buy high sell low on fishes

[Kungfukid]

not sure if this is the case with every body or it's just me.

every fishes I bought in the last 2 years, I always ending up selling them for much lower than what I paid for. (I sold 4 fishes in the last 2 years)

Shouldn't we invest to make money and to sell something at a price that's higher than what the we paid to buy it. I do understand the markets fluctuate and that you'll lose money from time to time. But man, I lost money on every fish I've sold so far.

p/s: No, I wasn't in for investment opportunity. I sold them because I get bored with the fish after a few months.

 

[dad300]

if your treating this hobby as an investment opportunity.. you are going to lose your shirt...

 

[jason401]

are you gonna give someone a replacement warranty if they take the fish home and it goes belly up?

 

[gweston]

I'd think it is fine to sell a fish at a somewhat higher price than purchased. If justified. A large healthy pest free multi-year old tang has more value, at least to me, than a small tang from a pet store in an unknown condition requiring weeks of qt. But.. It's a tossup. If it is a problem fish... such as nips at corals or has aggression issues, and then maybe a lower avg price can be justified. Ultimately it is whatever someone is willing to pay for.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2

 

[P-Nut]

not sure if this is the case with every body or it's just me.

every fishes I bought in the last 2 years, I always ending up selling them for much lower than what I paid for. (I sold 4 fishes in the last 2 years)

Shouldn't we invest to make money and to sell something at a price that's higher than what the we paid to buy it. I do understand the markets fluctuate and that you'll lose money from time to time. But man, I lost money on every fish I've sold so far.

p/s: No, I wasn't in for investment opportunity. I sold them because I get bored with the fish after a few months.

Fish are not the stock market.

if every fih store sells a Lion Fish for $50, you either sell it for $50 or less. Unless maybe a plane crashes or a boat sinks and the supply of Lion Fish becomes almost 0 and everyone wnats a Lion Fish, you wont make any money.

I'd think it is fine to sell a fish at a somewhat higher price than purchased. If justified. A large healthy pest free multi-year old tang has more value, at least to me, than a small tang from a pet store in an unknown condition requiring weeks of qt. But.. It's a tossup. If it is a problem fish... such as nips at corals or has aggression issues, and then maybe a lower avg price can be justified. Ultimately it is whatever someone is willing to pay for.

that is TRUE. But only if I know who is selling it to me.

 

[FinsUp!]

If the fish was bought young and small, and has grown to a nice, healthy size over the course of a year in an established tank, of course it will be worth more to some people, just like you pay more for a large yellow tang than a baby in the LFS. But if you buy an adult fish, keep it for 3 years in a tank where you're constantly treating for ich... All you've got is an old fish that has ich. So it's going to be worth less than you paid.

It's all about scenario when it comes to the re-sale of living things. But no matter the scenario, you never get rich and you more often than not lose money because of the investment in their care while they're with you.

 

[stingythingy45]

Honestly,when I buy fishes I hope to keep them for many,many years.And enjoy them for their beauty.
The exception being a possible crash where live stock would be sold to save their lives.Large fish that are grown up healthy should by all means fetch a higher price.
My Yellow tang and Hippo are quite larger than when I fist bought them.And have been extremely healthy during the years I've owned them.
So I would hope they would sell for more than I purchased them for.

 

[The River Reef]

I personally would be willing to pay more for a healthy younger fish... If you are buying to keep and watch get old why buy an old fish? IDK just my view

 

[dz6t]

That is always the case for fish. Coral multiply and fish don't. Unless you get a pair of "insert fancy name here" clownfish pair and after three years of TLC then spend all you free time to raise their babies.
Sometimes fish is like a car, when you drive that new car off the lot, it immediately decreases its value.
The only value I see in the fish I am keeping is that they all do some kind of job to keep my corals happy.

 

[FinsUp!]

I personally would be willing to pay more for a healthy younger fish... If you are buying to keep and watch get old why buy an old fish? IDK just my view

Some people want an adult "showpiece" fish right out of the bag Especially if adult form is different from juvenile form and they want a fish in its adult form. Or even the opposite... For example there are a lot of the large angels that I love in juvi form, but I think adult form is ugly.

 

[jarrodsanborn]

Animals are not toys and shouldn't be passed around because they lost their appeal.
Only buy animals you are willing to commit to.
The only fish that has left my care went to Oceanus, and it was free. I was concerned about quality of life, not profit margin, and chose her because of that.

 

[Cherokee_Dude]

Animals are not toys

+1, we need more of this attitude. Corals are inclusive to this statement.

 

[jt628]

Animals are not toys and shouldn't be passed around because they lost their appeal.
Only buy animals you are willing to commit to.
The only fish that has left my care went to Oceanus, and it was free. I was concerned about quality of life, not profit margin, and chose her because of that.

Agreed bud, I was just talking to turbo snail Sunday about this topic... Fortunately I have high demand fish, (. That I would never ever part with) I stated that I was surprised the coin purple tangs are fetching now, (mine is 8") which pulls 600+ and I paid 169 a couple years ago. My fish are like my dog, pets I love and I'll never part with. It annoys me that ppl get into this hobby to turn a coin and have very little knowledge

 

[jarrodsanborn]

It may be possible that the op poorly phrased his statement, and I don't want it to come off like were bashing him. This can be a sensitive subject and I swear the following rant is NOT aimed solely at the op.

The one thing that ruffles the feathers of many hobbiests is :
People don't think of a fish as important, and $$$ often is the meter in which a life is valued at. A $100 angel is a more important life than a $10 clown. Cost shouldn't equal value, because a life is a life.


Often in hobbies like ours, price dictates value but I choose to ignore that. The $9 scooter dragonette I have is just as important as my more expensive cat. If you let $ dictate value, then it can determine how you care for the pets or how much enjoyment you get from them.

Perfect example :using cheap fish to cycle a tank. If it dies...oh well. I don't think anything should have to survive a ammonia bath.

I see people jumping at the opportunity to buy the next rare fish or coral .....the industry and rampant coral profiteers say its rare but is it really rare? Why is its rarity a deciding factor in buying it? If the buyer values it for its qualities and not its price, maybe the price gouging on coral and neglect of lesser priced fish can stop.

Hopefully you don't have to sell any more fish in the future, and if you do.....consider it like a yardsale. People buying your unwanted stuff at a discount, and be happy its going to a home that will appreciate it.

Thanks, ..... steps off massive soap box and prepares to duck incoming attacks .....

 

[Ruge13]

Than learn to sell it... you just stated positive attributes of your fish. Others have stated what they look for in a fish and what might make them pay more for a fish than retail pricing. Health, size, color, feeding habbits, tank habbits etc. highlight those attributes and list it like a high end collectors item and you may get what you expect when you unite that listing with a buyer seeking those things. It may take more then one forum or more than 1 thread to find the right buyer who values, and is willing to pay a premium for what your fish has to offer. It is no different with corals. Not all German Blue Digis are the same $5 sticks

 

[SteveDola]

Ok first off I would question your commitment if after a few months you are bored with a fish. Personally I dont understand that philosophy and trading in fish because youre "bored" with it should not be your goal (IMO) when keeping a reef/SW tank. These arent video games, they are living animals...you dont get a cat/dog and in 6 mths when fido isnt a puppy anylonger you trade him in. Its just not fair and good husbandry (IMO).

Second, fish for sale on an free open forum are cheaper...no bones about it. Its a demand function. When you go to a fish store to purchase SW fish...you are there because you are interested in buying a fish. You are "demanding" and initiating a purchase. When you post a fish for sale, your are basically telling the world you dont want this anymore which decreases its value. Plus, a store has to charge more because of overhead. You cant add overhead because its a hobby to you.

not sure if this is the case with every body or it's just me.

every fishes I bought in the last 2 years, I always ending up selling them for much lower than what I paid for. (I sold 4 fishes in the last 2 years)

Shouldn't we invest to make money and to sell something at a price that's higher than what the we paid to buy it. I do understand the markets fluctuate and that you'll lose money from time to time. But man, I lost money on every fish I've sold so far.

p/s: No, I wasn't in for investment opportunity. I sold them because I get bored with the fish after a few months.

 

[dannyp02908]

^^ Couldnt have said it better. If you are bored of a fish after a couple months, maybe this isnt the hobby for you. I have yet to find a fish that "bores" me and i have been keeping fish for over 20 years. And some of those fish really just sit there. Or they hide and only come out sometimes. I still dont think they are boring.

 

[CaptainAndy]

Nonsense. If someone wants to sell a fish because they'd prefer to add another one, or even if they get "bored" with a species, how can one imply that this makes the individual less of a hobbiest?

 

[P-Nut]

dont sell your fish. thats what the grill is for. I hear that tangs taste great.

 

[jdeb101]

dont sell your fish. thats what the grill is for. I hear that tangs taste great.

lol!

This thread makes me think though... what is it that makes the fish we keep (or any type of pet) more important than say the fish we catch and eat and the cows we slaughter? People always argue its unethical to do things like use fish to cycle a tank and the such, but I bet you at least 75% of those ppl are not vegetarian, own something with leather, etc. (jarradsanborn dont take this as a personal attack on you).

Don't get me wrong, I too end up falling in love and caring for all the living things in my tank as anyone does with their own pets. I got my clownfish 5 years or so ago when I first started this hobby and have come to the conclusion no other fish lasts in my tank (with the exception of my clown goby that can hide in small nooks & crannies) because he probably bullies them when I'm not looking. People that see my tank always say I need to add more fish, and I would love to, but just can't bring myself to get rid of my clown. LOL