Coral Frags and what makes them *LE*

[Atomikk]

No worries.

I find it really funny how many stores in the GTA area get the same corals in a 3 week period. Just recently Tonga was a big hit. I found the same montiporas, acroporas, and mushrooms in 5 different stores within that period. What I am getting to is this (in regards to importation of corals from other regions in Canada), eventually most stores get the same types of species. Some might be different in coloration, but for the most part, they will be the same (in GTA or Vancouver, or Illinois). Those who are a part of these shipments, and can see what comes in, would eventually know what is rare or unusual. LE is another way of saying rare or unusual.

You know the reef farmers had to start from somewhere. They too were/are a part of a lot of shipments that are coming into US. So they do have a grasp on what is rare in the hobby.

And, just to be clear, LE is defining corals that are imported and not its rarity in the wild!! I am sure in the wild there is a vast number of its kind. OR, sometimes they are soo deep in the water, that is harder to harvest.

Now there are those people who all they want is top dollar for their corals. Those are the people who wear out the LE stamp. The only thing that you can do, as a buyer, is go by reputation. Buy your LE corals from a reputable seller, and you will know that you are getting a true LE coral.

Originally Posted by Jason McK

Atomikk, I'm sorry I do not mean to put you in the spotlight. But I know Ontario and the GTA is a large Reefing community. But I believe what is rare in TO may not be as rare in other metro areas around Canada or the US. For example we have a wholesaler locally that frequently hand pick coral from Bali, Indo, and Clams from Vietnam. Now his distribution chain probable stretches to Calgary at best. While I'm sure there is a similar wholesaler in Ontario the corals will be different. As well BC reefers have in the past brought several orders up from Ultimate frags or the frag farm. This would introduce different genes to BC area while omitting other regions of Canada.
So who really has the right to Globally declare their piece an LE coral.

Or I guess the better question is. Does LE really mean anything in an international or even national market

J