Ready to restock, with a conscience.

After crashing during this summer I'm ready to restock some corals, but I'm avoiding going back to the LFS ... I've been researching the place I got most my stuff from and they have been busted for poaching many a time. There's a great place nearby that carries aquacultured stock, but it's $75 for a 1" frag as opposed to $20 for a 6" frag.

Anyone out there who is willing to sell frags? I don't want to buy wild caught stock anymore, and I'd rather get it from the Good Peeps here.

 

See if there's a local marine club out there. THe one here in Dallas has frag swaps every 3 months or you can post and buy things from the message board anytime.

 

Sadly the SF bay area doesn't seem to have many reef clubs. I think it's due to the ready availability of stock. The one club I found (in the East Bay) hasn't replied to my membership request so...

 

I want to know exactly how a LFS was poaching when they are located no where near a tropical reef?

 

They have been busted for buying endangered turtles from China, corals from Australia, and selling invasive Caulerpa. all involved fines, but did not result in a shutdown.

You're also assuming that oceanic poaching can only occur with tropical corals?

The point is that I would like be a little more responsible about where I spend my money-- I'd prefer to stick with frags from existing systems.

I should also mention that I asked employees at the shop about their import practices, and they were dismissive. "Yeah, well whatever... we just get whatever from the suppliers and don't ask too many questions." or "Don't ask, don't tell" and "It's cheaper than captive bred."