Zoa/Paly Guidance.....because my wife said I cannot sell myself

[henryhahn]

It all started so innocently, I am new to reefing, so I was perusing google images for the many colored zoa/paly. I wanted to have some names in mind for when I go shopping. I really liked:
Hallucinations
Bowsers
Shazams
Rastas
Eagle Eyes
Yellow Brick Road
Karkatoa
Whammin Watermelon
Rainbow Fruit Loops
Then I saw the prices....
Well, after I talked over my options with my wife I was wondering if there were any, less expensive, options that would provide varied colors in the tank. Most at the LFSs here are grey or muddy brown. They have occasional colors in the center, but they are pretty plain. It may be why they are much less expensive. $150+ per polyp is out of my league.
Any guidance would be much appreciated! I had seen some pretty blue ones that were just called blue zoanthids. Perhaps they are not nearly as expensive?

 

[mcarroll]

The nice corals get cherry-picked out of the wholesale supply chain before your LFS ever gets a chance to look at them.

You have that system to thank for the insane prices and lack of availability.

 

[mcarroll]

Your best bet is to stop shopping for corals that way.....online pics are purely deceiving anyway. Corals never look in person like they look in a pic....for lots of different reasons.

You're better off shopping at the LFS and picking what you like from there.

For what it's worth, most of those grey/brown colonies will color up a bit....they've been in non-ideal conditions for who knows how long.

 

[azbigjohn]

Not sure what area you are in, but many local Reef Clubs have awesome members that frag their corals and swap/sell them for reasonable prices. Our group here in Arizona even holds frag auctions several times a year, and corals can often be had for incredible, below retail prices.

 

[azbigjohn]

Another very important rule of reefing is that, you pay cash for corals, and everything costs $20.

I believe that is the standard coral pricing given to wives in my area....

 

[Lowstorm]

Another very important rule of reefing is that, you pay cash for corals, and everything costs $20.

I believe that is the standard coral pricing given to wives in my area....

And boyfriends/husband's... for me everything's like, 15! And I mean that seriously. Local reefers are usually happy to frags a few polyps for cheap.

 

[pa1ntbru5h]

Look into these.. they're cheap and still some of my favorites..
Rastas, Fruit Loops, BBEB or Blondies, Fire and Ice, Sunny D, Candy Apple Red

 

[henryhahn]

Look into these.. they're cheap and still some of my favorites..
Rastas, Fruit Loops, BBEB or Blondies, Fire and Ice, Sunny D, Candy Apple Red

Thank you so much for the suggestions. Those are beautiful zoas! I hope I can score some at the $20 price. I think the problem is where I was looking. I also found a site called unique corals that has pretty reasonable prices.

 

[henryhahn]

Not sure what area you are in, but many local Reef Clubs have awesome members that frag their corals and swap/sell them for reasonable prices. Our group here in Arizona even holds frag auctions several times a year, and corals can often be had for incredible, below retail prices.

I am def looking for something like this. There was one a couple hours from me, but I didn't hear about it until the date had passed. Gives me hope for the future though. The NJ board here isn't frequented as often.

 

[Scurvy]

I've found good stuff on eBay too. A lot of people fragging and selling their own stuff. You can usually combine shipping on multiple items. Just pay attention to feedback scores.

 

[Steve Maxwell]

Check out the sales advertised on R2R...that's where I've gotten 99% of my corals. I would think some may be having a Christmas or New Years sale. You gotta be fast to get the good pieces, but if you have a decent computer/internet you should be able to get some.

Actually AquaSD is having one tomorrow...I've gotten some really nice pieces from them:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/1...christmas-update-sale-do-not-miss-out.277831/