Mccullochi Clowns
- Thread starter Jackc
- Start date
If they became CB available, the price could be well within the average hobbyist's range. If only a few people bought at $3k, but many bought at $50, the breeder would be turning over their inventories just fine. It will be typical "new technology" capitalism. The first few will sell for a few $k. The next few will sell for $1k, the next will sell for many hundreds of $$, etc. Early adopters always pay the most. A big question would be how well they do at reef tank temps. Could they be conditioned (perhaps at the fry stage)?
I am willing to bet some breeders will buy, don't you worry.
Dan
I am willing to bet some breeders will buy, don't you worry.
Dan
Minimum serious breeder investment for WC is at least a quad to give high odds of a single pair. Some scratch for fish sight unseen and unproven track record.
I figure someone will be jumping in, I just know one who is not jumping in :>D
I figure someone will be jumping in, I just know one who is not jumping in :>D
vaporize
New member
the original ORA picasso female cost 6K for one fish. So $2700 for one isn't that bad, a pair still cost less than one picasso.
The time investment and risk is a bit long though, I think it took them almost 3 years to start first producing 1st gen picasso (they are on 2nd gen now).
The time investment and risk is a bit long though, I think it took them almost 3 years to start first producing 1st gen picasso (they are on 2nd gen now).
WDLV
Skunk Hybrid Freak
I can personally attest to the gasters and the latz. I managed to get four of each.
I know of one American who had some McCs. So, there are likely others who have them.
As for fish like these, I can guarantee that if you are a threat to the importer (ie: you breed fish or plan to sell them to those who do) you will have a much harder time procuring these animals. So, if breeding is your intention, I would recommend publicly keeping your trap shut about looking for them, owning them, or that you've found a connection for them especially on public boards like this.
Threads like this one get back to collectors/importers in a big hurry and plans can change in an instant.
That's all I have to say about it and please don't PM me on the subject.
basser1
New member
O.K., I'll admit my ignorance, but can someone explain the rationale to the above statement? I would think people would be happy to be able to acquire and breed such rare fish! Look at the banggai cardinal thread, although not a rare fish, they're begging people to buy CB fish!
WDLV
Skunk Hybrid Freak
Imagine that you are a business that specializes in distributing fish and you had a fish that you could get $1000 or more per fish as the distributor. Now imagine that you are one of only 2 distributors in the world or better still the one and only distributor in the world who had a license to supply these fish. How would you see a breeder who could generate 50-300 fish in a single spawn when the market only supports 20-30 fish per year?
Get it?
MarinaP
Active member
I disagree with this explanation.
There is very limited supply of gasters, mccs and the like. Most of them die once they leave the ocean. Lucky few that make it to the breeders are reluctant spawners, base knowledge about raising fry is almost non-existent. Retail price per fish is high, multiply that by 4 or 6 to get a pair in captivity, add the value of the time you as a breeder spend messing with the fish/rots, add possible losses due to cross-contamination of your existing stock and equipment, etc.
A breeder is looking at a very high initial investment and very low odds of a return in a distant future.
Limited supply of endemic species, consequent high price, and limited demand worldwide are facts. I give certain players in the industry credit for giving us the chance to breed this fish in captivity. Whether we are successful in aiding mother nature or not is up to us.
And that's where I stand
WDLV
Skunk Hybrid Freak
I can agree with that assessment to a large degree as it applies to the species that are more common (if you can say the words "common", "gasters" and "latz" in the same sentence.)
I will not even attempt to challenge you on breeding as I am clearly outmatched!
When it comes to Gem Tangs, Clarion Angels, A. McCullochi and the like, I hear time after time from point sources who have directly dealt with these collectors/distributors about how brutally selective, exclusive, and market controlling collectors/distributors are about the sale and distribution of these animals. Again I say that this comes from the people who deal or have dealt directly with the collectors/distributors.
It's not a matter of rarity or the level of difficulty in collecting these animals so much as it is related to controlling the supply of the animals to drive up demand and subsequently prices. Even so much as to have all out bidding wars between buyers in different nations to re-evaluate maximum market prices.
It's not a matter of opinion, it is the fact of the matter.
My general impression has been that wholesalers/retailers would love to be able to bring in even just a few of these animals if only for the word of mouth advertising, new customers and in some cases bragging rights that come with them....
... and I wish I could be more specific.
I will not even attempt to challenge you on breeding as I am clearly outmatched!
When it comes to Gem Tangs, Clarion Angels, A. McCullochi and the like, I hear time after time from point sources who have directly dealt with these collectors/distributors about how brutally selective, exclusive, and market controlling collectors/distributors are about the sale and distribution of these animals. Again I say that this comes from the people who deal or have dealt directly with the collectors/distributors.
It's not a matter of rarity or the level of difficulty in collecting these animals so much as it is related to controlling the supply of the animals to drive up demand and subsequently prices. Even so much as to have all out bidding wars between buyers in different nations to re-evaluate maximum market prices.
It's not a matter of opinion, it is the fact of the matter.
My general impression has been that wholesalers/retailers would love to be able to bring in even just a few of these animals if only for the word of mouth advertising, new customers and in some cases bragging rights that come with them....
... and I wish I could be more specific.
Now we are talkin'
Sounds like it is worth a trip to set up shop and help out. When are you going?
