Do you pay for the name or the coral?

[Speg]

Do you think that the name/prestige of a coral adds to the desire to pick it up and what it's price may be?

or

Do you make purchases based on how cool/colorful the coral is?

I'd like to say that I only buy cool coral..but when sexycorals had their piece made a Tyree I seemed to become more interested in it. The name doesn't make the appearance of a coral change, so I'm obviously attracted to it's newly obtained fame.

I also see a bunch of new zoas lately that really don't look that interesting (to me), but the price tag is $50+ per polyp just because they are new/rare but it doesn't seem to be based on their look at all.

 

[edwing206]

I'm not really sure if people will admit they buy stuff for the name...

 

[FishLipz]

I buy what I like, which usually is beautiful colors or unique items. It just seems like everything that has a nice color gets a name applied to it by a vendor or hobbiest. C'est la vie!

 

[Speg]

I'm not really sure if people will admit they buy stuff for the name...

I admit it. Xenia are probably one of the coolest coral out there, but hobbyists seem to be bored of these....if there was a new "JASON FOX XENIA" I bet more people would buy them :P

I like the my miami coral a lot and I don't care if President Obama's name was on it instead of Jason Fox, I would still like this coral...but I do wonder if the $1000 price tag makes me even want it more.... if that was a $15 piece I may ignore it.

 

[ddiver]

The horse has been beaten to a pulp....seriously if I had a nickel for everytime This topic comes up , I'd be a gazillionaire.

 

[dakotasreef]

I buy what I like, which usually is beautiful colors or unique items. It just seems like everything that has a nice color gets a name applied to it by a vendor or hobbiest. C'est la vie!

I agree 100% with this. I just want corals that are appealing to me, but I also like getting some wild colonies to see what may become.

 

[clowns101]

Im not a big supporter of the "naming game",however I really like alot of the named peices,which most of the named peices are normally exotic and unique anyway.So,therefor,I do buy alot of named peices as they are nice and diffirent,and I also do linage on all my peices to.I like ot know where my stuff comes from,and when I sell a fragment,I can atleast get half or more out of the peice because I have linage.I want to know if it's the real deal.I dont want to pay $150+++ for a little half inch peice of Pink ******* chalice,Purpe Monster,Ice Fire Echinata,or any other named peices that are known in the hobby.

However,I do buy alot of named peices,but I honestly dont support the nameing game.Because of the game,every thing now days HAS to have a nice,new,fresh,cool name before it will sell,which isnt how the hobby needs to be.I dont agree with it at all.I was speaking with a few people and a wholesaler,and the wholesaler is having problems selling stuff anymore becasuse he dosnt name all of hist stuff,so there for its harder on him to sell anything,becasue all of the younger guys or gals that are coming into the hobby to make a buck or two,wont buy it if it doent have a cool name.Now,please dont think Im aginst younger people in the hobby,please dont,I support you in every way like I have my own son when he breed clownfish,damsles,gobies,angles,propagated coral,kept rare and exotic corals,etc.I just dont agree with you guys who are out to make a buck on this new exotic "Green Lemon Lime People Eater Chalice" that has been around for years and your trying to sell for $75 plus a fragment.

I do have to thank Steve Tyree for naming corals,because if he didnt,what would we have to talk about.If he didnt it would be all about Soft corals and how its so hard to take care of SPS corals.Remember those days for you guys that have been doing this for the past 10+ years?The hobby has changes ALOT in the psat 8+ years IMO,I have to say,its gone wild.I remember when Pumping Xeina was the coolest coral to have,and how power compact lighting was the best lighting to get back then.Now its nothing in the hobby.Around here we give away Xeina and Power Compact lights.Now anymore,we have to name it to sell it,I dont fell its right,and dont agree with it if it isnt exotic.I dont mond Tyree,Greg,Hugo,Richard,Victor,Lue,Dan & Tina etc.Those guys have nice exotic and unique stuff,not green ployps that they are calling "Lime Green Lizard Paly".They have the real deal stuff.

To end my soapbox,I dont want you guys to think Im a mean grouchy old man who hates young people in the hobby and dosent like named corals.I just wish people would enjoy the hobby for what it is,and thats that.

 

[drainbamage]

I buy what I like, but the rarity of something is always interesting. I don't see why rarity is combined with name though-though the two get tied together a lot, something that's unique is interesting to me regardless of if it's named, or if anyone knows about it. Named things do have a high frequency of being cool and colored though, ya know?

 

[emerald525]

It's easy to get caught up in the name game. If i see Tyree on an item I take a look because I know it usually will have nice colors and I know if it grows and I resell it it will attract more attention but if I think the price is too outrageous or if I don't like the colors I won't get it. I have a mixture of both named pieces as well as unnamed ones.I saw someone selling a my miami with a Jason Fox something chalice for 1200 dollars and everyone was saying that was a good deal? I thought it was a nice chalice but there is no way I'm going to pay that. More power to people who do. I simply cannot justify to myself spending that kind of money.

 

[CHALICEKEEPER]

I used to buy just names (chalices) that looked good. Now i have cut back my addiction to just stuff that is rare and super colorful like my whamdoozler :)

 

[melev]

I buy what I can afford, and usually that kind happens to be a no name item. I'm terrible with nicknames (esp Zoas), and usually name my corals (mentally and via photograpsh) based upon whom I got them from. So if I get an acro from Keith, that coral will always have his name and the date the picture was taken. Most of my corals are from other hobbyists, although a few were store bought.

 

[reefsUP]

You have to collect what you like and what is worth collecting so you get what you like

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

I collect mostly what looks good to me. I have purchased corals for the name though I must admit.

 

[Speg]

I buy what I can afford, and usually that kind happens to be a no name item.

lol right? Me too :)

 

[KLR]

I pay for both look and name

but also i pay for what i think will gain its value or keep its value where it is at

 

[SDguy]

I have to admit many of the no name chalices I have bought have been an absolute PITA to keep alive/colored up. If paying for a name gives me proven color and hardiness in captivity, then yes, I'll pay for a name.

 

[mpoletti]

I only pay for the name so I can put it on my spreadsheet. The coral is just a bonus :D

in reality though, named corals means that they are not rare because in a year even more people will have them. I like to find gems or trade with people based on colors, not names.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

HAHA! Mark = Spreadsheet! That was good.

 

[Reef Pets]

Lets face it, the good looking coral have the cool names. So in reality you are paying for both.

 

[johnanddawn]

i think its hard to buy an aquacultured coral today that isn't named, but that being said - no i do not pay for names
i have no interest in names, rare, le, new, or any of the other sales tactics commonly used today
- you can keep them. the last thing i want to worry about is if it will grow another eye or polyp so i can frag it to make money

i buy corals based on what i like, what does well in my tank, and what would fill a certain location (light/flow) well
if i have a spot to fill i evaluate the specific conditions in that spot, decide on a type or species that would do well there, and then buy what interests me based on what i already have.
i like to find something that has a new color or growth form that would add something to the overall appearence of the display