My Most Expensive Goldfish Cost Me... Options

[Allan]

Boring Monday.... just read a post where a thai bred Tosakin (unknown size) costs $150.

Then lurk around another site's trading forum and noticed people seem to pay quite a bit for their goldfish, especially Ranchu.

So I'm curious to know how much did you pay for your most expensive goldfish.

My most expendive goldfish, a sideview ranchu, cost me $60 before discount and it's one in the academy. .

[peter porker]

I feel that prices today cannot be compared to prices a year ago. A year ago, I paid $55 for a SV fish which after one year of 'researching' the market, would have fetched at least $100 now. Its a demand supply situation. The goldfish market, in particular the ranchu market, is picking up again and LFS are pricing their fish accordingly.

A few months ago, I said in AF that I would not pay more than $60 for a fish but egstring warned me not to say too early and true enough, my most ex fish to date cost me exactly 100 bucks.

[The Matrix]

I feel that prices today cannot be compared to prices a year ago. A year ago, I paid $55 for a SV fish which after one year of 'researching' the market, would have fetched at least $100 now. Its a demand supply situation. The goldfish market, in particular the ranchu market, is picking up again and LFS are pricing their fish accordingly.

A few months ago, I said in AF that I would not pay more than $60 for a fish but egstring warned me not to say too early and true enough, my most ex fish to date cost me exactly 100 bucks.

Depends hor. Not every types of goldfish with such high appreciation value. Some of the varieties are still low in cost yet in strong demand in various part of the world.

kekeke dun say so early hor, pretty soon you will upgrade even higher pricing fish.

Allan, you din state TV or SV for Ranchu, so hor, those people who love top view will exceed the highest range u set, a min of S$1500 to a >10K will be good for TV fish.

[GF Lover]

I noticed that Thai SVR are getting more and more expensive. I som instance even more expensive than Thai TVR.

[desireless]

I noticed that Thai SVR are getting more and more expensive. I som instance even more expensive than Thai TVR.

That's the problem with a certain type of commodity getting too popular and the suppliers/sellers jetting up the price. A shift in demand and supply curve shift the price -- in simple terms "spoiling the market".

Everyone started diving into ranchu about a year ago. Some uninformed LFS owners still don't know the difference between TVR and SVR. Then they wonder why some LFS (selling TVR) can sell their ranchu at such premium price, and they start scaling up price of their SVR. They think they are smart.... "That other LFS (the TVR shop) sell at $200 for a baby fish, I sell only $50 for this 4-incher! Cheap hor? " Soon every other LFS uncles followed. 4 inchers used to be $20 back then, is now $50.

"Ranchu good to sell... cost price $10 nia... but can sell $50! "

Then the main suppliers (from THAT country) drool at the hugh increase in demand in SG. May it be due to their own decreasing stock and hence more pricey, or they purposely raise cost to catch the trend before it dies, they join in the fun by jetting up cost. Cost goes up, price of course go higher up. The $50 ranchu then can be priced at $80 or $100.

Because of this trend, again the SG LFS had to come up with better business strategy. As this is the China-fish season now, the local LFS will now have a cheaper source. But they sold before a Thai ranchu at say $100, so although the chinese fish is a lot cheaper, won't the profit margin be higher if they sell at the thai-fish price? He's probably thinking "Wah I so smart... I can't even differentiate between Thai and Chinese fish, so how many customers actually can?" The market being already spoilt by Thai ranchus, the chinese ranchus are no longer "cheapo" ranchus like their cousins one, two yrs ago.

So we have been led by the nose by our very own demand for ranchus. The LFS owners just play along. The supplier seeing the demand in SG is so hugh, will soon hop in the wagon too.

So how to solve this problem? Stop buying fish? Let the market cool down? This would require a mass "protest to buy" but is this possible in Singapore? So just sit back and wait to be slaughtered willingly lor...

[Jos Nana]

If you are talking about true high quality stuff normally in small quatity, there is no price cap. 6" Oranda Aquarama grand champion quality and line can sell at S$ 800.00 or more. And they are sold in a snap.

If you are talking about fishes coming in batches. More often as much as 80% are laylong off or died. The only sellable ones are 10 to 20%. If you are spotted buying a fish from a LFS which has new arrivals, the public will say : Aiya good one let RafflesGold members buy liao. Nothing good left !

In this market, quality of fish decide the market, not quantity.

[peter porker]

Depends hor. Not every types of goldfish with such high appreciation value. Some of the varieties are still low in cost yet in strong demand in various part of the world.

kekeke dun say so early hor, pretty soon you will upgrade even higher pricing fish.

Allan, you din state TV or SV for Ranchu, so hor, those people who love top view will exceed the highest range u set, a min of S$1500 to a >10K will be good for TV fish.

that is true..

[The Matrix]

That's the problem with a certain type of commodity getting too popular and the suppliers/sellers jetting up the price. A shift in demand and supply curve shift the price -- in simple terms "spoiling the market".

At least 1 thing very sure, no uncles, aunties becos of feng shui or kenna 4D from buying ranchu !! hahahahaha. Not easy to see numbers from those red patches leh. Lucky heng heng, goldfish not as easy to breed or keep as louhan. If not Aro keeper cannot find feeder goldfish liao. Every fries also japan bloodline one u know.

No choice one lah. It's WW demand in ranchu. With so many people buying, then more fun mah. Look at those competition, 50% of the entries are ranchu. Winning in such race means deep pocket to get the best of the best of the best (will smith said that). Actually last year Aquarama 40% are ryukins !!! Becos last year one hell of ryukin imports.

I buy butterfly better, noone disturb and cheap cheap few bucks only. Also top view mah ... shiok

[CP]

First I started with $5 ranchus.When see $20 ones tell myself, 'Must be SIOW to pay 20 bucks for a fish.'
One day finally buy a $20 ranchu.Put in tank and found out that every day look at the $20 ranchu ignoring the rest.So how?All other $5 ones give friends,and in no time the tank full of $20 dollar ranchus.
The cycle continues from 20 to 50,then 80, then 200.
So I told myself,200 is the MAX I will pay for a ranchu.
And today? Got 250,280.... and it seems that the cycle is not stopping either.
And it is sideview ranchus I am talking about.

KNN, leow see peh choi lui!

Now I am in the process of ridding the 200 ones and spend my time (no hurry) looking for even more tokkong ones.You cannot just walk into LFS to buy, need contacts to get for you.
Better to have two 1k showgrades than ten 200 ones.

I hope this time the cycle ends.......

p/s - The most satisfaction one can get is to spot a cheap one,then groom into one where people say - Wah lau - this fish must have cost you $---!!And so far I have only had one!

[white horse T1]

Now I am in the process of ridding the 200 ones and spend my time (no hurry) looking for even more tokkong ones.You cannot just walk into LFS to buy, need contacts to get for you.
Better to have two 1k showgrades than ten 200 ones.

I hope this time the cycle ends.......

p/s - The most satisfaction one can get is to spot a cheap one,then groom into one where people say - Wah lau - this fish must have cost you $---!!And so far I have only had one!

on the contrary, i ve own before those tt cost me $120. now i no longer "lust" after those with AAA grade or show grade and high price tag. only go for ordinary ones that hopefully will be a gem one day.

[Allan]

Wow... I wasn't expecting such active participation in the poll, and the tremendous amount of insights you guys are sharing. Good job!

Matrix, I didn't have a specific variety of goldfish in mind but I knew ranchu will be the most popular. In this light, I have actually put in the more than $500 ranges for top-view ranchus, and to me the above $1,000 choice is for Japanese ranchu, which I didn't expect many to own. However, as it is now, two members did spend more then one grand for a goldfish. Too bad we don't know what kind of goldfish those two are. They may be decent Japanese Ranchus.... from true blue Japanese breeders or just seriously over-prized side view ranchu from somewhere over the rainbow. Ha ha.

In any case, I wonder how an arowana keeper would react when he read us complaining about our pet costing in the hundreds when his pet, bred in sungei tengah, can easily costs a five figures sum!

[Seacucumber]

for myself, i wont let the price determine how good the fish is....
in my case, at this moment, $120 is the most i paid for a ranchu.....

p.s.I am blessed with super bargaining power and black magic

[domho7]

for myself, i wont let the price determine how good the fish is....
in my case, at this moment, $120 is the most i paid for a ranchu.....

p.s.I am blessed with super bargaining power and black magic

Wah bro u richie rich boy, S$120 can tahan me lunch for 3weeks ah!!!

[Seacucumber]

Wah bro u richie rich boy, S$120 can tahan me lunch for 3weeks ah!!!

wah piang....u read from the beginning or the thread, people are paying $200 +++ liao wor....

[GF Lover]

Just like the price of eggs. When the "Bird flu" strikes, local eggs suddenly increase 5 times. Surely cost ramain the same. Why local farmer increase price by so much. In actual fact the cosrt of feed for the chicken actually drop because leser chichen to feed. Demand for feed drop. Why still increase the eggs price?

That is why even Australian eggs are more expensive than local, I still buys them now.