Why do you think corals are so expensive?

[Goaway]

Most expensive is my HG torch from SBB

My go to vendors: SBB, AquaSD, I’ve also found good deals from Zoanthids.com, and Riptide Aquaculture. Other vendors Living Reef Orlando, and TCK on occasion. Mind you I buy mainly during “live” sales when prices are lower.

You know... I had too.

Poor clownfish doesn't deserve to be blurry.

 

[Katze]

I know that this will not be an exact answer but still I would like to share my experience with prices here.
Where I live (overseas) There are maybe only 2 shops which have the prices that can be seen abroad.
Vendors here are more focused on fish, since corals are not being sold in high numbers that drives the prices down (also they are usually not being ordered in quite a few shops).
Fish are another case, they can only be sold at higher prices because they have to be ordered, thus making a dependency on the wholesale companies' values.
Additionaly freshwater aquariums are more popular.
This process leads to prices like: <$15-20 / medium-ish acropora frags and ~$50 for torches and large-medium acan colonies.

 

[matt_work27]

What vendor have you found to have the best deals and cheapest coral with a good variety?

Battle boxes from Battlecorals come with healthy corals at a great value. Also, the fraghouse corals big sales are good if you want to pick out each coral. And I honestly was pretty happy with my corals for gwcorals on ebay. If you constantly watch the local reefing forums you can find the coral you want at a steal (but that maybe take weeks/months).

 

[Eggs]

Online coral vendors do play a game where there is a near fictional retail price and the coral is more often on sale than not. Easy way for them to gauge demand and give the perception of a deal. if someone wants it for retail then that’s gravy.

There was a live sale over this past weekend. 4 polys of Rasta Zoas on sale for $36, regular price was $120 lol.
Nothing unique with Rasta’s. Been around and fairly fast growers.
Can’t beat a local frag swap for the best deals.

That said, +1 for AquaSD. They usually throw in a freebie.
I also like Pieces of the Ocean.

 

[Uncle99]

They are expensive cause we pay those prices.
Until we say “nope” prices of many items will rise.

 

[PharmrJohn]

They are expensive cause we pay those prices.
Until we say “nope” prices of many items will rise.

And that says it all. It's what people are willing to pay. Period.

 

[PharmrJohn]

To answer the second part, 15 years back, corals were cheap. I had this huge LPS (can't recall the name) that ran me 80 bucks. Kenya tree (large-ish) was $30 or so. Zoas were cheap. It was a wonderful time.

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

let’s start a revolution and get prices down

 

[exnisstech]

They are expensive cause we pay those prices.
Until we say “nope” prices of many items will rise.

^This ^ And I am guilty. I watched a very nice large acanthophyllia in my lfs for almost a year. He was asking $900. Finaly one day I asked what he would take in cash. I got it for $480. It's the most expensive piece I've ever bought. I just threw the skeleton over the hill last week after a year and a half of doing fine

 

[Uncle99]

What’s even worse than the price is those corals which are sold with the stores full knowledge that captive life will be short.

For the last 3 years, my new rule has been if it dies, it’s never replaced.

The stuff that grows forever is fragged and replanted.

I was so surprised to see a list of stuff I was buying which for the most part, lasted at best, a year.

As an example, to date, I have never seen a pic of the long tentacle plate coral past 1 year.

With the amount of these sold, you’d figure there would be tons of pics.

Not being fooled anymore.

 

[ryanjohn1]

The internet wrecked prices. Plus there’s a million influencers out there

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

you can do this hobby on the very cheap end and have a gorgeous mixed reef. Have to be willing to wait for a local hobbiest to frag something for you and give you a deal. When I get to the point of fragging zoas for example- I will sell for below market value.