Is old school coral keeping making a comeback

[buzzybee8]

I've been browsing zoas on sale sites like E-bay and I've noticed something that's been bugging me. They take an old zoa, give it a fancy new name, and suddenly it's "cutting edge" and super desirable. I'll be scrolling through different sites and see some "new and rare" zoa with an outrageous price tag. Then I'll dig up old pictures of my own zoas from 10-15 years ago and, surprise, it's the exact same thing. It's pretty sad that some people are taking advantage of new hobbyists who don't know any better.

[flintek]

I've been browsing zoas on sale sites like E-bay and I've noticed something that's been bugging me. They take an old zoa, give it a fancy new name, and suddenly it's "cutting edge" and super desirable. I'll be scrolling through different sites and see some "new and rare" zoa with an outrageous price tag. Then I'll dig up old pictures of my own zoas from 10-15 years ago and, surprise, it's the exact same thing. It's pretty sad that some people are taking advantage of new hobbyists who don't know any better.

It's all about perception and people's willingness to pay a premium for something they think is exclusive or rare. Inflate the price, and suddenly it becomes desirable to some folks. This isn't unique to our hobby, though - it's a common tactic in many retail areas, where the price tag often drives demand.

[creebo]

Honestly, the whole naming game seems like a joke to me. Without solid proof from the original grower, it's just a scam. I mean, take FinLass_8 for example, he finds a coral at a local shop for 10 bucks, slaps it under his fancy lights, photoshops it to perfection, and suddenly it's 'Utter Chaos'. Next thing you know, everyone's got a coral that looks kinda like it, and they're all claiming it's the real deal. I call BS on that. I refuse to buy corals from people who claim they're the authentic ones. To each their own, I guess. My pet peeve is all these posts asking for IDs on corals they bought for pennies. If you just bought a wild-harvested coral or one from someone with no lineage, how can it possibly have some fancy name and price tag?

[gosebull]

Honestly, the whole naming game seems like a joke to me. Without solid proof from the original grower, it's just a scam. I mean, take FinLass_8 for example, he finds a coral at a local shop for 10 bucks, slaps it under his fancy lights, photoshops it to perfection, and suddenly it's 'Utter Chaos'. Next thing you know, everyone's got a coral that looks kinda like it, and they're all claiming it's the real deal. I call BS on that. I refuse to buy corals from people who claim they're the authentic ones. To each their own, I guess. My pet peeve is all these posts asking for IDs on corals they bought for pennies. If you just bought a wild-harvested coral or one from someone with no lineage, how can it possibly have some fancy name and price tag?

I love seeing those "rare morphs" of overpriced zoas pop up. It's hilarious how they try to pass off something that's been around for ages as some exotic, one-of-a-kind find. I mean, come on, if it's just a variation of something that's already been done to death, why the hefty price tag?

[creebo]

Honestly, the whole naming game seems like a joke to me. Without solid proof from the original grower, it's just a scam. I mean, take FinLass_8 for example, he finds a coral at a local shop for 10 bucks, slaps it under his fancy lights, photoshops it to perfection, and suddenly it's 'Utter Chaos'. Next thing you know, everyone's got a coral that looks kinda like it, and they're all claiming it's the real deal. I call BS on that. I refuse to buy corals from people who claim they're the authentic ones. To each their own, I guess. My pet peeve is all these posts asking for IDs on corals they bought for pennies. If you just bought a wild-harvested coral or one from someone with no lineage, how can it possibly have some fancy name and price tag?

I love seeing those "rare morphs" of overpriced zoas pop up. It's hilarious how they try to pass off something that's been around for ages as some exotic, one-of-a-kind find. I mean, come on, if it's just a variation of something that's already been done to death, why the hefty price tag?

I'm still shaking my head at my phone's auto correct, it just can't seem to get it right. If I'd taken the time to proofread before posting, it would have been a whole different story.

[ravelo]

It seems like most hobbyists nowadays aren't buying the actual coral, but rather a nicely edited photo that captures the idea of it. It's become the norm, largely thanks to forums like r2r that thrive on rebranding common corals as something new and special.

[buzzybee8]

I'm not buying into the hype of overpriced corals. What looks amazing in someone else's tank might not translate to mine. I used to enjoy trading with fellow hobbyists, it was a great way to get new corals without breaking the bank. I recall getting a coral frag from FinLass_8l Ostrow, he called it a radiator fluid green digi - it was one of the best I ever got. It was a small piece, but it grew like crazy and was stunning. Unfortunately, it didn't survive a tank meltdown while I was on vacation, along with many other corals, fish, and LPS and SPS.

[buzzy420]

I was just browsing around and I came across this one Zoa on WWC's site, and I couldn't believe my eyes - $150 per polyp. I thought to myself, that's quite steep for a Zoa. Then I started looking around some more and I found the same exact polyp, or at least it looked like it, on a different site for a fraction of the price - $60 for 3-4 heads. It just goes to show you, you've got to do your research and not just take things at face value.

[RavenFly]

I've stuck to established names when buying corals online, but in person, I've had more freedom to choose. Names like Rasta or Sunny D are instantly recognizable, everyone knows what to expect.

[Velorum]

The zoa naming trend has definitely contributed to the hype, and in a way, it's been beneficial for the hobby as a whole. I mean, it's probably driven up prices, but at the same time, it's generated a lot of interest in reefing, which is a plus. Sellers have definitely benefited from it, that's for sure.