Why are Yellow Fiji Leathers More Pricey than Most other Leathers?

[RobertN]

Hi All-- I am interested in getting a yellow fiji leather, but it seems they are typically at least $50. In looking at them, I would make a guess that they could be fragged by simply cutting off a piece of them and gluing it to a plug, similar to a toadstool. Perhaps I'm wrong? I see toadstool frags as low as $20 from some vendors.....sometimes even the neon green ones. Naturally, if the fiji leathers can't be reproduced that easily, then I can understand the situation. Can someone enlighten me? Thanks!

 

[ndrwater]

Fiji has been effectively closed for corals. So now it's supply and demand...

 

[kintle]

Hopefully someone has a better answer but my first thought is because its yellow. Yellow is a not so common color for corals. It's just a guess in still new at this but my first though.

 

[ndrwater]

Hopefully someone has a better answer but my first thought is because its yellow. Yellow is a not so common color for corals. It's just a guess in still new at this but my first though.

Anything uncommon costs more because they are rare-ER. Fiji yellow leathers aren't available anymore from the source, hence higher prices. There are Tongan Yellow leathers, but they too aren't all that common and subsequently cost more

 

[Big G]

Survival rate is lower for Yellows and requires a bit more skill and knowledge to avoid killing both the mother and the frags.

 

[reef lover]

Id like to add hows slow they grow in comparison to the green or tans.
I got a quarter size frag from a friend and it took almost 3 years before it was big enough to start convoluting on the cap.

 

[RobertN]

I see.....so it is harder to keep alive and reproduce, and it grows very slow. That would explain it. Thanks!