• Skip to main content
AlgaeBarn

AlgaeBarn

Marine Aquariums Made Easy!

  • Sign In
  • Cart
    • Shop See All
      • Ultimate Packs See All
      • Ultimate Refugium Starter
      • Clam Keeper Kits
      • Ultimate Ecopack
      • Mandarin Feeder Kit
      • Hair Algae Killer Kit
      • See All Ultimate Packs
      • Live Foods See All
      • Copepods
        • Ecopods
        • 5280 Pods
        • Galaxy Pods
        • Poseidon's Feast
        • Tisbe Pods
        • Tig Pods
      • Food Combos
        • Ecopods & Phyto
        • Galaxy Pods & Phyto
        • Poseidon's & Phyto
        • Tig Pods & Phyto
        • Tisbe Pods & Phyto
      • Phytoplankton
        • Oceanmagik
      • Brine Shrimp
        • Simple Brine
        • Nano Brine Shrimp
      • Most Popular Products See All
        • Galaxy Pods 5 Species Copepod Blend

          Galaxy Pods

          $66 – $139
          Shop Now
        • Ecopods 4 Pack Special

          $99
          Shop Now
        • Galaxy Pods & Phyto Combo

          $80
          Shop Now
        • 5280 Pods

          $45
          Shop Now
      • Macroalgae See All
      • Clean Macro Series
        • Clean Chaeto
        • Clean Sea Lettuce
        • Clean Green Ogo
        • Clean Mocha Ogo
        • Clean Mocha Spike Sphere
        • Pom Pom
        • Red Ogo
        • Red Spike Sphere
        • Red Spaghetti
        • Red Mangrove
      • Premium Rare Macro
        • Leafy Ogo
        • Blue Hypnea
        • Dragon's Tongue
        • Thick Ogo
      • Most Popular Products See All
        • Clean Chaeto

          $40 – $125
          Notify Me When in Stock
        • Clean Sea Lettuce

          $30 – $95
          Notify Me When in Stock
        • Red Ogo

          $30 – $80
          Notify Me When in Stock
        • Red Mangrove

          $13
          Shop Now
      • Captive Bred Fish See All
      • Gobies
        • Green Mandarin
        • Court Jester Goby
        • Watchman Goby
        • White Spotted Goby
      • AngelFish
        • Biota Coral Beauty
        • Maculosus Angel
        • Majestic Angel
        • Swallowtail Angel
      • Tangs
        • Yellow Tang
        • Blue Tang
      • More Species
        • Grammas
        • FileFish
        • Blennies
        • Damsel
        • ClownFish
        • RabbitFish
      • Most Popular Products See All
        • Blue Mandarin

          BIOTA Green Mandarin

          $99
          Notify Me When in Stock
        • ORA Neon Goby

          $35
          Shop Now
        • Captive Bred Yellow Tangs by BIOTA

          BIOTA Yellow Tang

          $239
          Notify Me When in Stock
        • ORA Premium Picasso

          $145 – $300
          Shop Now
      • Captive Bred Invertebrates See All
      • Clams
        • Ora Derasa Clam
        • Squamosa Clam
        • Ora Gigas Clam
        • Ora Maxima Clam
        • Ora Hippopus Clam
      • Shrimp
        • Ora Peppermint Shrimp
        • Harlequin Shrimp
      • Snails
        • Cerith Snails
        • Trochus Snail
        • Nassarius Snails
      • Urchins
        • Ora Tuxedo Urchin
        • Ora Pincushion Urchin
      • Most Popular Products See All
        • Animated gif of peppermint shrimp

          Peppermint Shrimp

          $49 – $119
          Shop Now
        • 10 Cerith Snails

          Cerith Snail

          $25 – $39
          Shop Now
        • pincushion urchin lytechinus variegatus reef safe and captive bred by ora for sale at algaebarn

          Pincushion Urchin

          $29 – $55
          Shop Now
        • Gold Maxima Clam Bed

          ORA Maxima Clam

          $80 – $150
          Shop Now
      • Corals See All
      • LPS Corals
        • Biota Pearl Bubble
        • ORA Pearl Bubble
        • ORA Marshall Island Goniopora
        • ORA Marshall Island Hammer
      • SPS Corals
        • ORA Pearlberry Acropora
        • ORA Micronesian Imperial Acropora
        • ORA Turquoise Acropora
        • ORA Micronesian Yellow Porites
      • Soft Corals
        • BIOTA White Polyp Toadstool
        • ORA Long Polyp Leather Coral
        • ORA Silver Xenia
        • ORA Pulsing Xenia
      • Frag Packs
      • Most Popular Products See All
        • Biota Pearl Bubble Coral

          $65
          Shop Now
        • ORA Pearlberry Acropora

          $290
          Notify Me When in Stock
        • BIOTA White Polyp Toadstool

          $65
          Notify Me When in Stock
      • Additives & Bacteria See All
      • Live Cultures & Bacteria
        • Turbostart 900 Saltwater
        • Aquarium Cycle Kit
        • Coralline Algae
        • PNS Yellosno
        • PNS Probio™
      • Additives & Chemicals
        • Nitrocycle
        • Clarifier
        • Fritz A.C.C.R
        • Fritz RPM Salt
      • Most Popular Products See All
        • Mandarin Feeder Kit by Algaebarn

          Mandarin Feeder Kit

          $66
          Shop Now
        • MarinePure 10 Cubes

          2″ Cubes

          $5 – $99
          Shop Now
        • Coralline Algae in a Bottle, In Pink or Purple!

          Coralline Algae

          $22 – $44
          Shop Now
        • Ultimate Refugium Starter Pack

          $120 – $450
          Shop Now
      • Aquarium Supplies See All
      • Fuge Lighting
        • AI Fuge 16HD Light
        • Kessil A360X Fuge Light
        • Kessil H160
        • Kessil H80
        • Chaetomax
      • Biomedia
        • Marinepure Gems
        • Marinepure Rocks
        • Marinepure Plate
        • Marinepure Cubes
        • Marinepure Spheres
      • Foods
        • Dragon Roe
        • Simple Brine
        • Can'O Cyclops
        • Benereef™
        • Fresco Cyclops
      • Rock & Sand
        • Dry Rock
        • Clam Rocks
      • Most Popular Products See All
        • Mandarin Feeder Kit by Algaebarn

          Mandarin Feeder Kit

          $66
          Shop Now
        • MarinePure 10 Cubes

          2″ Cubes

          $5 – $99
          Shop Now
        • Coralline Algae in a Bottle, In Pink or Purple!

          Coralline Algae

          $22 – $44
          Shop Now
        • Ultimate Refugium Starter Pack

          $120 – $450
          Shop Now
      • CADE Aquariums See All
      • Reef Series
        • CADE REEF 500 S2
        • CADE REEF 600 S2
        • CADE REEF 900 S2
        • CADE REEF 1200 S2
        • CADE REEF 1500 S2
        • CADE REEF 1800 S2
        • CADE REEF 2100 S2
      • Frag Series
        • CADE Frag 600 S2/F
        • CADE Frag 900 S2/F
        • CADE Frag 1200 S2/F
        • CADE Frag 1500 S2/F
      • Peninsula Series
        • CADE Peninsula 1200 S2/P
        • CADE Peninsula 1500 S2/P
        • CADE Peninsula 1800 S2/P
      • Most Popular Products See All
        • CADE REEF 2100 S2

          $7,225
          Shop Now
        • CADE Peninsula 1500 S2/P

          $5,525
          Shop Now
        • CADE REEF 1200 S2

          $4,125
          Shop Now
        • CADE Frag 900 S2/F

          $3,275
          Shop Now
    • Contests Win Free Aquarium Supplies!
      No Purchase Necessary*
    • Top Deals Huge Savings!
    • AlgaeBarn Heroes Discount for Military,
      First Responders and more!
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact
  • Shipping
You are here: Home / Corals / 3 Most Expensive Corals
A beautiful Home Reef Aquarium

3 Most Expensive Corals

by Kali Nunez

For people that are new to this hobby, it is sometimes hard to grasp just how expensive certain corals can be. In this article I will be discussing the most expensive corals (well, corallimorpharians and zoanthids, to be technical) and the reasoning behind the price. Most of the time, the price is due to high demand and low stock. It could either be because not many individuals of the species have been brought into captivity or because of highly unusual or attractive coloration/pattern.

If you plan on purchasing any of these high-end expensive corals, make sure you are not placing them in a newly established aquarium. None of these are for beginners and usually are only recommended for experienced hobbyists due to the high cost and risk you are taking with purchasing them. Most of the time, you will only be able to purchase these specific corals online, so consider the stress of shipping, and remember to acclimate them properly. When purchasing any coral it is important to research proper acclimating methods for that specific coral. It is sometimes a great idea to dip new corals to prevent any pests from entering your aquarium. It doesn’t matter how much you may trust the person you are receiving the coral from; accidents happen and even the cleanest aquariums could have one pest that wasn’t spotted!

When purchasing such high-end expensive corals, you want to make sure you cover all areas when it comes to making it comfortable in its new tank. It is never a bad idea to ask the seller what their parameters are in their tank including salinity and even PAR levels. Ask how much lighting the coral was receiving, where it was placed, was it in high or low flow… These are all reasonable questions that any seller should be happy to answer for you to ensure the health of their corals. Even asking what types of lights they run can make a big difference in transitioning. If they were running a mixture of T5’s and LEDs and you just have LEDs, it may be an adjustment for the coral and it may not be completely happy the first few days. Even the smallest of changes can affect these sensitive corals!

Purple monster jawbreaker

Sps Corals are often extremely expensive!This first example happens to be the world’s first when it comes to price. The purple monster jawbreaker mushroom coral can sell at a whopping $10,000. As shocking as that may sound, once you see just how beautiful this mushroom is, the price starts to make a little more sense.  However, this mushroom will not always be $10,000. Since this jawbreaker morph is the first, that makes the first one sold the most expensive one. Once more people get a hold of this mushroom and successfully have it reproduce, the price will slowly come down. Pricing on coral fluctuates nonstop; it may not ever be a $50 mushroom, but as more people begin to have it which makes it more readily available, the price will come down. 

These mushrooms are mainly red, with green, yellow, and purple streaks all across it. No two will ever look the same, which is what is unique about the patterns of these mushrooms. So even if that first one is successfully propagated, the offspring will not look exactly the same as the parent. It will have the same basic coloration, but the pattern and placement of the colors will be different.

WWC bounce

This next example is a mushroom as well, and is still one of the most prized mushrooms that a hobbyist can obtain. A well-known and rather expensive coral, the WWC bounce mushroom was one of the first of its kind and in 2015 one single mushroom sold for $6,000 at Reefapalooza. This bounce mushroom has bright yellow and orange bubbles across the top of it with a blue and purple body and skirt. Many people will call this the “OG bounce” due to it being the first of its kind. Even today, these mushrooms are sold at $400-$800 a piece depending on the size and the amount of bubbles. 

There are now many types of bounce mushrooms and they are considered the most expensive and sought after mushrooms in the industry alongside the jawbreaker mushroom. Luckily, mushrooms are fairly easy to care for. Sometimes it takes them a long time to reproduce; however, once they do, it seems like they really take off and start popping out progeny. Some people have their bounce mushrooms for years, and they just continue to grow larger and larger without ever reproducing or splitting. This may also contribute to the high cost of these mushrooms (however, there are ways around this and people have found methods that help their mushrooms split off much faster).

Grand master krak

It takes years to develop a home aquarium this full of lifeThe next coral sold for $2,000 for a single polyp. The grandmaster Krak zoanthid is by far one of the most expensive corals for its size. A single polyp can max out at the size of a dime–and usually, you will not be purchasing them at this size. The grandmaster Krak has gold and green striped skirts with a red and purple/blue speckled mouth. It is hard to rationalize such a small coral for that size, but as someone who has gotten the pleasure to see one of these in person, the price makes sense. They stick out like a sore thumb in your aquarium as they are so radiant and glow from across the room. The unfortunate thing with these zoas is their sensitivity.

While most zoanthids are fairly hardy and forgiving, the GMK is not. This zoanthid offers stunning coloration but can be difficult to keep alive in the aquarium. It requires pristine water conditions with no swings of any sort. Many people have told horror stories about purchasing these zoas and having them just slowly melt and die in their aquarium. The sad truth is, this is just part of the hobby; you will buy some corals, you will lose some corals!

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Posts

How Macroalgae Benefits Coral

Many hobbyists are constantly looking for ways to increase the health and vitality of their corals. There are many obvious ways to achieve better

Read More about How Macroalgae Benefits Coral

CADE Aquariums: Reef vs. Peninsula

Are you in the research and comparison stage of choosing a new system? Has your reef outgrown it's current home? If you’re just in the market to for a

Read More about CADE Aquariums: Reef vs. Peninsula

A Beginner’s Guide: How Reef Fish Balance the Ecosystem

Reef fish, whether they are predators or grazers, play a huge part in maintaining the balance of the coral reef ecosystem. Coral reefs that are healthy

Read More about A Beginner’s Guide: How Reef Fish Balance the Ecosystem

Didn't find what you were looking for?

Browse the AlgaeLab by Category

  • Advanced Education
  • Beginners Education
  • CADE Aquariums
  • Captive Bred Fish
  • Clean Up Crew
  • Company News
  • Copepods
  • Corals
  • Freshwater
  • Freshwater Aquariums
  • Intermediate Education
  • Invertebrates
  • Live foods
  • Macroalgae
  • Our Oceans
  • Phytoplankton
  • Product Info
  • Refugium Education
  • Rock and Substrate
  • Saltwater Aquariums
  • Wholesale

Company

  • About Us
  • The AlgaeLab Blog
  • Our Team
  • Careers
  • FAQ

Get in Touch

  • Contact Us
  • AOA Claim Form
  • Press Inquiries
  • Call Us: 772-444-7637

Policies

  • Legendary AOA Guarantee
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Other

  • Store Locator
  • Wholesale & B2B inquired
  • Business Location

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Join our mission to build a more sustainable aquarium hobby, one tank at a time!

Copyright 2023, AlgaeBarn LLC - Live Copepods and Phytoplankton

0

Your Cart is Empty

adroll_adv_id = "RWFLKG57L5GR7KGYSOEUOK"; adroll_pix_id = "CH2QRUFHXZELLLCMHAB5GI"; adroll_version = "2.0"; adroll_current_page = "other"; adroll_currency = "USD"; adroll_language = "en_US";