius is very expensive.
ingtar_shinowa
New member
I saw this the other day, that wholesalers sell them to retailers often as low as $1000. If you ave to order 10 expensive delicate fish, you are going to have some losses as well that further drives up the price.
Vili_Shark
New member
Gem tang is one of the toughest fish on earth.
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