Online coral availability trends. Why???

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dgasmd

Fragologist Magnus
Joined
Nov 30, 2003
Messages
473
Location
Florida
I was just thinking last night that it is funny how so many online places run through rot periods at the same time and they also seem to ahve much of the same at the same time too. I guess there are some trends as to when things become available from the exporters and growers. I mean, these corals all come from the same general places really. Which trends have you noticed??

-6 Months ago, the acropora efflorescent were very sought after. I couldn't understand why since everyone claimed they were very rare when there were 4-5 daily on almost every single online vendor. I have not seen any in the last 4 months.

-Over the last 6-9 months, the bluish acropora echinata was available by the hand full from almost every single online vendor. In the last 2 months, there has been very little online and only nasty looking coloration available.

-6-12 months ago, reefermadness had on a daily basis 10-20 extravagantly gorgeous corals on their site and they would move daily too. Over the last 3 months, they seem to be getting only the very same things over and over and with very little variety really.

-For the last 12 months, you couldn't beat the selection at c-quarium. Over the last 2 months, they have been looking more like a LFS than the premiere online site they were.

-Over the last year, reefscience did not have much to look at as far as SPS was in their site. Over the last 2-3 months, the are getting some amazing corals that are truely jaw dropping.

-The so called "deep water acros" became the comodity to have 12 months ago. 6 Months later, they were in every single online vendor and LFS and still remain there today. They are still called rare y the online vendors too.

-12-16 months ago, the biggest thrill in the hobby were the peole coming out the woodworks with these amazing zoanthids and their zoanthid only tanks. There were many online vendors that started jsut to sell zoanthids. It seems to ahve died out now.

Maybe I notice these trends because like a lot of people I look almost daily at the online vendors. I must admit it is mental punishment because I have always done frags only. I think I have less than 5 wild caught/aquacultured colonies. However, I am always on the lookout for something extra nice and rare.

Maybe all these trends are just a response to how fast people in the US get in and out of likes and dislikes. Maybe they are a reflection of when these corals actually become available based ont he grower's timing, availability in the wild, a response to legislature, luck, or plain marketing.

If you ahve any insights into this, please share them with the rest of us.
 
Well for one During the Summer Months Collecting and purchasing slows down dramatically mainly due to Us people who like to go on Vacation.. Around Early to Mid Sept everything should start picking up again..

James
 
I've noticed that it seems like everyone has an abundance of Croceas, and that their prices have come down. Maybe I'm just thinking that cause I want a bunch of them. : )
 
I have noticed trends but no where near the detail you provided. One would be the popularity, price and availability of Rose BTA's.

10 Months ago when I has first saw one they were hard to find and always over 150-200 dollars. 5 Months later everyone and their sister had them and I picked up one for 45.00.

Maybe one of our sponsors will chime in with some perspective..
 
Yep, I forgot about the rose anemones. I have the same experience as you.
 
A good portion of the "trends" are due to the season. Ask any LFS and they'll tell you that they pray for rain as they are much slower when the weather is nice. Monsoon and typhoon season affect collecting and high summer temps affect shipping. Also, collectors/exporters on some of the smaller islands have a harder time getting air cargo space during the tourist season.
 

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