Most expensive Zoa/paly you have seen?
- Thread starter endlessblue
- Start date
organism
code monkey
That has a lot to do with wholesaler connections as well as how often they order. Chances are the shops in your area don't really cater to corals as much as some corals with mostly fish. They probably don't know what to order nor who to order from, and a lot of shops don't want to risk bringing in nicer pieces that might die if they have crappy systems.
The best way to get good zoanthids colonies at your LFS is to go in and talk to them. Tell them what you're looking for, their suppliers will have them listed as "ultra zoanthid colonies", and a lot of suppliers will send out representative (read - wholesalers will not react well to a shop telling them they need specific colony pics before ordering) pictures of their ultra zoanthids to get an idea of the quality. It's pretty likely that they can get nice zoanthids, any LFS can, but don't know if anyone will buy them.
Piper27
I love bengals
Now that is some good info! Thanks for putting it in perspective guys.
Plus we're on the east coast. All those west coasters get their hands on the good stuff first
You're very welcome. Just wish every newbie could see it before they are ripped off.
MUCHO REEF
TOTM - August 2003
buddythelion
New member
To be fair, it would be like going through a good amount of pictures just for one customer to cherry pick their coral. Would have to be a really good customer or a close friend in order to get those kind of benefits. That's what online vendors are for if we're looking for specific morphs.
Also, ebay is the perfect example that it's not the vendors or LFS driving prices up, but the hobbyist. Have you seen the prices some morphs are going on there? The prices start around 4.99-9.99 and then sky rocket to $50+... for one polyp! One seller posted a coral he called "Cardiac Arrest" and it started as $4.99 and by the end of the auction went up for $70... before shipping! That's one of the most expensive ones I've seen. Was disappointing because he most likely got it off a large colony of other palys (think goldenbasket) and chipped this one off and sold it for big bucks.
650-IS350
Active member
Bud, some of THOSE vendors you mention are also ON EBAY too.
guess you never hear of shill bidding, but not gonna make that assumption, but for those that don't know.
Shill bidding happens when anyone—including family, friends, roommates, employees, or online connections—bids on an item with the intent to artificially increase its price or desirability. In addition, members cannot bid on or buy items in order to artificially increase a seller's Feedback or to improve the item's search standing.
that's why some of those items mysteriously get placed back into another ad after the bidding is over, cause they didn't get to sell it for their intended price and to some fool. Am i saying all EBAYers do that, NO , but it does happen and true why do you think ebay has rules for it to try and lower the times it happens or dissuade people from doing it.
really are you talking about the 200-500 Per Polyp brand new release never seen first time get it while it's new type polyps???? Or 50-80 PP for a while colony polyp that was hacked up and sold single frag polyp? Why not go to your local reef clubs, RC and other forums or fellow reefers?
Not attacking ya bud , just talking about whats been happening and still happening. Just giving the info out there for others to see and make their own minds on how they want to do with their reefkeeping and purchases on their own. Answers I gave is more for the general folks here, its' more info for them to take on their own and make their own decisions
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buddythelion
New member
I understand, but I'm sure not all of them are shill bids. I won my fair share of bids on ebay with the minimum bid. I'm not trying to be blind to this bidding issue, but I'm sure dishonesty happens and that hopefully the majority of transactions are fair. It's still a pretty good example of how much people are willing to pay for certain corals when the hype starts to pop up. I won my paradise zoas for cheap just because it was a bad photo and no one was paying attention/wasn't advertised (I know you guys don't like names, but for those who do know will know what I mean).
Wasn't talking about $50-500 polyps, I'm sure that's not what the other guy was looking for either. Also, not all vendors make such high prices either... I'm pretty sure you know your handful of places to shop for good prices online.
But I understand you guys, it certainly makes me shake my head when I see single polyps being sold for X amount of $ as well. There is a lot of hype going around with newer hobbyist to try and collect the most "rare" morphs out there simply because it's expensive. Honestly, I was starting to get washed out too by the over flooding of people buying expensive corals left and right. It's sort of like "Hey, all of these guys are spending X amount of $ on this coral... That should mean it's okay for me too!" It's become almost overwhelming, and it's great that people like you guys are informing us to keep us in check, that this hobby is about... being hobbyist! It just sounds so one sided when you guys talk that if no one sees it your way, they instantly become noobs/uneducated or make poor decisions so that people like me get their undies up and start being protective of their choices of coral. Even if you guys don't say it, it sure feels like it.
But I honestly think it's fine to spend $30 on a coral that you really like. I'd rather spend $30 on an Utter Chaos than $30 on a big chunk of those common green and red zoas. I remember when Darth Mauls first came out and I was at Atlantis (which is now gone). My jaw dropped when I saw how beautiful it was and wanted to get it for the price tag, even before I knew the hype. Just goes with what 650 said about purchasing decisions.
But back onto the thread topic, since I think it's derailed a bit (but honestly, the derailing is for the better):
PZ Pandemonium
PZ Hallucinations (I swear, that's the same zoa I can get on ebay as a colony for only $40)
Sopranos (Still expensive... even though they're being auctioned off as colonies for cheap)
Bowser
Shazaam
Black Hornet
Red Devil PE
JF Bloodshots (I can partially understand this one though, since it's so gorgeous and has high melting rates)
My Medusa PE (I don't understand the prices on a lot of the morphs on the site this one came from)
SC Gatorades (Idk why they are even that pricey, look cheap to me)
650-IS350
Active member
Yep take the information then hope all make the informative decision and not just go with what a CERTAIN group says, hypes or lead you to believe. I too long ago got caught up in the must have corals, pay per polyp, I believe I paid up to 50 for a single polyp.. then i FINALLY woke up and realize all this......
that's the problem with forums or internet, what you write can sometimes be taken differently or understood differently to your original intent or communication.
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SIR PATRICK
New member
This thread is sounding alot different than if it was posted 3 years ago, and glad to see it.
Looks like its flip flopped from 8:1 to 1:8.
I see it in Michigan clearly.
I see sunny d's, space monsters. red devils, ect at swaps or at local reefers homes, for less than $10/polyp, and those are high end pricing!
Also glad to see most frags, now a days, are at least 5 polyps. I have yet to pay $5/polyp for a 5 polyp frag either......there is always a price break involved....
Glad I saw this thread. About time word has gotten around.
RC-:thumbsup:
Looks like its flip flopped from 8:1 to 1:8.
I see it in Michigan clearly.
I see sunny d's, space monsters. red devils, ect at swaps or at local reefers homes, for less than $10/polyp, and those are high end pricing!
Also glad to see most frags, now a days, are at least 5 polyps. I have yet to pay $5/polyp for a 5 polyp frag either......there is always a price break involved....
Glad I saw this thread. About time word has gotten around.
RC-:thumbsup:
Das awesome
New member
I completely agree! $800 is extremely steep. I got my pink yuma for $30, but i've found some lfs' sell them for $100-$200 and they look the exact same as mine.
benjaminspades
New member
benjaminspades
New member
buddythelion
New member
This hobby is different because your examples are expensive because of true rarity (actual limited amount, never to be made again) and the fruit example is because of years of genetics and actual costs and time.
Your palys you posted up look like the average rainbow paly that go for about $10-$15 over in the bay area.
I'm not sure if you're sarcastic or serious though...
Your palys you posted up look like the average rainbow paly that go for about $10-$15 over in the bay area.
I'm not sure if you're sarcastic or serious though...
benjaminspades
New member
A. Grandis
Active member
I have a better picture. So tell me How much would you pay for this? Given that the going rate on these are 40-50pp. I feel that This hobby and its polyps are the same as any other hobby that has to do with collecting. Stamps go for thousands of dollars. Coins go for thousands and even millions of dollars. damn even fruit go for thousands of dollars. How is this hobby any different?
I wouldn't pay nothing for it.
I don't think I'll ever buy a polyp or two.
Even if I had to buy zoas.
Sorry.
Grandis.
+++1, How's it going man, I couldn't agree more. You took the words right off of my screen I was about to post. My most expensive purchase has never been buy the polyp. Usually $15 to $ 20 for a really nice group of polyps. I have never and will never purchase these tiny 1 to 3 polyp frags which seldom survive or thrive.
MUCHO REEF
TOTM - August 2003
benjaminspades
New member
What would be a fair price in your opinion for zoas and palys??
