Why Are Some Corys More Expensive Than Others?

[Spishkey]

looking around a few lfs's for corys and cant believe how much prices vary! i have a group of 6 sterbai and was wondering about getting some more females (have 1 female to 5 males!!). had to travel over 40km to find some then nearly died when i saw the price, nearly €15 per fish!! ( about £8-£9 i believe!) yet albinos, peppereds etc were just €2-3 each (about £1.50!!)


is this normal? am beginning to think i should save the fry from the sterbai now and sell them!!

 

[The-Wolf]

it all depends on where exactly they are found in the Amazon, some are in tributaries
that are only accessible at certain times of the year, this would make them more expensive
to gather and thus more expensive to buy

 

[mike os]

additionally some are more difficult to breed, have smaller clutches and grow more slowly....all puts the price up

 

[jollysue]

For some reason the price on sterbai seems to have gone up in the last year or so. I assume it is demand.

The viability and hatch % on my sterbai seems to be low. So maybe that affects others too.

Aeneus are rabbits and the offspring are hardy so they are easy to get. Peppers are next I think, they spawn easily but mine need help to get offspring raised.

Some species don't breed in the aquarium at all yet and some are very difficult.

As far as lfs prices are concerned, lots of variables: quality, source, upkeep, staffing, real estate, turn over

 

[lilfishie]

my LFS has only just started getting cories, currently they have albinos, bronze and panda's for £3.10