Why are fish becoming so expensive?
- Thread starter tvbbnumber41
- Start date
lol
Time of the year has a big thing to do with it my lfs owner says majority of his fish tend to be wild caught so when there or storms or certain seasons some things become harder to get so the price goes up as well
I live in Panama, it costs $59 to send a 1 oz letter to the states with a 48 hour time frame. Cn you imagine the cost to ship 10lb box of fish.
And the local fishermen, are definitely "not" getting rich by selling fish, at least not here.
Gas for one of their wooden boats alone for a day, is at least $100.00.
And the local fishermen, are definitely "not" getting rich by selling fish, at least not here.
Gas for one of their wooden boats alone for a day, is at least $100.00.
Hello; several possible and many likely reasons for high prices already mentioned. Let me add another. I suspect we in the hobby may have some of the impact. Some examples.
A few days ago I entered a thread about a HOB power filter from Wal-Mart, (Aqua-Tech??). The OP got one for free. Comments were made indicating that some would never purchase such a filter but if you got it free then it is sort of OK. I have checked the prices of some of the power filters considered to be the "bees knees" of filters and they are several times the price of a $40 filter from Walmart.
I suspect similar comments might be made about other bits of equipment such as heaters, lights and such. Another example using lights. A thread was made about why LED lights for a 55 gallon are so expensive. I wrote about using a 48 inch LED shoplight on my 55 that I got on sale for under $30. I think no one responded to my post but there were several posts naming LED lights that I suspect are many time the cost.
Finally I get to the point. I think that many in the hobby have demonstrated the willingness to pay big bucks for hobby related stuff. Maybe in the genuine belief that the more expensive stuff will be equal to the added cost.
Maybe in the "bragging rights" arena where being able to afford the expensive stuff is seen as a plus. I seem to recall a recent thread in which a member posted about getting a power filter and how much it cost.
It may be that some of the increase price of fish is due to the face so many have been willing to pay. Maybe like when a hot new car model in first introduced there are folks who are willing to pay over sticker to get it early.
Just a thought or two.
A few days ago I entered a thread about a HOB power filter from Wal-Mart, (Aqua-Tech??). The OP got one for free. Comments were made indicating that some would never purchase such a filter but if you got it free then it is sort of OK. I have checked the prices of some of the power filters considered to be the "bees knees" of filters and they are several times the price of a $40 filter from Walmart.
I suspect similar comments might be made about other bits of equipment such as heaters, lights and such. Another example using lights. A thread was made about why LED lights for a 55 gallon are so expensive. I wrote about using a 48 inch LED shoplight on my 55 that I got on sale for under $30. I think no one responded to my post but there were several posts naming LED lights that I suspect are many time the cost.
Finally I get to the point. I think that many in the hobby have demonstrated the willingness to pay big bucks for hobby related stuff. Maybe in the genuine belief that the more expensive stuff will be equal to the added cost.
Maybe in the "bragging rights" arena where being able to afford the expensive stuff is seen as a plus. I seem to recall a recent thread in which a member posted about getting a power filter and how much it cost.
It may be that some of the increase price of fish is due to the face so many have been willing to pay. Maybe like when a hot new car model in first introduced there are folks who are willing to pay over sticker to get it early.
Just a thought or two.
I would bet some of the added price now is to the cost of permits and aper work. Add to that that everyone but the guy catching the fish is asking for more money. Then add on the higher fuel prices here in Canada we are paying the same for gas with oil at 54 dollars a barrel as when it was 150 dollars a barrel.
My wife an I are trying to sell fish to stores and not run of the mill fish but purebred stock. The stores won't pay us any more per fish and usually want to pay less than fish they have to pay S&H on. Which leaves me to wonder why locally bred fish with less stress and a higher survival rate would not increase their bottom line. Stores like to lose money to pass the cost on to the consumer it would seem.
Not all stores are like this as we are finally getting some intrest in our fish after 4 years of pushing our product. However I don't think our fish will be any cheaper for the consumer to purchase. It is just human nature to want to make more and more money.
My wife an I are trying to sell fish to stores and not run of the mill fish but purebred stock. The stores won't pay us any more per fish and usually want to pay less than fish they have to pay S&H on. Which leaves me to wonder why locally bred fish with less stress and a higher survival rate would not increase their bottom line. Stores like to lose money to pass the cost on to the consumer it would seem.
Not all stores are like this as we are finally getting some intrest in our fish after 4 years of pushing our product. However I don't think our fish will be any cheaper for the consumer to purchase. It is just human nature to want to make more and more money.
You guys make some good points. The way I see it, the true MFK hobbyist, like us, are the minority when it comes to the aquatic pet industry. Since there is so few of us, the smaller stores who rely on us, I feel as though, may be more inclined to try and make bigger profits as they are not getting the same volume as these bigger chain stores. The small stores who are trying to appeal to the same general consumer population as the big chain stores probably went out of business. Nothing wrong with that, but I guess is the nature of business.
But once again I have a good idea of what I should be paying for certain fish in my area. My lfs is pretty honest when it comes to what they paid and what they are asking. They are open about it and often negotiate accordingly. Then when I see other stores asking 3-5x what I paid for a certain fish makes me cringe a bit. Also, for those of us in the tri state area took a small hit when Shark Aquarium closed down. I noticed some prices on some competitive places around the area rose. I don't see that as mere coincidence.
Once again this thread wasn't meant to derail any stores, but more of a way to learn and understand the nature of business aspect of the MFK hobby. At the end of the day I think most of us wouldn't mind paying more for fish that we like
But once again I have a good idea of what I should be paying for certain fish in my area. My lfs is pretty honest when it comes to what they paid and what they are asking. They are open about it and often negotiate accordingly. Then when I see other stores asking 3-5x what I paid for a certain fish makes me cringe a bit. Also, for those of us in the tri state area took a small hit when Shark Aquarium closed down. I noticed some prices on some competitive places around the area rose. I don't see that as mere coincidence.
Once again this thread wasn't meant to derail any stores, but more of a way to learn and understand the nature of business aspect of the MFK hobby. At the end of the day I think most of us wouldn't mind paying more for fish that we like
I know this is a litlle off track. But before moving, I kept mostly Central American Cichlids, and not the bread and butter type. So LFSs seldom sold what I wanted.
Even though they are fairly rare, I could get juvies from specific breeders for some where between $3.00 and $5.00 each, anything from beanii, to haitiensus to most Vieja. I usually bought 5-8 at a time, which I consider the best way to acquire cichlids.
I did need to drive to Chicago to gcca swap meets or auctions and order them ahead, which also meant I couldn't get them on a whim, or at a moments notice.
I also belonged to the local aquarium society which offered great fish opportunities at mostly low prices.
If you only rely on LFSs I can see why prices seem high, but there are opportunities out there to get great stuff with a budget if you are open to them.
Even though they are fairly rare, I could get juvies from specific breeders for some where between $3.00 and $5.00 each, anything from beanii, to haitiensus to most Vieja. I usually bought 5-8 at a time, which I consider the best way to acquire cichlids.
I did need to drive to Chicago to gcca swap meets or auctions and order them ahead, which also meant I couldn't get them on a whim, or at a moments notice.
I also belonged to the local aquarium society which offered great fish opportunities at mostly low prices.
If you only rely on LFSs I can see why prices seem high, but there are opportunities out there to get great stuff with a budget if you are open to them.
Its because each and everyone of you, just kidding lol but their is a some truth to that statement; just a question of supply and demand.
hello; I may support the fish shops in my area a bit more than some. I meant by that I do not order online. I may order parts and equipment from outfits that still take a personal check as payment, but those are becoming more rare. The closest decent fish shop is at least 50 miles away so I do not get to them very often. I do tend to buy stuff from them and have had stuff ordered and delivered thru a fish shop.
I have not as yet ever ordered fish to be delivered to my home and likely never will. This limits my choices to what a shop stocks. If I ever do order fish that way it would be restricted to a few months, say spring or fall, when the temps are more likely to be not too hot or cold.
I use to order live products for my biology classes and tried to get the order placed before November for much of it.
Hello; Yes to this. Bear in mind this is a hobby and the demand side is not driven by necessity. We do not need fish like we need food, medicine or such. We may want fish and must want them enough to pay the asking price. This ties in to my previous post in this thread in that the fish buyer may help increase the demand (and by definition the price) for particular fish. May I refer to them as "trophy fish"?
While there are some differences among the fish we keep that may influence our preferences, in the end a fish is a fish. One fish being in most ways much like many others. As the price of some fish rose over the five decades of my fish keeping, I have moved on to others. I enjoy having my common species and do not have a lot invested.
Perhaps it is similar to the classic cars. Back in the 60's (got my drivers license in 1963) I wanted a few cars really badly. I had the notion that someday I would get one or more of them to fix up and drive around. Well the classic cars are now collector items and "investments". Many are priced beyond what I am willing to pay.
A friend had a 1965 GTO (Pontiac) and generated a strong pucker factor while driving me around. The car did not handle well. Had drum brakes prone to fade out. Picture arriving at a tight curve at near 100 mph an finding the brakes are too hot and may not slow you down sort of pucker factor. Several very modern cars are faster in a straight line than a 65 goat. Still I wanted one but am not willing to pay collector/investment prices. Does any of this apply to the price of some types of fish?
