A Guide to Collector's Coral Types and Value | How to Identify Rare Corals and Tips for Purchasing
We explain the representative species of expensive collector's corals (rare corals) and how their value is determined. We introduce key points for identifying premium specimens of zoanthids, acropora, and mushroom corals.
Key Takeaways
We explain the representative species of expensive collector's corals (rare corals) and how their value is determined. We introduce key points for identifying premium specimens of zoanthids, acropora, and mushroom corals.
In the world of reef tank enthusiasts, there exist specimens called "collector's corals" or "rare corals" that stand apart from ordinary corals. These corals, with their rare colors, patterns, and fluorescent coloration, are sometimes traded at prices ranging from a few thousand yen to tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of yen or more. In this article, we explain in an easy-to-understand manner the background of why collector's corals exist, representative types, and how to assess their value.
Why Are "Collector's Corals" Created?
The four main factors that determine the value of a coral are color, fluorescent coloration, growth form, and availability in the market. Even within the same species, specimens that glow in vivid green or red under UV light become significantly rarer than normal-colored specimens.
Since corals are distributed through repeated propagation (fragmentation), the fewer original specimens (mother colonies) there are to begin with, the more the fragments retain their rarity value. Additionally, named "collector's clones" whose origin (source, collector, colony ID) can be traced command higher prices due to increased credibility.
Representative Collector's Corals
Zoanthids & Palythoa
Zoanthids are the group with the most developed collector's coral market. Representative collector's varieties include the following.
Pink Diamond: Characterized by a vibrant pink skirt with a silver-white center. It fluoresces strongly under UV light. Armageddon: Popular for its reddish skirt paired with a bright yellow center. Rainbow Infusion: A rare specimen with multiple color gradations in a single polyp. Even within the same colony, the coloration is not uniform, making it a high-priced variety.
Acropora
Even among Acropora, the king of SPS, rare-colored specimens command high prices. Specimens named by renowned farms such as ORA (Oceans, Reefs & Aquariums) and WWC (World Wide Corals) can cost tens of thousands of yen or more even as fragments. Specimens with tip colors (the color at the branch tips) of neon yellow, purple, or pink are especially popular. The fact that their coloration fades without maintaining stable water quality is also a factor in their rarity.
