yes! i just bought LA's gem tang!!!!

[john37]

no, i didnt but i wish i could.

gem (http://liveaquaria.com/diversden/ItemDisplay.cfm?c=2733+3&ddid=40221)


if anyone buys this, you better post pictures!!!!!:mad2:

[t5Nitro]

You could set up another whole fish tank with the best equip. and other expensive fish in reality :lol:

It's cool though, not too common you see those up there. That is my second one I seen on their site.

[Cantonesefish]

You're committed. You have to buy it now.

[Fishfreak218]

These fish dont event look that great. Im sure if they were only $50 they wouldn't be extremely popular...

[corndogg]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12413186#post12413186 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Fishfreak218
These fish dont event look that great. Im sure if they were only $50 they wouldn't be extremely popular...

Seriously, you couldn't be more right.

[Reeftanks6]

agree with fishfreak. I think these fish look good but they are just way to expensive and if they where cheaper they would be so much more popular.

[cwoods8]

Group buy Anyone?

[JM68]

My LFS has one, boy do i wish i had the money, i think they r incredible. Remember people its not always all those bright colors that make a fish awesome.

[ReefRockerLive]

Geez, that's some dough! It probably cost LA $200 to get this in their warehouse.

[melanotaenia]

^^so true; I used to work at a LFS for six years, and pick up marine orders from the airport; seeing the prices we paid compared to what the price on the tank was made me sick. The markup was ridiculous

[Bret61081]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12414491#post12414491 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ReefRockerLive
Geez, that's some dough! It probably cost LA $200 to get this in their warehouse.

Yeah right!! Fish like that actually COST them more to bring in b/c most go to Japan. For a US company to actually get them, t hey have to pay the higher prices. IMO, they are Beautiful! I'd love one, just b/c they are different and not too many people have them!

[StuckNOmaha]

Well they do have to make money, the wholesale cost for Rhomboid fairy wrasses are $49 right now but there going for 299-449 on Liveaquaria so you know Dr Fosters & Smith aren't going hungary.

[melanotaenia]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12414731#post12414731 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Bret61081
Yeah right!! Fish like that actually COST them more to bring in b/c most go to Japan. For a US company to actually get them, t hey have to pay the higher prices. IMO, they are Beautiful! I'd love one, just b/c they are different and not too many people have them!

this is only partially true; I would bet that LA did not pay any more than a few hundred for this guy, at most.

[jmaneyapanda]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12415119#post12415119 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by StuckNOmaha
Well they do have to make money, the wholesale cost for Rhomboid fairy wrasses are $49 right now but there going for 299-449 on Liveaquaria so you know Dr Fosters & Smith aren't going hungary.

Or Turkey, or Portugal!!:D Sorry, I couldnt resist.

There is always a lot of banter about markup between the LFS cost and their sale price. Do you know how many fish a store, whether it be an e-store, or birick and mortar, loses? Who pays for those? What about everyu other business in the world, dont they mark up their items? Lets get real, here.

What makes me laugh about this the most, is that people have been ouright harassing the poor staff on the LA forum about "when is the gem tang gonna be for sale!!!" Well, it finally is, and now no one will buy it.

[myerst2]

I'm going to buy the Conspiculatus, Clarion, and Gem Tang. It's only $10,000!!! Tim

[jmaneyapanda]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12415254#post12415254 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melanotaenia
this is only partially true; I would bet that LA did not pay any more than a few hundred for this guy, at most.

Lets knock it off with this conjecture too. Unless your name is Kevin Kohen, you have no idea what was paid for this fish. But I would HIGHLY DOUBT they would mark up a fish in teh order of 1000%. Let get real.

The people that strive for rare fish will buy this fish. If you only like the looks, Im sure you'll settle for a marine betta.

I know a very porminant member fo this community who has just lined up 2 for himslef, and it wasnt cheap.

[zemuron114]

they definitely paid more then 200.00 for it. Im betting in the ballpark of 900-1500 depending on how many chains it went through.

im also pretty sure the collector(s) charge more than 200 because they know they are popular.

it is a nice fish though. Unique and different :) worth the money? thats for you decide!

[weluvfish54]

yeah its not the bright colors its the white spots? give your tank major ick with a purple tang and thats what it looks like to me...
ill stick with the $70 purple tang.

[melanotaenia]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12415288#post12415288 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jmaneyapanda
Lets knock it off with this conjecture too. Unless your name is Kevin Kohen, you have no idea what was paid for this fish. But I would HIGHLY DOUBT they would mark up a fish in teh order of 1000%. Let get real.

The people that strive for rare fish will buy this fish. If you only like the looks, Im sure you'll settle for a marine betta.

I know a very porminant member fo this community who has just lined up 2 for himslef, and it wasnt cheap.

1000% markups are not out of the norm in this industry. I support LA in every way, and have purchased through them many times before. I will however state that this fish being sold at the price it is posted will rake in a huge profit for LA; that is just plain business.

And yeah, a Marine Betta is just like this fish, only cheaper :rolleyes:

[jmaneyapanda]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12416564#post12416564 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melanotaenia
1000% markups are not out of the norm in this industry. I support LA in every way, and have purchased through them many times before. I will however state that this fish being sold at the price it is posted will rake in a huge profit for LA; that is just plain business.

And yeah, a Marine Betta is just like this fish, only cheaper :rolleyes:

I am really NOT trying to be argumentative, but this is again another conjecture. I would argue that any business that marks up 1000% will not be in business long, and would also argue that few, if any retailers do so. Do you really think that those tangs they sell for $100 only cost them $1?! That is patently absurd. Every LFS and retailer I have ever dealt with has typically been between 100% and maybe 400% markup, to compensate for operating expenses and livestock losses. If 1000% markup is "the norm" in your market, move to another area!

[jmaneyapanda]

Wait a sec, I dont think I did my math right!!:confused:

At any rate, I still would argue it 1000% markup.

[snorvich]

The normal markup is 100% with delicate or rare fish going as high as 300%. True for corals as well. If they do NOT do that they will not be in business for long. Dry goods are much less susceptible to markup.

Successful LFS understand their business models; those who do not run up credit card debt and then fold. Just a fact of life.

[JM68]

My lfs got theres from the same place that LA got there's from, i know the guy who does the orders for the store. Believe me they paid MUCH more than 200$. These fish are very expensive even from the wholesalers, because they know that you rarely c these fish in the US market and they can make more money on them too by charging the retailers more.

[Vili_Shark]

Any of you guys complaining, can get a Gem Tang cheaper? why not buy it?

[snorvich]

I am certainly not complaining. If Gem Tangs were my thing I would have bought it. (I am not knocking Gem Tangs, they are pretty but I am not really into tangs per se)

[rottbo]

blue zoo has on for $3000

[melanotaenia]

I am not complaining, I just think this is an overpriced fish for what you get. The Conspic is beautiful; this tang is just, eh.

I remember when you could get these for under 1000 bucks, but that was in 1998 :)

[DAKOOP]

$3000 for any fish is insane!
That could buy me a couple of gallons of gas this summer!!!!!!

[weluvfish54]

i agree dakoop... thats far to much.. get 12332 fish that look the same or if not better... i think a queen looks alot better than a jem and a fraction of that price... cost more than the tank its in probably

[reef / aholic]

step-up and buy one of these!!!!

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/139055image035.jpg

[weluvfish54]

looks like a freshwater fish.

[sedgro]

The wholesale cost of the animal is not the only cost to the retailer. There is shipping, clearance fees, box charges, CITES (if a coral), and possibly re-ox charges if the fish goes through a transhipper. Most Gem tangs come from Mauritius. Find that one on google earth and then see if you can find any direct flights to the east coast of the US on expedia or travelocity. There are none! A simple R/T ticket will cost you $3000. The fish has to transit through Europe (which probably adds another layer of charges and paper work) before coming to the US. I am sure freight charges from Mauritius are astronomical right now with the high cost of fuel. Add to this the fact that if you get a shipment from a wholesaler there, you are not likely to just get a box full of Gem tangs, you will likely have to take other more common fish that you can not mark up that much.

My point is there is a lot more to the cost of our animals than the price you see on a wholesale list. Give the retailers a break.

John

[snorvich]

Now that fish I would buy but I don't think anyone has kept it alive long term.

[JM68]

Good luck even finding a Peppermint. The amount of money it would cost to buy it is another story all together you'd have to cash in your life savings.

[Vili_Shark]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12419536#post12419536 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melanotaenia
I am not complaining, I just think this is an overpriced fish for what you get. The Conspic is beautiful; this tang is just, eh.

I remember when you could get these for under 1000 bucks, but that was in 1998 :)

Dont go too far, what about C.resplendens? they were coming in for little money and wholsellers didnt want to buy them cause always had to stock many and nothing else to buy from there!!!
How much will be a wild resplendens now ? $$$ !!!

The market situation today is that Gem Tang is 3 grands, if anybody can get it cheaper, so go and get it, if a few can , we all know the market price will drop. it is simple economics.

Clarion was going in HK for over 10 grands last summer, and now for a little more than 2.

I dont have to continue, I bet you guys got the idea.

[wayne in norway]

Gems are considerably cheaper in europe, and Z. rostratums are comparably more expensive as the trave time is so much longer. I saw a major european wholesalers list a few weeks ago and they had nine gems in stock at a cost below a 1000 dollars wholesale per piece. The single rostratum was another 100 euro's on top.
Also the dollar is hurting you now.

[cwoods8]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12423029#post12423029 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by wayne in norway
Gems are considerably cheaper in europe, and Z. rostratums are comparably more expensive as the trave time is so much longer. I saw a major european wholesalers list a few weeks ago and they had nine gems in stock at a cost below a 1000 dollars wholesale per piece. The single rostratum was another 100 euro's on top.
Also the dollar is hurting you now.


The Dollar has always been hurting me:lol:

[ozadars]

They are very good looking but I think my marine betta has much better markings :)

[glassbox-design]

Well said Villi & sedgro.

I believe there is a japanese gentleman who is the one of only to keep a boylei alive for a decent time. Even if I had the money and opportunity to but, I'd be too chicken :p

[zemuron114]

C. resplendens are sweet!:)

I believe there is a C. Boylei kicking in Japan still in a chilled tank by itself. It was in the new angel book that just came out with pictures.
Probably the hardest centropyge to keep alive (due to many factors)

Europe has the cheapest Gem tangs, but also the most expensive black tangs - which would you prefer?

US has cheaper flame angels then Europe or Asia, but Asia has cheaper interruptus!

its a give and take relationship. Gem tangs are for the rare fish seekers and if they buy it and can provide it with a great home than more power to them. Just because 90% of the hobbyist can't afford or doesn't want to buy it doesn't mean it is over priced. You get what you pay for: a super rare fish and live aquaria's service and guarantee.

I dont think conspiculatus are anything special, but people frop 2500 on them when they go up for sale!

[PadresGirl]

Doesn't matter if it costs $3500 or $35; the next time you have people over they'll look at the tank and ooh and aah over the "nemo" fish. Makes you want to put your head through a wall.

[zemuron114]

haha so true. Or Dori :)