Even basic corals are expensive these days..(GSP, Duncans, Orange Mushrooms)

[Kongo]

I was getting in contact with a LFS who is going to put in orders for over the weekend. I was just looking at some GSP and its a 100$ for a lump of weed basically. I get that designer corals with fancy names are priced high and beyond, but are we really getting to the point where all corals will be priced high? Back in the day there were always less "flashy" corals that were easily affordable and you'd get a solid portion of it too. Everywhere I look now its all tiny frags and big dollars talking. I get that businesses have to make money. But given the low margins many operate with I guess the suppliers are the ones really hiking up the prices to squeeze the market.

 

[GARRIGA]

$100 GSP?

I'm back to keeping guppies although some triplets fetch $20.

Perhaps a recession to correct everything what should have happened although that has it's own greater issues.

 

[Isaac Alves]

I’ve noticed this too in the local fish stores around here in Southern California.

 

[Dragen Fiend]

GSP for $100? Even for a lump. Its a weed. One of the easiest things to grow by far. But they sell it for new people who don't know better.

I am literally about to post free GSP on FB soon as I transfer my tanks.

 

[Kooma]

I agree, saw some basic torches for $50 a head. Thankfully their frogspawn was "on sale" from $39 to 19... Hermits were 6.99 and emeralds 21.99.

I think I paid $19.99 for my clowns I still have 13 years ago.... now their $49.99 each for percs! That was snowflake territory when I started.

Built my rimless 60 with starphire and 1/2" glass for I think about 800. Planning a new build of similar size, wonder if it will be $2K...

Heck, I remember MP10s when they were 249... now $540 in canada.

 

[Kongo]

$100 GSP?

I'm back to keeping guppies although some triplets fetch $20.

Perhaps a recession to correct everything what should have happened although that has it's own greater issues.

Yep. I was absolutely floored. It might be "Grade A" but hey, its still just a weed.

 

[GARRIGA]

Yep. I was absolutely floored. It might be "Grade A" but hey, its still just a weed.

That weed better be Hawaiian grade A then

 

[Gumbies R Us]

My gsp was "free" since it was attached to the urchin I purchased. went from a couple of polyps to a thriving colony at the base of my aquascape

 

[VintageReefer]

You’d be surprised. Gsp is in demand. It’s easy and beginners love it.

I sold my lfs gsp rocks, approx 3x3. Twice. For 60 and 75$ each time. And then they go and sell them for 100$

 

[VintageReefer]

These 4x listings that sold - are 4 x frags approx 1” each.

 

[Tahoe61]

The prices of soft corals is higher than many sps. Today you can get Micromussa at a good price, most Zoanthids as well. Four years ago both were more expensive. Today's market prices for high end Coralmorphs, Euphyllia and RFA are ridiculously high.
I am not paying 100.00 for Sacrophyton and Sinularia.

 

[Kongo]

You’d be surprised. Gsp is in demand. It’s easy and beginners love it.

I sold my lfs gsp rocks, approx 3x3. Twice. For 60 and 75$ each time. And then they go and sell them for 100$

Good for you.

I just think it's sad that it's gotten to this point. But as long as people are willing to pay that kind of money for it, it is what it is, I suppose. Time will tell if it's going to become an even more niche hobby just for the rich or if it will regulate to what many of us would consider more 'normal' prices.

I have a lot of GSP, and if any beginners around here wanted a frag, I'd still give it to them for free. There aren't that many reefers where I live, so most people know each other. If someone took it and sold it for $100, i'd hear about it, and that would be the last time I helped them out.

 

[VintageReefer]

Good for you.

I just think it's sad that it's gotten to this point. But as long as people are willing to pay that kind of money for it, it is what it is, I suppose. Time will tell if it's going to become an even more niche hobby just for the rich or if it will regulate to what many of us would consider more 'normal' prices.

I have a lot of GSP, and if any beginners around here wanted a frag, I'd still give it to them for free. There aren't that many reefers where I live, so most people know each other. If someone took it and sold it for $100, i'd hear about it, and that would be the last time I helped them out.

I don’t know any local reefers by me and I have no social media. I took my overgrown rock there and I expected only two outcomes. They don’t want it. Or they will give me 10$ for it. And i was really expecting to get around 10$ and all I really wanted was to get a piece of LR equal in size, seeded, and without gsp or pests. The guy offered 60$ in credit and I’m not stupid so I took it. Went back a few months later with similar size piece and it was a different employee and he offered 75$ credit

If I had someone local that wanted it I’d give it away for free. But I don’t and if I knew a local reefer, they wouldn’t be interested in gsp at all.

Believe me if I gave it to a hypothetical friend for free and they sold it for 100$ I wouldn’t be giving them more.

I don’t agree with the LFS prices but they have to keep their doors open or they will go out of business. It took 10 years living here before a LFS with coral opened, and I do like having them around so if this is what they want to spend on it and sell it for, I don’t mind. I was shocked to hear that gsp is one of their fastest sellers. It makes no sense to me

 

[krissiRLT]

I’ll mail you some gsp for $5 plus shipping lol when I frag my Duncans I sell them locally for $10 per head and I don’t count baby heads. I sell my forest fire rhodactus for $15-25 depending on size. ‍*shrug* maybe I need to increase my prices but that seems to be all they can go for in my local community. Maybe your area is expensive?

 

[Tamberav]

Don't pay that... online it is like $20, LFS should be $10. Local reefers in your area may give you some.

 

[IntrinsicReef]

Local groups are where to get cheap coral. As soon as businesses have to start pricing in labor for packaging and shipping, or rent and labor on a store, there is going to be a minimum price for any coral. Growing the coral is just a small portion of the cost for a business.

 

[BryanM]

I was getting in contact with a LFS who is going to put in orders for over the weekend. I was just looking at some GSP and its a 100$ for a lump of weed basically. I get that designer corals with fancy names are priced high and beyond, but are we really getting to the point where all corals will be priced high? Back in the day there were always less "flashy" corals that were easily affordable and you'd get a solid portion of it too. Everywhere I look now its all tiny frags and big dollars talking. I get that businesses have to make money. But given the low margins many operate with I guess the suppliers are the ones really hiking up the prices to squeeze the market.

LIfe has gotten very expensive lately.

 

[areefer01]

I was getting in contact with a LFS who is going to put in orders for over the weekend. I was just looking at some GSP and its a 100$ for a lump of weed basically. I get that designer corals with fancy names are priced high and beyond, but are we really getting to the point where all corals will be priced high? Back in the day there were always less "flashy" corals that were easily affordable and you'd get a solid portion of it too. Everywhere I look now its all tiny frags and big dollars talking. I get that businesses have to make money. But given the low margins many operate with I guess the suppliers are the ones really hiking up the prices to squeeze the market.

Your location points to Stavanger, Norway. So either it is location and logistics or VPN. Maybe both. In either case the hobbyist has to shop around to find the acceptable price. Quick search shows them at Vivid Aquariums for $18 USD. TSA for 34 USD. Saltwater Aquarium 25 USD. You will need to isolate or QT if purchasing online or from an unknown source for pets and pathogens.

LFS and fellow hobbyist can readily propagate it assuming they are able to grow it at a decent clip. It is a high demand coral due to it being recommended for new hobbyist. That and Xenia with a pinch of Zoa's. Anyway it can be a difficult coral to grow or maybe more important not as easy as one is lead to believe. Feeding, water chemistry, do play a role.

TL; DR - location, shop around, if it seems high don't pay for it, and if it is a LFS thing encourage them to grow it out in a dedicated coral type system.

 

[areefer01]

Don't pay that...

Truth.