crazy micromussa prices.. check it out

[dreko]

When I see prices like this, I have mixed feelings... on one hand, yes, it's a business and people are trying to make a living off of this... on the other hand, aren't us reefers conserving our shrinking and disappearing reefs? So maybe the gouging shouldn't be too severe

Don't even get me started on buying concert tix through a 'broker'

Dre

If you are looking for Value Check out the new Bouquets:
http://www.reefdoctormicromussas.com/index.php?cat_id=10

If you are looking for that special NEW morph:
Kenesis
http://www.reefdoctormicromussas.com/view_product.php?product=303
Eternal
http://www.reefdoctormicromussas.com/view_product.php?product=305
Epic
http://www.reefdoctormicromussas.com/view_product.php?product=299
Sugar Plums
http://www.reefdoctormicromussas.com/view_product.php?product=299
Fever
http://www.reefdoctormicromussas.com/view_product.php?product=297
Zodiac
http://www.reefdoctormicromussas.com/view_product.php?product=293

And a very Special japanese Morph CONFETTI
http://www.reefdoctormicromussas.com/view_product.php?product=295

For the Private Collection cutting I can offer:
OJ X 2 polyps @ $100 each = $200
http://www.reefdoctormicromussas.com/view_product.php?product=6
Pink Floyd X 2 polyps @$100 each = $200
http://www.reefdoctormicromussas.com/view_product.php?product=7
Desire X2 polyps @ $80 each =$160
http://www.reefdoctormicromussas.com/view_product.php?product=138
Purple Haze X 2 polyps @ $60polyp = $120
http://www.reefdoctormicromussas.com/view_product.php?product=8
AfterBurner X 2 polyps @ $90 polyp = $180
http://www.reefdoctormicromussas.com/view_product.php?product=11
JawBreakers X 2 polyps @ $80 polyp = $160
http://www.reefdoctormicromussas.com/view_product.php?product=21
Pink Paradise X 2 polyps @ $80 polyp = $160
http://www.reefdoctormicromussas.com/view_product.php?product=30
Sweet Tooth X2 polyps @ $65 polyp = $130
http://www.reefdoctormicromussas.com/view_product.php?product=45
Smash Mouth X2 polyps @ $65 polyp = $130
http://www.reefdoctormicromussas.com/view_product.php?product=50
Rommulen Warbird X2 polyps @ $60 polyp = $120
http://www.reefdoctormicromussas.com/view_product.php?product=9
Chervacado X2 polyps @ $70 polyp = $140
http://www.reefdoctormicromussas.com/view_product.php?product=15

 

[tunicata]

people pay it!
:coughsomeofminearegrowingverywellcough:

 

[rookie07]

Those sites have crazy prices, but they all do.
I Think that liveaquaria has great prices. Check the divers den, and other special sites that livequaria has.
I saw a 6" 95 polyp piece of nice looking acans for $300, thats only 3 something per head.
But the pricey sites generally give you something extra(so I found with my occasional order) and heard from other people.

 

[IconicAquariums]

You know most of those are not legally entering the country, hence the crazy prices. No CITES from Japan.

 

[jhale]

it's a free market, if no one bought them at those prices they would be lowered.

Joe, how do they get smuggled into the country? in peoples pockets?

 

[IconicAquariums]

People either smuggle out suitcases full of them or they are exported on the bottom layer of double decker boxes into other countries (Bali, Tonga) and then re-exported to the US as something else. I know for a while a guy in Cali was bringing back suitcases full of Micros, Balanophyllia, Rhizotrochus, etc. and then selling to other vendors.

 

[jabol]

I believe that prices of micromussas will go down. At this time, you can purchase aussie acans, which are in many cases much nicer than most micromussas, at much better (lower) prices.
I have black jack micromussa - the one for $100 per polyp; there is no doubt that most of aussie acans are more colorful than this micro...

 

[dreko]

Joe, so then it's like the reefdoctor's website is a public black market!

 

[House of Laughter]

J,

Alot of these get wrapped in newspaper and put into bags and onto people's luggage like Joe said - more common than you know. believe it or not, they don't have to be submerged in water to survive.

House

it's a free market, if no one bought them at those prices they would be lowered.

Joe, how do they get smuggled into the country? in peoples pockets?

 

[lfsmarineguy]

It's easier to smuggle than you would think BUT, there are enough suppliers out there and the repercussions of getting caught don't make it that worth it at this point. Cites permits are also a little more involved than that but often go ignored by most collectors. Cites does not apply to all species every where. There are limits to what is regulated.

Those are great prices on the website.... it even says so right next to the sale :shhh:.

 

[JasonE]

Are there Cites for Balanophyllia and Rhizotrchus?

People either smuggle out suitcases full of them or they are exported on the bottom layer of double decker boxes into other countries (Bali, Tonga) and then re-exported to the US as something else. I know for a while a guy in Cali was bringing back suitcases full of Micros, Balanophyllia, Rhizotrochus, etc. and then selling to other vendors.

 

[IconicAquariums]

From Australia, yes. But they are collected in subtropical waters around W. Australia and need to be kept in the mid-low 70s as such. I believe they said are collected at the same location that they collect Hulafish & Chemlonops butterflies.

 

[kenske]

To be fair:

Even though the site is selling micros for $60-$100 per polyp with a 2 polyp minimum per frag, Chris usually sends more. I have ordered from him in the past. I ordered 5 frags. Paid for 2 polyps per frag, but 4 out of the 5 frags he sent me are 5-10 polyps. I have done some research before i ordered and it looks like he does that with all his orders.

 

[kenske]

Maybe my lords are not that colorful or they're loosing color, i feel that some of my micros are more colorful. Most morphs of acan lords i see are red or mostley red. Don't get me wrong i like to collect both types of corals

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

No matter how good they look if a site or store is selling smuggled corals you should not buy anything from them.

 

[tunicata]

how would you know if they truly are?

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

If you did know I mean.

 

[kenske]

how would you know if they truly are?

Exactly. There is no proof that reefdoctormicromussa.com is offering smuggled corals. It's just members here speculating.

If there is another supplier out there that has the selection "the doc" has and offer same customer service for a lower price, i'll be more than happy to buy from them. For now, i do not know of another vendor with soooo many different morphs of micros. I get my emails answered within hours not days (as some other vendors do).

 

[IconicAquariums]

Exactly. There is no proof that reefdoctormicromussa.com is offering smuggled corals. It's just members here speculating.

If there is another supplier out there that has the selection "the doc" has and offer same customer service for a lower price, i'll be more than happy to buy from them. For now, i do not know of another vendor with soooo many different morphs of micros. I get my emails answered within hours not days (as some other vendors do).

Well, 'Japanese' as marketing is wrong. It is implying that it is smuggled and leaves it open to being questioned and rightfully so. Regular Micros exported(read: collected there) from Tonga or Bali or Australia are not nearly as expensive, and do not come in the variety of colors. It's the same as Captive Reef or other vendors with the same types of corals. Don't you think if they were legal more vendors would have them? There's mo magic Micro Fairy pulling these out of valid collection areas and putting them in the Doc's tanks.

 

[kenske]

I also see many colorful corals from many sites, does that mean if it's not being offered by many or "more" vendors and it's being offered for a high price, then it is most likely smuggled goods?I thought the high prices were due to the supply and demand. And no i do not think their is a "micro fairy" that gave "the doc" his micros. I just figure that's what he focused his resourced on collecting them, hence the large selection.

PPE paly are not illegal right? Why are they so expensive? $50+ per polyp and very hard to find. Not too many sites offer them. Are they smuggled? If not why doesn't more vendors offer them?

So Japanese = smuggled?
Does amakusensis = Japanese?

I do not see the site mentioning the fact that the micros they offer are from Japan. But i may have missed it. However, they did mention Amakusensis.

Not to veer off topic, I have not seen a or come across any micromussa from Australia that, imo, resemble micromussas. I have four (4) different morphs of such "aussi micro" They all grow to the same size or larger than many of my acan lords. Any comments regarding this matter?