ORA Mandarin Dragonets!!!!!

[CJO]

My local LFS just got a target one in and sold it within a couple of hours for $100. I know him personally and he's not making much money off of it, so I don't know if different stores get them at different prices based on their business at ORA or if the earlier ones weren't ORAs.

CJ

 

[Cerebral Fish]

Good to hear that you got a mostly normal fish, Parrthed.

There are new entries at glassbox design and RB about these fish. From Parrthed's experience and ORA's comments it appears that these fish have an instinctual hunting behavior, but the shyness is learned. So you may see these beautiful fish out in the open more then the wild caught ones, but you may have to be more careful about tankmate selection.

As for price, I feel that it is too high. I am willing to pay a premium for captive bred fish. And I realize that breeding fish isn't a high margin business. But most people buy based on low price, even if the more expensive CB fish is less shy, more adaptable to prepared foods, used to aquarium life, used to human interaction, etc. For aquaculture to succeed there has to be a dual effort of reducing production costs and educating prospective owners about the advantages.

 

[Romewhip]

$70? the range is ridiculous. People are getting them for $50 but are these other stores trying to cash in on the hype?

That's Seattle area, Washington state. Everything is more expensive here, unfortunately.

 

[aykim2188]

Depends heavily on WHERE you live. In Wisconsin wild caught Mandarins are 34-40 dollars. Areas with lower populations have higher prices due to lower demand, and a smaller market of people in the hobby. The stores need more markup to stay profitable.

It's economics.

You can't say it's rediculous just because the price is higher than the fish stores in LA or San Diego, as with anything it's all about supply and demand.

I can see $70 being somewhat reasonable if you're tyring to take high costs of living into account but the range has been from $50 to $100. That IS ridiculous.
Lol it's ironic that I'm an econ major. I don't think it has anything to do with population density. The idea Lower populations having lower demand is an assumption that holds a fallacy. Sellers try to maximize profit based upon what the demand is in that area. I go to school in Champaign so I obviously get my fish there. There are two main LFS that sell the exact same products and from asking them personally I also heard that they receive their fish from the EXACT same source. The stores sell the fish at extremely different costs though. Example: ORA true percs are $25 at store A while its $15 at store B. Mandarins are $35 at Store A and $20 at store B. These two stores are about 4 miles apart. You wonder how store A competes considering they charge more for the same fish from the same suppliers. It's because store A focuses on fish only while store B also provides services for other hobbies. Image is what keeps store A going.

You are correct in that obviously it is about supply and demand but at the same time your backing of that idea is somewhat incorrect. The high range of prices is not due to cost effective measures taken by lfs but its simply because of demand only. A store can easily sell this mandarin for $100 now because it just hit the market and everyone still wants them. Based upon basic market forecast theories this will be proven to be evident in this case when the prices of the mandarins WILL go down after 4-5 months. Sellers always say "they're the middleman and they're just covering their costs," but in reality they are there to maximize their profit at the expense of your wallet .

As the guy stated the fish was being sold for $70 in Seattle, Washington and $100 in Charlotte, North Carolina which in regards to you are major cities. I guess you can take cost of living into account but that will not cause the fish to be sold at twice the amount that other stores are selling it at. No matter how you look at it you can't justify a fish costing $100 compared to the same fish being sold for $50 due to small populations and location. The mandarin that is being sold for $50 was in a town in Indiana and the mandarin that is being sold for $70 in Seattle and $100 in Charlotte. It is not the "small" size of the population that is affecting the high costs. As I stated before it is due to high mark ups taking place because of high demand.

LFS want to make money too lol.

 

[aykim2188]

Good to hear that you got a mostly normal fish, Parrthed.

As for price, I feel that it is too high. I am willing to pay a premium for captive bred fish. And I realize that breeding fish isn't a high margin business. But most people buy based on low price, even if the more expensive CB fish is less shy, more adaptable to prepared foods, used to aquarium life, used to human interaction, etc. For aquaculture to succeed there has to be a dual effort of reducing production costs and educating prospective owners about the advantages.

I also agree but I don't think it's the production cost that is causing fish to be sold at such a high price. This is clear when one lfs can sell the fish for $50 while the other sells the same fish for $100. The LFS themselves are the ones who are just trying to maximize their profits based upon their location and demand. Prices will eventually go down but as of now they can charge ridiculous amount and people will pay.

 

[silence88]

are these for sale from any online vendors yet???

 

[Gobie74]

Acclimating mine right now

 

[Mr.leee]

im sure this fish cost 15-20$ whole sell, and to sell them at 100$...i would not buy. a LFS here in MN is selling them for 50$ also.

 

[Cerebral Fish]

are these for sale from any online vendors yet???

They are listed on saltwaterfish for $60: http://www.saltwaterfish.com/ORA-Aquacultured-Mandarin-Dragonet--Spotted_p_3659.html#tablist

 

[sslak]

im sure this fish cost 15-20$ whole sell, and to sell them at 100$...i would not buy. a LFS here in MN is selling them for 50$ also.

Personally I would pay the price just to prevent that one more fish from being harvested from our oceans. I wish all fish could be captive bred...unfortunately some people only care about $$$.

 

[jefathome]

A store can easily sell this mandarin for $100 now because it just hit the market and everyone still wants them. Based upon basic market forecast theories this will be proven to be evident in this case when the prices of the mandarins WILL go down after 4-5 months. Sellers always say "they're the middleman and they're just covering their costs," but in reality they are there to maximize their profit at the expense of your wallet ..

OMG... New Mandarin Hornets!! I'll frag you one for $100 per fin.
:hmm3:

 

[stegasoma]

$50.00 is much too cheap.....to the point of being demeaning to the effort put into the breeding, limited availability, cost, and box and shipping charges a retailer pays.

 

[olemiss reb]

$50 in Baton Rouge, picked mine up earlier today

 

[aykim2188]

$50.00 is much too cheap.....to the point of being demeaning to the effort put into the breeding, limited availability, cost, and box and shipping charges a retailer pays.

I don't see how thats the case. ORA have been trying to breed mandarins for awhile and now they have made it possible where their marginal revenue is much higher then marginal cost. it is also not limited availability considering ORA has wait till July (original set time was June) to make sure quantity would meet the first open market demand. Cost,boxing, and shipping charges are meaningless when compared to a $50 fish. Many fish are sold for much less and they cost the same to box and ship. ORA will make it seem like there is a limited availability right now soley to raise demand and consumers willingness to pay. It is a basic economic tactic. $50 is more then enough for profit for retailers who are being supplied by ORA. LFS are here to help consumers yes but they will also do it while maximizing THEIR profits as well

 

[MvM]

Well mine was acclimated yesterday and has ignored rods food and spectrum pellets, despite them landing on and near him. I hope they eat pellets like advertised....
Also, $50 is more than fair (if they actually eat the pellets)...

 

[velvetelvis]

Personally I would pay the price just to prevent that one more fish from being harvested from our oceans. I wish all fish could be captive bred...unfortunately some people only care about $$$.

I agree. This isn't the ideal hobby for people who have to count every single penny.

 

[pweissma]

Personally I would pay the price just to prevent that one more fish from being harvested from our oceans. I wish all fish could be captive bred...unfortunately some people only care about $$$.

Absolutely right -- we need more people like you -- but your numbers are WAY off. The ratio is far more depressing than 1-1. I would really appreciate if someone could fill in the numbers but for every fish that makes it to your dealer's display tank many many more die being brought to the surface, in transit, and after arriving.

 

[njudson]

Has anyone gotten their hands on an ORA Green Mandarin yet? (Synchiropus splendidus)
Also I would love to see some pics of the ORA mandarins people have gotten so far!

 

[rgonzalez]

I thought they were only selling the spotted mandarins?

 

[CJO]

I don't think that the red or green mandarins have been released yet, just the spotted. I'm supposed to get the first red male that my LFS gets in.

CJ