LPS Fad...

[All Delight]

I also managed to avoid paying $100 for the utter chaos paly for what 2 years now? Anyways I got a frag of it at my local frag swap from a member for only $20. Awesome coral, and affordable.

If you're patient and don't mind waiting for the hype so subside you can have some nice corals.

 

[parrthed]

Favias need to make a comeback. I dont see too many nice colonies anymore. I would also like to see some more euphyllia. I miss old school frogspawns.

 

[bamf25]

Favias need to make a comeback. I dont see too many nice colonies anymore. I would also like to see some more euphyllia. I miss old school frogspawns.

I have a very nice favia green with purple centers about 5 inches long and 2 inches wide, easily 40 polyps. It has been in my tank like 6 months and has curled under the edges of the rock it came on and is now growing onto the base rock. For a piece that size I only paid like $65.

 

[TimothyJ]

Favia's are one of my favorite corals to have.

 

[BfishLpond78]

I just think corals are worth as much as you would pay for them. To some people it is really worth it, but to others its just another type of coral.

For example, the LFS I go to has some really nice pieces, one of which is a 4 polyp frag of utter chaos, its blinding the neon orange glow it emits, but at 50 bucks a polyp I just can't justify it.

Also, I see all these people selling crazy named corals, its like branding in the clothing or car world, you're buying the name. I have yet to see somone with a large healthy colony of these "designer" or "morphed" zoas/palys, except for one gentleman in my reef club who has a unique display that showcases 100's of polyps instead of chopping them up and trying to sell em cause they are the new fad.

I would like to see a thread that has these types of corals, but has them in great numbers, not just stuck to a frag plus saying give me 100 bucks for this one polyp or 1/2 inch stick.

end of rant...

 

[rogerwilco357]

what I hate is buying a coral that expensive but to only see the colors when photo-shopped very rare to get one in the tank that still looks like the pics...I ususally buy what catches my eye at the lfs sadly they are always expensive lol ..crazy most dogs don't cost that much.

 

[All Delight]

what I hate is buying a coral that expensive but to only see the colors when photo-shopped very rare to get one in the tank that still looks like the pics...I ususally buy what catches my eye at the lfs sadly they are always expensive lol ..crazy most dogs don't cost that much.

That's a nice acro colony in your avatar. Lokani?

 

[snorvich]

Ah, yes, this subject. I buy what I like to look at. Unless, of course it is the hot item du jour then I wait until it is not.

 

[on3ofak1nd]

The designer names kind of bug me as well.. I make up my own designer names for my Zoa's... lol There is another "hobby" which tends to come up with a lot of designer names... the similarities are that you grow it as well... the difference is once it's done growing you don't frag it you smoke it =P Those designer names kind of erk me too... lol Of course the cooler sounding the name the more expensive applies to both ... lol

 

[Ira]

I think this is human nature and have seen the same thing happen the dart frog hobby.

In darts, everyone was always clambering after the latest import or hard to get frog, getting rid of their "Undesirables" in order to make room for the latest-greatest and what ended up happening was that the common, cheap undesirable frogs would almost go extinct in the hobby because there was no demand for them so no-one was breeding them, which then makes that animal desirable again and the cycle starts anew. Pretty amusing to watch once you figure it out, and I think it was the people who figured out these cycles and did not get rid of broodstock to chase fads were the people who made the most money as breeders.

 

[Justin74]

I agree, Im starting to get fed up with every coral that hits our shores having to have a "name". Its cool for the LE (mother colony farmed and lineage corals) but the Hype over names has become excessive I think. There are likely infinite color morphs of chalices, ect. in the ocean and it just becomes too much to keep track of names for every one. The truly exceptional corals should be held and aquacultured by aquarists to increase the availablity of said specimen. I dont go around calling my black cat a "dark knight" special edition, its a black cat. Sorry I just had to rant, I apologize if I was out of line.

hahahah, sooo very IN LINE!!


-Justin

 

[j.p. harrington]

I also managed to avoid paying $100 for the utter chaos paly for what 2 years now? Anyways I got a frag of it at my local frag swap from a member for only $20. Awesome coral, and affordable.

If you're patient and don't mind waiting for the hype so subside you can have some nice corals.

totally agree with this statement heck i rushed off and spent about 500.00 on several 1 polyp "LE" zoa frags. that now are common and go for a decent price for several polyps.

if everyone could/would do the whole ill swap you this for this and be happy that you got a new coral that you dont have instead of i paid 120.00 for a polp of this and ive got 2 now so ill take 240.00 i think the market would make a major change.

but its not a perfect world and not everyone is so generous

 

[6Speed]

green star polyps are the next fad.

 

[cjk76]

I totally agree with this forum. I have heard way too many people buy expensive chalices for 200+ an eye and say they will grow it out and sell it. I understand that the amount of time it takes to grow chalices drive prices, but they will also be more common by the time you sell it, dropping the price dramatically.
Also, there are way too many hobbists trying to sell frags for "market value," even though they are covered in aiptasia or flatworms. I understand if you are a propogator with a legit business, but most hobbiests don't have the needed systems in place to prevent pests and give the corals what they need. I definitely support culture and sharing of corals with others, but expect prices to be much lower than you paid at your LFS.
Actually, I've heard that the "metallic" GSP was a fad a few years ago but now everyone can't get rid of it. HAHA!

 

[antbreon]

Over priced is all relative. A dentist who makes $250k a year, won't think $300 frag is too expensive. But a sales guy making $45k a year may think so. :lol:

ya just gotta remember the us median income is @52 k a year ..so that is the norm ..the rich guy buys 3 because he has a 300 gal tank

 

[blazzent]

green star polyps are the next fad.

Starting price per 1 inch frag $300.00

 

[T.MONEY]

^^ BAHAHAHA if thats the next fad than im about to be a millionaire! lol JK I could carpet my whole house in this stuff.

 

[Justin74]

Don't forget the super hardcore hobbyist who lives reefing and goes to LFS multiple times a week and is on RC everyday, $300 frag may be normal, but he won't spend $50 on a dress shirt. :lol:

so busted :hmm2:

-Justin

 

[xCry0x]

I just go for whatever is colorful and reasonably priced. Some of the slower growers make sense in pricing because they take longer to frag out. To this extend the price on corals like scolys make sense. What drives me nuts is when stores try to sell a rock with 4-5 generic red mushrooms for 50-60$ or frags of pulsing xenia for $10-$15 a pop. They both grow like weeds and should be free-bee corals if you buy others.

I think chalices are def in fad-mode right now due to the pricing. A frag the size of a quarter with 2-3 eyes costing 150-200$ is something I cannot justify.

With people moving towards LED & their super actinic pop I would think the corals of the future will be anything that looks crazy under actinics. That is the main reason I buy zoas, they all look sweet under royal blue lights.

 

[wireefman]

green star polyps are the next fad.

your not to far off.. im guessing clove polyps... ive seen a 2 polyp frag go for 100 bucks... there are some sweet speimens coming in now as well