fair frag price for a friend?

[MoshJosh]

I want to make more room in my tank for SPS and acros, which means selling my LPS and soft corals. A friend of mine is interested in my euphylia, especially my torches, but I am not sure what a good/fair price would be? In the past I have mostly just given her frags for free (and she has done the same for me), but a few of my euphylia are pretty big and selling them could help pay for new frag racks and SPS corals. . . I don't want to give them away as a spent a lot of time and energy growing them, but I also don't want to rip off a friend, what should I ask?

The purple/gold torch is probably 10+ heads at this point (picture is a bit old so corals are a bit bigger ATM)

 

[Jekyl]

For a friend? I'd look up online prices and cut it in half. Even then you might be talking 30-50 per head on that torch.

 

[mfinn]

I had that one friend who always made sure I had a few free frags when I visited. When it came to larger stuff (colonies) he usually gave me prices that were around 60% of local store prices.

 

[BryanM]

If you're already back and forth free with this person, for me it would be hard to price them.

 

[mcarroll]

I think if you want to sell them you should sell them....maybe just break off one poly for free?

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

you have to consider that you’re getting into high value coral. Charge him/her the family rate. Whatever figure you think that may be. You have maintenance needs to pay for.

 

[edd59]

friends and business dont mix, either gift/trade or sell to someone else. not worth loosing a friend.

 

[Kooma]

I’d just give them a head if they are a good friend. The value you gain with gifts and support will pay dividends to that of the money you make selling the same head.

 

[Reefer Matt]

After a while I just traded with friends. It wasn’t always at the same time. I’d give them something one day, then maybe a few months later they’d give me something. Sometimes the friendship is worth more than the money. But to answer the question, I reference online with an average, and go from there. And then 25, 50, 75% off etc. There is no bluebook on coral. It’s always what the buyer will pay.

 

[johnwwalkeriii]

Give them a head, and sell the rest. That’s what we do with a couple of us guys in Oklahoma. A lot of trading, giving, and then sell the rest.

 

[MoshJosh]

Feel like I came up with a good solution, I asked my friend to help frag my LPS (she has a dremel) and told her she could keep the frag she wants. . . Wish me luck

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

Feel like I came up with a good solution, I asked my friend to help frag my LPS (she has a dremel) and told her she could keep the frag she wants. . . Wish me luck

Does a dremel work as well as the Gryphon saw? Or does it just come down to skill?

 

[ReefGeezer]

I fragged some large (20+ heads) Dragon's Soul, NY Knicks, and Indio Gold Torch colonies. I made several one and two head frags. Fragging Torches is easy. I sold them for $30 per head via a local area website. Everyone was happy as those Torches were selling retail at $60-100 per head. I did give away a few single head frags to friends (hobbyists I've traded with, those who have helped me out, and etc.). I kept 3-5 heads of each, and they are growing quickly. Hopefully, the local market I flooded will be better when I need to frag them again.

In my opinion, give the frag away if it is truly a friend. Sell the frags to them if they are a fellow hobbyist. How much to charge is kind of a local thing. Remember, your tank is a hobby, not a business. I'd say a fair price for the ones you pictured would be $20/head if sold locally.

 

[PPBlimpy]

I give and receive frags with friends all the time. I actually try to spread some of the nice ones around to multiple people when they get to big, then if something happens to mine I can always get a frag back. I lost a couple nice hammers a while back and 2 guys I had given heads to a couple months prior just fragged them and gave them back. its not my big colony but its a decendant.

 

[edd59]

Feel like I came up with a good solution, I asked my friend to help frag my LPS (she has a dremel) and told her she could keep the frag she wants. . . Wish me luck

barter system is the best all around.

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

I'm more inclined to give frags away to younger people that don't have a ton of money, or hobbyists that are super excited to start reefing and appreciate any coral. For example, I have playboy bunnies that are "ok" but not thriving in my tank. I'd gladly give those to a fellow reefer.

 

[Rusty_L_Shackleford]

For my friends I just give them away. ESPECIALLY if it's something unique or high end, or a somwthing i really like. I want them to have a piece. That way if something happens to mine I can always get a piece back. I sell frags peridodically so i I want to sell something I just list it and sell it. If someone new to the hobby approaches me about getting some frags, I'll give them a few easy starter frags, to get their feet wet.