$$ -The Shrimp Index - USA vs Australia vs The World

Hey ;D
So i've been wanting to buy a cleaner shrimp for a while and have been holding off for various reasons, the main one being cost. In Australia a single medium sized cleaner shrimp costs $125 (thats the cheapest ive ever seen it here). Thats about $100 US dollars or 72 euro or 62 english pounds.

I just assumed this was the common cost of cleaner shrimp worldwide... than i saw what i think is the price of a cleaner shrimp in the U.S. and it appears to be 1/5 of the price!!! what the???!!!! Can anyone confirm pls?

I must be missing something correct???

There is a thing called the Big Mac index, its a list of how much a big mac costs in each country. I'd like to know the same concerning cleaner shrimp, so please feel free to reply if your in the USA (most of you) and especially if u happen to be from other countries.
Does anyone happen to know why the price difference btw?

Cleaner shrimp price index in U.S. dollars:
USA - (to be confirmed)
Australia - $100 approx
England - (to be confirmed)
Other european countries - (to be confirmed)
Asia - (to be confirmed)
Middle east - (to be confirmed)
Anyone i missed - (i require a geography lesson)

 

Here (in the US) a cleaner goes anywhere from $10-$20. I would say about $14 or $15 being average.
I don't have, nor probably will have, a single specimen that cost $125 in my tank, let alone a shrimp. That's asinine!

 

Omg - i just called my LFS and asked the price of a cleaner shrimp and he quoted me between $150 - $180 depending on size. Thats between $120 US - $145 US !!!!

I than asked him why the price difference and he said every thing is cheaper in the US. Surprising, since australia is one big island and I live practically on the beach. So now i am really really curious...

What do u pay for an adult clown?
What do u pay for a blue yellow tale damsel?
What do u pay for a fire goby?
What do u pay for a pair of adult yellow forcipers butterfly fish?
What do u pay for a baby valentini puffer?
(these just happen to be my tank inhabitants, but feel free to add prices for other fish and join in my pity party )

Im too scared to ask about corals. The cost of a small blue clam is over $240 US dollars in Australia.

 

small blue maximas run about $30 here
my strawberry p. was $12.00
adult false perc $20.00
electric blue damsel $3.00

 

Adult clown: Depends on what kind. For the typical false or true percs, around $20-$30, usually on the lower end of that scale. Sometimes cheaper.
Blue yellow damsel? I am guessing we mean the yellow tails? Around $4-$5 on average. Most offer discounts if buying more than one. I payed $4.50 for the one to cycle my tank.
Fire goby: regular around $15. For a purple around $25-$30
Not sure on the other fish.

 

Cleaner shrimp in the UK is about 16 GBP.

I dont understand why in Aus, where they are so easily accessible - a cleaner shrimp would cost that much money!

 

I have heard this a few times, with AUS concerning AUS species. I would imagine there has to be some kind of tax or fee concerning local species.
Just a guess though

 

You do realize my jaw is quite literally on the floor right now. The color has drained from my face and I feel like I just might pass out. The only thing keeping me conscious is the fear that I might choke on my own vomit.

I am almost at a loss for words. I will definitely be sleeping in the fetal position tonight.

yellow tales - in australia $15, in the states $4
black/chocolate clown adult - in australia $65, in the states $25
regular fire goby - in australia $28, in the states $15
small blue maxima clam - in australia $240, in the states $30
cleaner shrimp - in australia $120, in the states $20
baby valentini puffer - in australia $28, in the states ___(guess, $10)
pair forceps butterfly - in australia $110, in the states ____(guess, $35)

So basically, if we owned the same tank and the only difference being you lived in the US and I lived in Australia, with these fish and hypothetically if we bought a cleaner shrimp and a clam...

It would cost you $139 and it would cost me $606

Can you contemplate how I feel right at this moment? ROFL

 

Hahaha. Actually, today in fact, I was at some LFS's. I was contemplating getting another cleaner shrimp. They had them for $17.99. I passed, too expensive for them.

 

Well imagine me... Im reading posts like "I have a cleaner shrimp, one of the cleaner shrimp has disappeared but i couldnt be bothered to move the rock and find it". My thoughts would be to buy an x-ray machine cause it will be cheaper than replacing the shrimp... but now i get it. You guys live in saltwater paradise and when you say "saltwater is an expensive hobby" you actually mean compared to collecting paper clips.

PS: for the kids out there with your 100gal fully stocked coral reefs, im sorry for thinking ur spoiled rich kids
PPS: for all of you with multiple tanks in various rooms, im sorry for thinking u were a drug dealer
and finally....

Dear Local LFS,

Ive always considered myself a monogamist but today i realized you've been ****** me for quite a long time now. Unfortunately im a reef addict so im not going to ask you to stop but could you at least have a chat to my partner for me and let them know that they arent the only ones getting ***** in this relationship.

Best regards.