I just stopped by my LFS and saw a beautiful Peacock Mantis. This guy is about 1.5" wide and about 5" long. Hes got red and white markings on the outside with red and blue appendages. I cannot describe its beauty but since I saw it, I want one now. Only thing is 80 bucks seem a bit on the up scale. Just wanted to know what you guys think as far as price. Since I never thought I would be interested in owning one.
Peacock M. for 79.99?
- Thread starter Retzius
- Start date
crafty_50mitchell
New member
Yeah, its not too uncommon for a peacock for that price. Here in chicago the most high end aquariums tore downtown actually had one marked at $150.00.
Brian
Brian
Gonodactylus
Premium Member
Given what wholesalers charge, I would say $30 - $50 would be a fair price - perhaps a bit more for a small operation that has to pay shipping over a long distance. In San Diego, I would say this mark-up is excessive. I would keep looking.
Roy
Roy
T-T-Trigger
Premium Member
hmm... mine was $19, and saw one two days ago for $19.99.
Keep looking if it is only the first one you've seen, if you have been looking awhile however, maybe you should just bite the bullet and get it.
Keep looking if it is only the first one you've seen, if you have been looking awhile however, maybe you should just bite the bullet and get it.
Gonodactylus
Premium Member
The big variable here is shipping (aside from how much the LFS wants to mark up the product). If the importer is in the same city as the retailer or if the retailer takes large shipments where the charge per animal is small, the LFS should be able to sell O.s. for $20. They are probably being charged $8-!5. If the LSF has to tack on the price of shipping from L.A. or wherever, it may cost another $10.
Drunk Monkey
New member
http://www.sdreefs.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1922&perpage=15&pagenumber=2
The 2 bigger one are bought. I got the second one down. Don't know if size is important, but you should check and see if he still has one available.
The 2 bigger one are bought. I got the second one down. Don't know if size is important, but you should check and see if he still has one available.
Thank you all for the input.
Ok, I did ask some questions while I was at the LFS. One thing they told me was that they got him for FREE from an order they recieved from some company. They kept it in a small display nano-reef tank and are now selling it.
Drunk Monkey,
I did check out that thread already and I have to say that the one I saw at the LFS is bigger and alot more colorful. My g/f and I kept staring at him b/c he was so colorful.
I am going to attempt to get the LFS to lower the price on that bad boy but I dont know if they'll be willing. Another factor is its age. I read they only have a 5 yr life expectancy. What if its 2 yrs old or something? I certainly dont want to pay $80 for it to live another 3 or 4 years.
-Saúl
Ok, I did ask some questions while I was at the LFS. One thing they told me was that they got him for FREE from an order they recieved from some company. They kept it in a small display nano-reef tank and are now selling it.
Drunk Monkey,
I did check out that thread already and I have to say that the one I saw at the LFS is bigger and alot more colorful. My g/f and I kept staring at him b/c he was so colorful.
I am going to attempt to get the LFS to lower the price on that bad boy but I dont know if they'll be willing. Another factor is its age. I read they only have a 5 yr life expectancy. What if its 2 yrs old or something? I certainly dont want to pay $80 for it to live another 3 or 4 years.
-Saúl
Drunk Monkey
New member
What store was he at? Would like to check him out.
Ken2001
New member
My peacock was priced at $24.95 at an LFS in Boston - I traded some coral from my big tank that I was breaking down, so I didn't pay out any money for this animal. (However, I did just spend $25 for 10 hermits to feed to the mantis - one of the downsides of no longer living near the sea).
Herbert T. Kornfeld
In Memoriam
Here in milwaukee, we regularly get peacocks, and bumble-bee spearers for $30.
cephalopoder
Premium Member
The price list for this exporter from Indonesia lists peacock mantis for ...$1.00
http://www.aquatic.co.id/
http://www.aquatic.co.id/
crafty_50mitchell
New member
Herbert T.Kornfeld, Im in chicago and have been searching for a spearer. Could you give me a couple names of the places that you reguraly see "bumble bee" spearers please?
Thanks,
Brian
Thanks,
Brian
You can order peacocks online at many places. Look for one with an extended live arrival guarantee and you should be able to get an ok price. Here's a place for example:
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?siteid=23&pCatId=1702
They are out of stock now but they get them in pretty often. I would also call every LFS in a 50 mile radius and ask if they could get it and how much it would be. (I say I'm new to the area and am looking for a new store. I also let them know somehow that I've seen Peacocks - or whatever I need - go for pretty cheap as they are so common. (35-40 for a Peacock I would say) You can work a lot of small vendors down on price before they even quote it. If they don't budge or give a good quote then just call another LFS. Of course I do this kind of thing for a living but anyone can do it and you'll get a better deal most of the time. -Why pay $80 when everyone else is paying $45 tops? Oh well, I think I've given double the original 2 cents I planned on leaving.. Good luck in your hunt!
James
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?siteid=23&pCatId=1702
They are out of stock now but they get them in pretty often. I would also call every LFS in a 50 mile radius and ask if they could get it and how much it would be. (I say I'm new to the area and am looking for a new store. I also let them know somehow that I've seen Peacocks - or whatever I need - go for pretty cheap as they are so common. (35-40 for a Peacock I would say) You can work a lot of small vendors down on price before they even quote it. If they don't budge or give a good quote then just call another LFS. Of course I do this kind of thing for a living but anyone can do it and you'll get a better deal most of the time. -Why pay $80 when everyone else is paying $45 tops? Oh well, I think I've given double the original 2 cents I planned on leaving.. Good luck in your hunt!
James
cephalopoder
Premium Member
Even if you order one from liveaquaria.com you will still wind up paying 80.00 or more by the time you factor in fedex and box charge...
You're absolutely right.. maybe you could combine it with some other things from the same site and lower the overall cost per item for the shipping? That's what I try to do - save up orders and get it all at once (e.g. 2 fish with a ton of supplies). At least that way someone could take advantage of a somewhat better price without so much shipping..
James
James
I went back to the LFS and asked if they could lower the price but they were unwilling. This time I took a second look and it was not as impressive as the first time I had seen it. I think I just got overwhelmed when I first saw it b/c I had never seen one that big and colorful. Nevertheless, it is a peacock mantis and I'm sure I can find one some place else. There is absolutely no way I am going to pay 80 bucks for a mantis shrimp. I have already looked at online stores near my area that are willing to sell it for about 30-40 bucks like Dr. Roy had suggested and they have me on hold for the next available one. Any how, just want to thank everyone for there input and experience on price.
-Saúl
-Saúl
