Actually it's quite simple, energy independence 2 years ago versus energy dependent now and 6 bucks a gallon.It's both politicians AND speculators. Mostly speculators, but also politicians.
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Actually it's quite simple, energy independence 2 years ago versus energy dependent now and 6 bucks a gallon.It's both politicians AND speculators. Mostly speculators, but also politicians.
Time machine? I guess good prices is relative. I can understand why captive bred is expensive, I'm willing to pay more for that, too a pointAll I want are some nice clams at some good prices...
That doesn't explain all of it. Barrel price was still low up till a few weeks ago. I do agree on energy independence but we also need to watch the long game. If we extract all our resources now, we will be buying it from out of country in the future when it's more $$$Actually it's quite simple, energy independence 2 years ago versus energy dependent now and 6 bucks a gallon.
True. I'll try to put some more context to that.Time machine? I guess good prices is relative. I can understand why captive bred is expensive, I'm willing to pay more for that, too a point
The crocea and maxima I bought today were only $75 each, and the Hippopus only $40. All were captive bred. Direct from Biota you can buy CB squamosa for $100 each, and CB derasa for only $75 each. One of each pushes you over the free shipping threshhold.True. I'll try to put some more context to that.
Time machine would be ideal... but...
I purchased a captive bred Corcia in 2019 for $89. I was happy to pay that amount. I liked the idea that the clam would be more hearty and less disease ridden. This proved true for my specimen. I still have it and I can only hope that it is thriving. It doesn't talk much but I still listen. This was about an inch when I purchased it. Now it is 4 or 5 inches. An $89 well spent in my eyes.
Just like my biota Mandarin, much rather have a captive bred than wild. She's is fat and loves hikari pelletsThe crocea and maxima I bought today were only $75 each, and the Hippopus only $40. All were captive bred. Direct from Biota you can buy CB squamosa for $100 each, and CB derasa for only $75 each. One of each pushes you over the free shipping threshhold.
I think when names became a big thing and some people who created brands for themselves due to their ability to find great colored corals and create names for them was the start of it all. I agree with everyone else that things got more challenging with the pandemic and shipping bans and such but the naming started to really take off 10 or more years ago and prices where crazy high.Yeah I was in one of the local fish stores yesterday and just looking around and saw the price of some of the corals and then some of the new names that are on Old SPS Coral so it was just unbelievable the amount of money they were asking yeah I was just blown away
grafted Ultra rare hand fed aquacultured monochromatic rainbow spliced holy grail of the gods [fill in the blank] coralThe words grail and holy started to be used.
Don't buy from the guys that give stuff silly names of corals named after a person. Lol there are places you can buy the same coral that just says neon whatever for a fair price. The fish are worse. 150 for a yellow tang. Lol. Clowns insane. I just bought a dozen perculas for 3 tanks and was happy to pay 10 bucks apiece. Lfs they're 21.00 for what was a 4 dollar fish way back. The lighting is better but crazy over priced. Affordable leds are available if you skip brand names.I've been out the reef hobby for about 8 years now I used to have a 240 gallon cube and I've noticed a lot of the equipment has changed which is great for the hobby but I also notice a lot of the corals are the same with different names and crazy high I'm not sure what has happened over the last 8 to 10 years but I was considering getting back into the hobby definitely will not do it at this point.
Haha I did BPs for a while. What a crowd that is.I breed and sell mutated boas. Every time something new pops up it gets a fancy name and priced astronomically. End of day. Just a Boa. Ball python market is crazier. Although none change color because of lighting but some sellers try using lighting to mid represent intensity of color.
I think there are a lot of great responses on this thread, and it kinda all just points to a few things being at play. Covid accelerated weird economies w/in these kinds of hobbies that were already becoming more popular. But even w/o covid or other current global issues, costs would've continued to go up because of a number of other things, like a digital, connected world.
I agree that having a light that I can program via my phone is amazing, and I spent the extra money on it for that very reason. A year into my tank, I've recently put some $ into automation so I can be at the office more and travel again w/o worry. That was huge for me, and I am willing to pay extra for that kind of thing.
I don't see quite the over-the-top insane obsessive craze proportions in this hobby that I was seeing with plant collectors, but either way the desire to have that hot new plant or coral definitely comes from being influenced by social media. Collectors and hobbyists drive this, but you don't need to participate in it. I personally don't like torches lol, what can I say. But some people really get into the idea of having the hot new expensive thing, and as long as there are ppl willing to pay for it, the high prices and flashy marketing will exist.
I also think it's good to see it pointed out that retailers like your LFS, etc, are not by default a group of greedy jerks looking to rob us of our money. The cost of running a business is huge, and most are just good people trying to make enough to cover overhead and still turn a profit, especially in a difficult environment rn. The reality is that most LFS are struggling to stay in business.
A whole other really good convo to have. As I see it, any LFS not willing to sell e-commerce is asking to be outcompeted. I think most realized this when Covid also accelerated e-commerce, and they scrambled to set up an e-commerece component to their stores -- for many consumers it was the only way they could or would shop, and I don't see that changing, even with lockdowns over, b/c ppl have realized how easy and convenient it is to order all kinds of stuff online and have it delivered right to your doorstep.LFSs have really been stuck with the short end of the stick. They can't compete with locals on coral prices and they can't compete with mail order on coral quality... And they are stuck matching BRS prices of they want to sell dry goods, even though they have to pay for brick and mortar stores.
That leaves fish. And most refuse to set up a proper QT system, so they end up losing a lot of fish sales to places like TSM.
Wouldn't want to own a LFS these days. I don't see greed, I see desperation.
Exactly. Tbh, I see it as the only advantage they have left.And QT, omg -- I understand in the short term why LFS won't do it. But I still swear by the idea that if they did they would make so much more in the long term. Whoever can scale that is going to see so much benefit. They don't even have to have all livestock QT, at least to start, they can have a QT section. I would shop solely from there if it existed at my LFS.
I love stylos. Have green, pink, and purple now want to add blue too.That's why I won't buy acro or Millie's. Stylo is as far as I go with sps