coral question???

chrischris · 10-08-2007, 12:07 AM

why do corals cost what they do
and i can understand corals that have to be collected but ive seen aquacultured corals go for the same price and wild caught and it seems weird that they would cost the same
so let me know what you think on why they cost so much
thanks
chris

seasalt dreams · 10-08-2007, 12:43 AM

If they costed any less around here, they may as well be free. Someone has to pay for them, or no one could afford to sell them. The ppl selling need to make money in order to pay thier bills to continue farming, or purchasing the coral in order to sell it. No matter how you look at it, obtaining the corals to sell is not free, therefor they cannot always be given away free.

chrischris · 10-08-2007, 12:52 AM

good point

seasalt dreams · 10-08-2007, 12:54 AM

ckusnierek · 10-08-2007, 09:01 AM

I have seen farmed corals sell for 2x-3x what a wild coral costs. Try buying a large SPS colony. $$$$ From a frag they can take YEARS to grow out. Time is money. One of the LFS in my area sell wild corals from time to time but are only allowed to buy a limited amount. I think he told me he has to buy a special liscense or permit for each one. It's alot cheaper to break off a coral from a reef than it is to grow it in a farm. But I dont condone buying wild corals. All of mine are farm grown.

holyscoly · 10-08-2007, 09:05 AM

also u have to factor in the electrical bill every month especially if they are sps those metal halides/15 t5s pull alot of electricity.