Prices going up due to INDO bans???

[steallife904]

Been slacking for awhile on account of me preparing to move and having a baby. I moved into new house a few weeks ago and got the tank back in order. I haven't been to the fish store in maybe 8-12 months.... was excited to go back last week and had a plan on some of the corals I was going to scoop up. I was shocked to see some corals and fish I am familiar with where a lot more expensive than I remember. I went to 2 stores, same thing. Decided to ask what the deal was and was told since Indonesia stopped exporting saltwater stuff or something like that, the prices for things out of there have sky rocketed. Anyone else heard this????

2 things in particular I was looking at was a frogspawn or hammer coral and a blue tang. Have had all in the past, know what they use to cost. frogspawn or hammer where 40 a head, medium blue tang 130-150.... tang like that before was closer to 60-70 and the frogspawn closer to 15-20.

 

[Uncle99]

Hawaii and Indos in Canada, up about 30%, except clams strangely, still 70-110, example yellow tang was 49 a year ago, now 100-150....seeing frag shops popping up though....I think we will see a big change over the next 5-10 years of coral sources.

Frogs, one head 40, two heads 75, seen some very nice Acans, about 5" x 3"....starting at 300.....a 12" red carpet...800.....

Countries will protect their National Resources and go dark, one by one, two already have, what's last Australia?

Small aqua culture frag shops are counting on it, we will still get corals, but sustainable corals, i.e. Small and expensive...

 

[alton]

In San Antonio Frogspawn is $25 a head, courtesy of local reefers

 

[parrthed]

I see it around here too, Australia is still shipping strong but their prices are higher. Their colors and quality are usually better too though. Vietnam has lots of zoas and softies, But i think we are in the final stretch of "boutique corals" becoming the norm, your going to have to pay to play.

This is driving a boom in the frag distributor to take these more expensive corals and break them down into smaller pieces.

Its been on a downhill swing for decades but the availability of "cheap" colonies may be gone, at least for a while.

Aquaculture is banking on this to get a bigger foot hold in the industry, as stated above this means more $$

 

[Psychomantix]

In San Antonio Frogspawn is $25 a head, courtesy of local reefers

If you convert that to Canadian dollars, It's still be like almost $35 so not much different from $40.

 

[Tripod1404]

I assume most frogspawn or hammer corals are frags of captive species rather than wild collected specimens, so a ban should not influence their prices that much. And like others pointed out, I also readily see them being offered around $20-25 range. Maybe the prices are higher in your area due to higher demand (or because people are willing to pay that amount).

Also Imo prices of wild coral and fish are higher during the summer months due to the added cost of transporting these in hot summer months. Cali can be an exception for this since most imports from the pacific make entrance to the US there and transportation cost doesn't change that much with weather.

 

[albano]

Hawaii and Indos in Canada, up about 30%, except clams strangely, still 70-110, example yellow tang was 49 a year ago, now 100-150...

Can't really comment on Canadian pricing, but my LFS has tanks full of yellow tangs...I got 5 small ones for $100 (total) a couple weeks ago. LiveAquaria has them on sale for $40 less 20% today...

 

[AlSimmons]

I apologize for not reading through the entire thread, but fish are one thing, corals are another. (damn near everybody is breaking them off) If there is a ban on everything though this hobby will still progress. A beautiful tank can still be created with that "common stuff" we all have. JMO. GL.

 

[lapin]

Yes prices are going up. Lots of reasons. Hard to say what the exact cause is. Look to local reefers for better prices. You might have to wait for something you want to come up for sale in a local forum. I got a 20 head frog for 150 = 7.50 a head. I could have paid 50 for 2 heads at the LFS.

 

[alton]

Yes prices are going up. Lots of reasons. Hard to say what the exact cause is. Look to local reefers for better prices. You might have to wait for something you want to come up for sale in a local forum. I got a 20 head frog for 150 = 7.50 a head. I could have paid 50 for 2 heads at the LFS.

Yep buy local, but of course if you are close to Austin we are spoiled because there is this guy "Ty Farmer" that has awesome coral for great prices!
Another thing in talking to my LFS, they are not bringing in any new coral from the wholesalers because of the heat. 100 + degrees here in south Texas all week.