Fish Prices Lately

[livinlifeinBKK]

This to a point... I buy direct from a importer, I'm usually only charged 15-20% over invoice, so I am aware how much it cost for trans pacific. Some livestock is a deal and some stuff there isn't a lot of profit.

A lot of times it depends on the fish because the importers know the rarity and demand but a lot of the common fish I also found to end up listed very steeply...sometimes to offer a discount for multiples sales, sometimes because that's what they knew someone would eventually pay and sadly if the fish didn't make it that long to be sold, they knew the loss was more than acceptable with what it cost them

 

[Wasabiroot]

Captive breeding will only help here; if a company can get their fish from a breeder stateside that eliminates the importation fees/permits/shipping costs

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

Captive breeding will only help here; if a company can get their fish from a breeder stateside that eliminates the importation fees/permits/shipping costs

That sounds great in theory but first you need to find a captive breeder willing to sell their fish for a reasonable price

 

[Wasabiroot]

That sounds great in theory but first you need to find a captive breeder willing to sell their fish for a reasonable price

Well sure. But that cuts some of the cost add-ons from unavoidable to dealer discretion, which is a different thing

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

Well sure. But that cuts some of the cost add-ons from unavoidable to dealer discretion, which is a different thing

I agree it would be a great thing to have a captive breeding operation in a central or nearby location...I just can't get the prices most captive breeders charge out of my head

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

I agree it would be a great thing to have a captive breeding operation in a central or nearby location...I just can't get the prices most captive breeders charge out of my head

This. I get the price for captive bred fish as there is a high overhead due to facilities, manpower, etc... But there isn't a lot of incentive to go with captive bred when the wild caught pricing is still cheaper after all the markup cost from catch to getting to your local LFS.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

This. I get the price for captive bred fish as there is a high overhead due to facilities, manpower, etc... But there isn't a lot of incentive to go with captive bred when the wild caught pricing is still cheaper after all the markup coat from catch to getting to your local LFS.

Exactly...we all know a lot goes into an operation such as this that raises the prices but if captive breeding becomes too much competition, those LFS will come down just enough on the wild caught fish to get the customer to go for them

 

[Slocke]

I'm new to the hobby and only know the high prices. Can I ask how your LFS's prices compare to LiveAqauaria and other online stores prices?


I have an LFS that sells healthy fish at far lower price. (just bought a beautiful female bellus angelfish for 100$ for example.) And I don't know how online stores can compete with that price difference.

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

I'm new to the hobby and only know the high prices. Can I ask how your LFS's prices compare to LiveAqauaria and other online stores prices?


I have an LFS that sells healthy fish at far lower price. (just bought a beautiful female bellus angelfish for 100$ for example.) And I don't know how online stores can compete with that price difference.

The 100 bucks for the bellus isn't out of line. The 379 from LA and its prolly dropped shipped from quality marine, is insaneo. Live Aquaria caters to those that don't have a local LFS accessible. Which after being a more active participant on this forum, that apparently is a fairly high number.

 

[gibec]

theres a lot of pretty cheaper corals/fishes. Thats what im sticking with. no need to break the bank just because they are rare or mainstream fish.

 

[ge2655]

Fish prices are beginning to fall slightly now (South Florida). My understanding is because shipping from California has resumed / increased. Also seeing more variety than in prior months.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

theres a lot of pretty cheaper corals/fishes. Thats what im sticking with. no need to break the bank just because they are rare or mainstream fish.

Well that's great that you're content with the less expensive fish out there and I agree some of them are beauties! But everyone has their own idea of what they want to make their little piece of the ocean

 

[BZOFIQ]

Air is definitely more expensive as well

Still free where I live.

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

My higher end lfs just posted yesterday on IG how a flat rate box shipped in 2019 was $35 and now it's $70-$90 minimum. Well. Guess who gets to pay all that premium. Us! U and me! What a joke. Capitalism America. Ty.
Not happy with the price gouging and raising prices in EVERYTHING rn either.
D

 

[gibec]

Well that's great that you're content with the less expensive fish out there and I agree some of them are beauties! But everyone has their own idea of what they want to make their little piece of the ocean

well good. you do you bud. Im just saying what I do.

 

[Slocke]

To be honest I feel like this whole hobby has massively inflated prices in general. Going through a fish store that sells both salt and fresh water products its clear that the freshwater side is far cheaper and I doubt that has much to do with manufacturing/material differences. Lights, skimmers, tanks, etc I feel like they're all marked up massively and that there isn't the competition to stop them. I don't know what rare earth elements are hiding in my little skimmer to make it worth 350$.

The 100 bucks for the bellus isn't out of line. The 379 from LA and its prolly dropped shipped from quality marine, is insaneo. Live Aquaria caters to those that don't have a local LFS accessible. Which after being a more active participant on this forum, that apparently is a fairly high number.

Thanks just wondering as that's where I did all my research and then to find much cheaper fish at a store.

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Yes. I payed over $400 for plastic and magnets. Lol
D

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

well good. you do you bud. Im just saying what I do.

LoL that's a little salty...

 

[SamsReef]

For me fishes are to graze algae, eat pests, or clean sandbed and maintain the bio food chain…I look for couple of wrasses, a few zebrasomas and and 1 sand cleaning Goby and Its a solid reef ecosystem. I look for the cheapest ones available. As long as people will pay for fancy fishes these crazy prices, the price will keep going up. Eventually, more fish vendors will come in to balance the price. That’s how free market work. I do know that a lot of high end vendors don’t want to be in fish business (think wwc, tsa…). There is a reason for it. Coral business is way more profitable for them.

Sam

 

[doubleshot00]

Its the stores that are doing it imo. I paid $90 for a leopard wrasse at one store picked up another for $20. Its your stores imo. Scopas tang $90 at LFS store an hour away $46. So its not covid imo.