View Full Version : Elegance Corals
After reading a number of threads & searching the web about Elegance corals, I can't seem to find a definative answer as to whether or not they are available to buy in the UK.
Can anyone shed any light?
If I manage to track one down via my LFS - Would I get into any bother?
Someone I know in the trade says they are available subject to permits, but they cost an arm & a leg.
If I manage to get one what should I expect to pay?
Thanks for your thoughts! :D
Catalaphyllia jardinei are not available as they have been banned due to CITES.
My understanding they are still on the CITES list here in the UK and as such not available to import into the UK, which is where in my opinion the problem lies as whats on CITES in one country isnt in another. So they may well be available in other parts of Europe and some LFS may try to get them into the country that way but id steer clear of these retailers personally.
Gary
if you do find one you will have to get the CITES paper work with it, unless you get one of some one who has for over 5 years.
i forgot to add that all hard corals are CITES listed but only some have been put on the banned list.
Catalaphyllia jardinei are not available as they have been banned due to CITES.
This is not true, a limited amount can be imported from Fiji or something like that, but they are very rare and yes you should be able to see the cites paperwork.
yes this is true but when you do see legal ones they are silly money. i was told by several wholsalers that at present this species is not available in the u.k.
Interesting thoughts!!
Thanks!
So generally speaking it would be important to get the cities paperwork from a retailer. What is the paperwork?
I've heard that Swallow aquatics has recently sold them without paperwork?:confused: ?
If bought from a hobbyist is it just word of mouth that they've had it for 5 yrs?
blackhawk, why bother... these beatiful corals rarely do well in captivity, there are many other corals that are just as beautiful avalable to you..
Interesting thoughts!!
Thanks!
So generally speaking it would be important to get the cities paperwork from a retailer. What is the paperwork?
I've heard that Swallow aquatics has recently sold them without paperwork?:confused: ?
If bought from a hobbyist is it just word of mouth that they've had it for 5 yrs?
It's up to the exporter and importer to have the right paperwork , not you , if the LFS has bought through a wholesaler / importer they don't need any paperwork either.
Don't worry , CITES don't have men in black coats that are going to knock down your door in the middle of the night.;)
If your going to buy one get one that's been in someone's tank for a long time , the imported ones at the moment are doomed !
they are available but not very often, i see them priced around £140 but imho they very rarely last in captivity
wayne in norway
06-09-06, 08:36
Cataphyllia, like all scleractinians are restricted in volume traded by CITES. That has precisely zero to do with why you can't buy them. As they have such an appalling success rate in captivity nowadays the EU have put them on a separate list of organisms that can't be imported normally into the EU. Nothing to do with CITES. I can buy them very often as I am not in a full EU country.
Not a reef coral anyway ..... http://www.wetwebmedia.com/elegance.htm
Lucky Eddie
06-09-06, 08:52
I've heard that Swallow aquatics has recently sold them without paperwork?:confused: ?
This is totally untrue. You should thoroughly check your sources before making this type of accusation.
As Wayne in Norway says, Cats are not banned under CITES. Their trade is CONTROLLED under CITES. However, the import of Cats is now banned by the EU.
The Cats you mentioned were fully licensed under CITES.........who actually issued the license in ignorance of the EU ban.
Like any coral purchase - always do some research into its care and requirements before purchasing. I know of someone who has had a cat in their system for a number of years and is doing extremely well. A few years ago SPS were thought of being difficult to keep alive for long periods - as we all now know its relatively straight fwd providing you provide the care and requirements. Cats are no different to other LPS in this family group - just ensure you do your research and buy the best example you can. However, with Cats, its unlikely that many will be available and if they are they tend to cost a fortune.
I've had a space in my tank reserved for this since I first started up and I am looking for one of these. Even set aside some ££ incase one does pop up.
I spoke to Swallow Aquatics, they recieved the Cats by mistake as part of a bulk order. They don't have any more either :(
In case anyone is selling one PM me, cold hard cash waiting :D
Lucy Eddie - Thanks for your comments - But it was true about Swallow.
MaidstoneMarine
07-09-06, 00:06
Just thought I'd throw a couple of pictures up of mine. It's been in my tank now for good few months and seems to be doing well. I've got it positioned on the rock work partly in the shade and with the majority of flow coming from the behind or side. It didn't look happy when the flow was full in it's face!
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q1/chriscarlton_web__cat_1.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q1/chriscarlton_web__cat_closeup.jpg
I'm not going say where it came from or for how much it cost - sorry - needless to say it didn't come from someones tank but I hope you like anyway!
MaidstoneMarine
07-09-06, 07:58
show off :D
I'm shocked :eek: how dare you! Moi, a show off? Never! I guess it must be a big tank owner thing!!
But... if you must know it's bigger now than when I took those pictures but seeing as they were already online it was easier to use those and save the UR server space!! What a considerate UR member I am :D
At the beginning of the year Swallow aquatics had at least 20 of these for sale at it's various prices from £72 to £99 less a 10% members discount (which costs £5). They were on open sale for at least a month and it was mentioned at the time on UR that they did have permits (according to swallow.... but they were probably issued by mistake..or they were issued retrospectively due to import error...who knows).
I know of several people who have these and have had them for several years. They should be easy to look after, if you do not give them too much flow or too much light and you have one that is not already damaged, e.g. by someone trying to frag it.
I suspect that Maidstone marines' example comes from Swallow, but who knows :-) it looks beautiful. (same colour morph as the swallow ones :-).
NB: Once they are imported you might as well keep them in the hobby...but weather the importer should be able to keep the profit is another matter (assuming that they were imported by error and received retrospecive permits).
SPS Hoover
07-09-06, 11:12
Nice baby Cat:eek: you have there Maidstone
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q1/DSC04003.jpg
dan-the-man
07-09-06, 11:22
I hate you both! :mad:
:D :p
i think we need to take a hack saw to that one soon its getting way to big Si :D
MaidstoneMarine
07-09-06, 14:46
Nice baby Cat:eek: you have there Maidstone
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q1/DSC04003.jpg
Wow.... now that is nice! Awesome specimen. I'm jealous!
My baby cat is now hoping to grow up like yours has! How long have you had it and what size was it? Any chance of a full tank pic to show where it is in the tank?
Cheers
Chris
ha ha, see chris, can only just fit a kitten in your tank :p
Marc Foord
07-09-06, 15:49
kitten or that big old tabby, either way stunning corals ! :)
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