On-line Companies Offering Alternatives to Wild-caught Specimens

[Sloeber]

Hi everyone--It seems obvious that the future of our hobby lies in captive raised/propogated/bred animals. The purpose of this thread is to provide a comprehensive list of companies that offer for sale, animals which are not wild-caught, but instead may be tank-raised, captive-raised or anything that does not come under the title of "wild-caught". If you know of a company doing this, please list them here, along with a break-down of what they offer, if you have that available. If you are affiliated with one of these companies please identify yourself as such. No reviews are desired or will be allowed, any comments good or bad will be edited out. All we are asking for is a list at this time, in an effort to decrease our reliance upon wild-caught critters.

Staff at Reef Central.

[sgotz]

There are many companies who are offering captive raised/propogated animals. The problem they have is the cost of these animals are usually more expensive than the wild caught specimans, especially with fish.

For example Inland Aquatics offers many types of cultured animals. You can buy a cultured Marine Betta (Calloplesiops altivelis) from them for $100. If you go over to Flying Fish Expres you can get a wild-caught Betta for approximately $50.

While i think there is a lot of talk among hobbyists about how important it is to buy cultured animals, what it comes down to is money. How many people here would truthfully pay an extra $50 for a cultured fish?

The popularity of cultured specimans will only take-off when the government steps in and severely limits or bans wild collections. At that point in time the hobbyists will be forced to pay the higher prices or not keep the animals.

I actually think this would be preferable. By making the costs higher, you're weeding out the people who don't have much of a commitment to the hobby or their livestock.

-Steve

[Tim]

Troupicorum has a vary nice coral farm.

[Psyduck]

Just because I dont want to spend $100 dollars for a Marine Betta doesnt mean I dont have a commitment to the hobby or their livestock. Im sorry, but most of us lowly hobbiest are stretching to spend what we are right now, much less spending 2x the price on things. Basically what will happen is what happened in the beginning with saltwater, it will go back to a rich people/business thing with everyone else who doesnt want to spend the money going to freshwater. Im sorry, I am lucky if I will buy one fish for over $50, much less my whole tank. Its a matter of economics, not commitment.

[Sloeber]

so far tim is the only one that understands the point of this thread. were not here to discuss the in's and out's of captive breed speciemns. if your in doubt, please re-read my original post. let's get it back on track please.

and, FWIW, yes i DO spend the extra $$$ on cultured speciemns. to me, it is worth every single penny.

henry

[leeinmass]

two places that carry captive bred fish and also have good reputations are www.aquatic-specialists.com (http://www.aquatic-specialists.com) and www.premiumaquatics.com (http://www.premiumaquatics.com)

------------------

[Larry M]

www.garf.org (http://www.garf.org) Propagated corals.

[DaCross]

Try www.coraldynamics.com (http://www.coraldynamics.com)

[sgotz]

Sorry about that first heated post. I just see too many people who treat marine animals as disposable pets...one dies, they go and get another, so on and so forth.

Anyway, on to the original question. I just received a large order from Noel Curry @ Scientific Corals (www.scientificcorals.com) I got nine SPS corals ranging in size from small frags to large show pieces.

The quality of the specimans i received was amazing, great polyp expansion. Plus there was a problem with FEDEX and his customer service is excellent.

-Steve

[Twinspot99]

I would very much like to buy propagated corals if I know for sure they were actually propagated. Since this industry is not regulated by any agency, we can only go by what advertised. Who could prevent someone from obtained and a large wild specimen, cut it into several pieces and resell them as prop with 2-3X$? May be I'm a little paranoid but I think it is a legitimate ?.

[Larry M]

That's a good question, Twinspot, and a good topic for a new thread. Once again, we are asking that you only use this thread for listing MO companies that you know of who offer something other than wild-caught specimens for sale. We are hoping to archive a list of the companies.

------------------
Larry M

View a list of RC Member's websites at:
http://www.reefcentral.com/membersites.html

[Reef Junkie]

HCS,
LMAO!! :) I got a kick out of your response to the first 3 posts...
Do the sites have to sell cultured animals exclusively or just have them available?
CoralFarms was already mentioned. I believe, but don't quote me on this, that they sell to the other sites and LFS's too. Otherwise, I have no more input.
Later,
Bill

------------------
http://www.homestead.com/reefjunkie/highenergy.html

[Reef Junkie]

Wait, wait...I think this would qualify...
Dynamic Ecomorphology. Steve Tyree's place.

[Kirbster]

Noel Curry's place (Scientific Corals) deserves mentioning again. He does a superb job.

[Psyduck]

I think I need to go back to FW :).

[Larry M]

This is it?

------------------
Larry M

View a list of RC Member's websites at:
http://www.reefcentral.com/membersites.html

[Doug1]

Doesn't inland aquatics aquaculture corals in addition to detrivores and macroalgaes?


------------------
I reefed,so I spent,it would have been cheaper to do it right the first time.........Doug@thereeftank

[JohnNewton]

Doug1,

Yep. They have some nice stuff.

John