Your thoughts on this butterfly . . . . .

[vetteguy53081]

At this point, many of us have seen this " Wrought Iron" Butterfly on the market and at the tune of $2600 - $4500 in price
Many fish do grow on me, but this one has not especially not being reef safe. Is it the price , or the appearance Or Both ??

What are your thoughts on this fish and do you find it appealing?
Why or Why not ?

 

[Mrcote1]

I personally like the more colorful fish. I have a half black mimic tang and I regret getting it as it doesn't "pop" like everything else. I would put this butterfly in that same category.

 

[Paul B]

I don't like it. It looks like it was dropped in tar.

 

[Reefering1]

I don't like it. It looks like it was dropped in tar.

And dipped in sand..

 

[kboogie]

At this point, many of us have seen this " Wrought Iron" Butterfly on the market and at the tune of $2600 - $4500 in price
Many fish do grow on me, but this one has not especially not being reef safe. Is it the price , or the appearance Or Both ??

What are your thoughts on this fish and do you find it appealing?
Why or Why not ?

I don’t understand the appeal. It is a very drab looking fish. I feel the desire is the rarity and prestige.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I don't like it. It looks like it was dropped in tar.

That is a good analogy of it’s look- why then the high price I wonder

 

[vetteguy53081]

I personally like the more colorful fish. I have a half black mimic tang and I regret getting it as it doesn't "pop" like everything else. I would put this butterfly in that same category.

That’s my exact feeling. For the price, it better be a striking fish, not one that looks it came out of a frying pan

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I honestly kind of like the color, it’s unique looking. Now would I ever buy one? That’s a definite no.

 

[Paul B]

That is a good analogy of it’s look- why then the high price I wonder

Because it makes it sound valuable.

My Daughter lives in Manhattan with her husband and my Grand Kids in an old 20 story building that used to be some kind of factory.

After the factory closed up they were probably going to take the building down which costs millions. So they thought, many "very smart" people in Manhattan who went to too much college would pay many many millions to live there so they made it into apartments that sold for so many millions each that I am embarrassed to tell you.

So because it is so expensive to live there, people think, Wow, that's a really high class place. When in reality, it's an old defunct factory.

High prices make things seem valuable. Of course there may only be 8 of those fish on Earth which of course would make it valuable. Then it would just be an expensive fish that looked like it was dipped in tar.

 

[Malum Argenteum]

Usually the hobby goes in for overpriced stuff that's gaudy in appearance. This fish doesn't have the full package.

Seriously, though -- I had a scopas tang for many years that I found really visually attractive. When non-reefers come over they're often very drawn to the tomentosus filefish in my tank -- that's an interesting fish in appearance and behavior, but regular people don't know they're cheap and usually kept as a janitor.

 

[Ziggy17]

I’d pass on it, even if it was $200. I guess it has the same appeal as a black leopard wrasse to me. Which in none.

 

[MikeReefs]

All I can think about is crying if I lost a fish like this one day, the butterfly costs as much as my tank. It’s one of those rare fish that a normal person wouldn’t think anything about. Like when you look at a Picasso tang/Koi tang you see how different and special it is. I just don’t see it with this. A gem tang has a similar coloration and 1/20th of the price and it’s reef safe, just my 2 cents

 

[Uncle99]

I never pay anything over $300 for any fish.
Way, way, Over priced IMM but heh, if someone wants to drop that much cash on a fish, then it better be super colourful, and a model citizen..

You be surprised at the landed cost of these fish, then, totally disgusted at the retailers margin.

 

[BryanM]

At this point, many of us have seen this " Wrought Iron" Butterfly on the market and at the tune of $2600 - $4500 in price
Many fish do grow on me, but this one has not especially not being reef safe. Is it the price , or the appearance Or Both ??

What are your thoughts on this fish and do you find it appealing?
Why or Why not ?

I think this fish is gorgeous, but it is not for me, both being insanely expensive and not reef safe.

I'm just in to my 2nd year in the hobby, and while I've had pretty solid results I've still had a couple fish die for seemingly no reason, so if/when I decide to spend $2k+ on a fish, it'll be when i've not had any fish losses for 3+ years.

 

[areefer01]

I would suggest looking at them in person vs digital and then make the judgement. As to price -subjective. Everyone has their budget and desires - who are we to budget shame.

 

[Evil1]

certainly in my opinion not worth the money. However people will pay whatever for what they want and that ok if it makes them happy and that’s cool!

 

[Marco_99]

My very first impression, price aside, it reminds me of and has a visual of a reptile. I think almost all reptiles are repulsive looking That is enough for me to give it two thumbs down.

 

[Malum Argenteum]

After a little more digging: it seems this species has a somewhat restricted range. It is found in Japanese waters, and is not frequently collected; those specimens that are might simply go to the regional market there, which has deeper pockets than we do in the US. It is also said to prefer somewhat cooler water than many fish in the trade, and so moving it through the usual commercial chain might be more complicated.

The short entry in Michael's book makes it seem very desirable, though -- hardy, non aggressive and a ready feeder.

 

[Paul B]

I’d pass on it, even if it was $200.

I'd pass on it if it was $2.00

I never pay anything over $300 for any fish.

I have about 30 or 40 fish and I doubt that all of them together comes to $300.00.