Dropping BD prices

[Lepisosteus]

from what I know. 4 years ago we were selling bd pups like hot cakes at $1250+ each and P14 pups were fetching around $4000 for a pup pair. It seems now that BD pricing is dropping tremendously. I have seen BD for as low as $400 a pup in my local market and have been offered them as cheaply as $350 for a pair from a few contacts. The whole grading scheme around the BD ray has absolutely tanked the market. Super big spot black diamond blah blah blah. Now you see true black diamond offspring fetching peanuts. Some of the local marble motoros and pearl rays are selling for more than BD. I hate to sound full of myself but I predicted this with a few friends around 3 years ago, we always said the hot ray species come as waves and BD pricing would tank. Still pick up the odd deal on BD pups but nothing like we used to do in the past. There was times when 30 ray pups would sell within 2 weeks at $1250 each, now some people struggle to get $500-$1000. What have you all experienced or noticed?

 

[krichardson]

I think it was Unstoppable JD who recently made an insightful post on the current BD pricing situation.I'll try and find the thread.

 

[Arkangel77]

I am for sure no Expert. Haven't bin around rays long enough to know. My Buddies and I have talked about this and IMO, There are two major factors. The Main one is supply and demand. Once the market is saturated with a certain type of fish prices will tend to drop. Which plays into the second thing, No matter what its called "Looks are Key". If a certain look becomes popular and everyone wants that "LOOK" in there rays. That's the ray that demands the high price. Hyper white, Supper spot, Mega ultimate super nova - lol. Names dont mater, If the ray has a Look that people are looking for you can ask more! Again IMO - That's why Some Hybrids (which is a Mutt really) are being sold for 2 and 3 times the price of a Pure BD. And on the note of pure. Unless you getting a WC ray - Purity is almost impossible to Guarantee!!! SO I guess all that to say - Looks is all that matters to MOST people and Looks determines the Price! I care about weather a Ray is a Pure BD or not. but It seems like I am in the minority!

Just My Opinion =)
Arkangel77

 

[SandNukka15]

Bds are just a pure good quality variant of leos.... a lot of sellers even on here I've noticed sell leos/lower quality bds and try to sell them off as "pure" with low prices. Decent to great quality bd pups are still $1000-$3000.... it's these "leos" that are only going for $500

 

[Lepisosteus]

Bds are just a pure good quality variant of leos.... a lot of sellers even on here I've noticed sell leos/lower quality bds and try to sell them off as "pure" with low prices. Decent to great quality bd pups are still $1000-$3000.... it's these "leos" that are only going for $500

Obviously I agree with Bd are Leo’s I’ve been arguing that for years but to say decent quality bds are still 1-$3000 is a long shot. Like I said I can get good quality BD pups easily for $500 a pup. They may not be the super big spot hybrid sh** people are selling for 1-3k but they are true black diamonds which seems to be a dying market.

 

[wmkr]

Obviously I agree with Bd are Leo’s I’ve been arguing that for years but to say decent quality bds are still 1-$3000 is a long shot. Like I said I can get good quality BD pups easily for $500 a pup. They may not be the super big spot hybrid sh** people are selling for 1-3k but they are true black diamonds which seems to be a dying market.

I wonder why would people go a high price for those hybrid rather than go for the pure breed

 

[Lepisosteus]

I wonder why would people go a high price for those hybrid rather than go for the pure breed

They look better

 

[wmkr]

well in Malaysia price also droppng due to those hybrids from Thailand cam in and are selling at very low low price

 

[SHARK13]

They look better

Yep. Pure BD has peaked and dropped all over the world now. BD on its own can only look so good. It's the hybrids that have bigger, brighter, and whiter spots that are now getting the attention. However, the highest grade, best pure BD still command top dollar. The pups your seeing for $500-600 ea are not high grade. They may look "ok" now but grow it out and see how small the spots are. All the cheap imports may look better than average due to what is commonly seen being bred here in the US. But the guys still breeding the best stuff here are holding onto their stock for good reason. They wont let go of the nice stuff cheap.

 

[UnstoppableJayD]

Prices are down across the board (even albinos are almost reasonable) - this is for a few reasons. First the quality of what is called a bd is way down ... Fish being sold as “BD” do not come close to what the standard should be. 2nd the glut of rays coming in from Asia that may or may not be BD being sold as BD are cheaper then domestically bred pure animals which in turn makes people bring there prices down. Lastly more and more people are breeding there own which creates additional supply and no over head so those can be sold cheaper. It is all cyclical (anyone remember a few years ago when you couldn’t get a pearl ray?) and with the cities inclusion it may be harder to import rays soon . Now I took advantage of the market and picked up a nice 12 inch female for less then I’ve paid for pups before this week...so enjoy the price reset lol