Why are harlequin shrimp so expensive in Australia?

[betareef]

A LFS near me has one with a $1350 price tag, and I googled another store that had one for $1000. But I see overseas prices for $100 or less even.

Crazy difference.

 

[VintageReefer]

This was mentioned in a recent thread but no answer. I just got one, store was asking $50 US, I traded a gsp rock for it and they gave me the shrimp



So here they trade for gsp, gsp grows for free. But the store now is selling my gsp rock for $100

 

[xunhe]

The store near my house only sells them for $20!!!

 

[homer1475]

I typically see them anywhere from $20 to $50 in my neck of the woods.

 

[xunhe]

I typically see them anywhere from $20 to $50 in my neck of the woods.

So it seems that reselling harlequin shrimp is indeed a good business.(Earn the difference!!!)

 

[strich]

Hey mate, yeah it's a bloody shame. Though I think the answer is pretty clear unless I'm wrong - they're not especially native to our ocean so they need to be shipped from outside our local area. Combine that with probably terrible survival rates, and our biosecurity regulations and you arrive at that number.

Don't be sad though, most of the American folk here would fall to pieces over the low price and high quality of the corals in our shops on average I think.

 

[betareef]

Hey mate, yeah it's a bloody shame. Though I think the answer is pretty clear unless I'm wrong - they're not especially native to our ocean so they need to be shipped from outside our local area. Combine that with probably terrible survival rates, and our biosecurity regulations and you arrive at that number.

Don't be sad though, most of the American folk here would fall to pieces over the low price and high quality of the corals in our shops on average I think.

True. Given their special feeding requirements, I can only imagine the disappointment of someone spending $1000 on one and losing it.

Local stuff certainly is good quality, yes.