Post Overrated, Overpriced Fish HERE!!!

[Aussienative]

I'd hate to sound like a broken record, but..... you guys have it good!

Try living in Australia.

 

[HarleyK]

Most exotic plecos, and nearly all saltwater fish have to be wild caught. You have to consider that the guy catching them, the person shipping them, the person receiving them, and the shop owner selling them has to make money. Also, there are any licenses required, shipping cost, not once but two or more times.

Absolutely right. Plus: Depending on harvesting techniques, only a small fraction of the caught fish survive long enough to be sold to the hobbyist.


IMO anything >$30 is overpriced. Which doesn't mean that I don't spend that money

 

[davo]

I'd hate to sound like a broken record, but..... you guys have it good!

Try living in Australia.

Im sure i've laughed at your situation before but, Its kinda sad, but i can see why they do it. You have some damn cool native stuff though!

Yea sometimes i think im the only one boycotting the zebra market. I'd like them, as with every other hypancistrus, but not at that pricetag.
And your spot on about the wildcaught thing. Just the cost of getting a live fish from river/see to you costs an awful lot!

 

[Scottfree]

Supply & Demand, and whatever the market will bare....

 

[---XR---]

piranha's, way overated, and large rhom's and some pygo's

go for 800 and even 2000+, when we all know most of them are just big sissys

 

[fishyboi]

First one. ASIAN AROWANA. Considering this fish is being farmed in many countries, so therefore, the market should be flooded. I am talking about countries that are allowed to have these magnificent fish as pets. I was jealous of the couple in the latest TFH issue, they were allowed by a Fish and Wildlife "friend and neighbor" to "hold on" to the eight asian aros that were confiscated. AND CAN YOU BELIEVE THESE LARGE AQUARIUM PLACES THAT COULD NOT KEEP AN ASIAN AROWANA ALIVE !!!!, this is just, for lack of a better word, imbecilic. They are supposed to be experts in the field. Another disturbing concept that I was told by Fish and Wildlife agent, that the confiscated, or smuggled fish, are DESTROYED. Anyway back to topic, the price of these fish, should be around $100 to $500 dollars. ANY fish, except the ones that are highly special (i.e., gold alligator gar), can probably dictate the asking price.

I read that article and I couldnt beleive it either that they killed some and couldnt keep them alive. I think asian arowanas are way overpriced anywhere

 

[cbfreder]

koi.

I worked at a pond shop and people would routinely spend over a hundred dollars on a fish when they could have bought one for 15 and grown it out to that size over the course of one summer.

And an ugly fish at that....

Brandon

 

[ZOO YORK 207]

I totally agree about Piranhas... My lfs has a Jardini aro right now he wants $250 and it on sale for only $200!!!! its only 5" WHAT A DEAL!!!!!

I bought my old one for $50 at 8".

 

[Bderick67]

As long as someone is wiiling to pay the asking amount, then there are no overpriced fish.

Think where this wonderful hobby would be if you could have any fish ya wanted for under 10 bucks.

 

[rkc772]

First of all.... all fish are over price if you saw the cost of each fish. Me and my cousin are doing saltwater fish import in the U.S., the fish is very cheap... as in very very cheap... even a local fish store told me if i had my decimal points in the right area because what he sells for $10 is only less than $1 on my price list. the big bulk of the mark-up are due to the following:

Shipping and Freight Cost
Box Cost/Styrofoams
Documentation Cost
F&G Cost
Brokers Fee
Travel to the Airport (Gas and Parking Fee)
Dead on Arrival that the buyer takes into account. (usually 10% is absorbed by the buyer)
Water
Electricity
Labor (employees)
Goverment TAXES!!!

just imagine how much would these sum up. Fish in general are very cheap it is the added cost that is expensive.

with regards to zebra pleco... and the asian arowana... you're right in my home country a super read is less than $200 and a x-back is around $500 with great size and quality. but then again... it is illegal and it is risky.. that's why it has such a high price. The zebra pleco's price is comanded by the buyer's buying power. We have the influence to bring the price up and down.