FishDog;3876521; said:
You and I both got top quality pups from jimr at the tune of $250 a piece or atleast that is what I paid. The only way to find the true value of what you have is to try and sell it. MN said it best, marbles are always available. You get hooked up with the right person and you can bring in a dozen of them, pick out the ones you want and sell the rest. Can't afford to do that with black rays.
I did pay more then you then. If I remember right mine were $780 for 2 after shipping. But Jim's Marbles aren't with him anymore. Wonder why he sold them?
Run of the mill Marbles are always available. Quality isn't. I've been waiting for mnstingray to bring in some Marbles like his personal pair and guess how long I've been waiting? Guess how many have come in? Wonder what kind of value would be placed on that pair?
You can't do that with blackrays ANYMORE. I remember looking at them on Aquascape's website for $350 around the time I got my 1st Retic. That's half the reason I don't have any. IF I never saw that I would have black rays. BUT since I did its very difficult for me to justify. You can order in a dozen Marbles, hope for a couple keepers and pedle the rest. OR you can do as Trev mentioned and purchase a nice CB without all the headache of peddling and the headache of WC suicidal Marbles. I for one would much rather buy from a breeder then a peddler. But then again I go buy groceries from the local store down the block instead of Walmart.
Maybe this thread will shed some light on the reason there is no breeders here. Anyone that's ever got them to breed on a regular basis has sold them. Maybe its just a coincidence, maybe cause its simply not worth it? Maybe everyone wanting AAA rays for A$ has drove them to sell? Maybe breeding species that are easier to breed is way more profitable? Maybe I have an overactive imagination, or just bad experiences when it comes to Marble breeding. Who knows, right now I'm more intrested in other peoples opinions then my own.
Why are high quality Marbles and average Marbles not looked at like the same way as classic Leos vs Black Diamonds or Hen vs King Hen? If memory serves me correctly top shelf BDs go for 5-6 times what classic Leos go for. Why are Marbles so different?
I'm not arguing for any side, but rather just trying to understand other points of view. Obviously my opinion is tainted cause my tanks and empty wallet scream I'm a sucker for Marbles...
