Expensive $500 Holy Grail Torch Arrived from Vendor Covered in Glue (& worms) What are your thoughts?

[Northern Flicker]

I can't fathom spending $500 on a coral I can't see in person, first. Some of y'all have a lot higher risk tolerance.

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

Looks like it came from some chop shop, utter crap for 500$. Ask for another or a refund, whoever sent that should be ashamed.

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

I can't fathom spending $500 on a coral I can't see in person, first. Some of y'all have a lot higher risk tolerance.

Or 500$ @ all on a coral.

 

[trapphd]

There are two perspectives on this, both valid imo:

1) That is a shambling attempt to provide a coral in that condition to a customer, no matter what price. No seller should feel as though that’s acceptable.

2) Torches are out of control — the market seems beyond distorted and, as a few other posters have already said, $500 is a crazy amount to drop on any coral. I love torches as much as the next person, but the hype is for certain strains is wild.

 

[areefer01]

I think a more accurate reponse would have been to contact the vendor prior to posting here, if that wasn't done. Wait for a response, communicate back if any concerns, then maybe post.

Another thing to note is that the frag is still alive. Is a refund or replacement warranted?

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

I think a more accurate reponse would have been to contact the vendor prior to posting here, if that wasn't done. Wait for a response, communicate back if any concerns, then maybe post.

Another thing to note is that the frag is still alive. Is a refund or replacement warranted?

He hasnt outed the vendor, I dont see a problem with this. Just shows the crap that vendors will put out there, sight unseen.

 

[Dburr1014]

I received a $500 holy grail coral in the mail yesterday. The skeleton was almost completely covered in glue (about 70% of it)

from the bottom all the way up to the top on 2/3 of the skeleton/stalk is covered in a thick layer of frag glue , the 1/3 exposed skeleton that I can see is COMPLETELY covered in spirorbid worms … I know these guys are mostly harmless and can be found in nearly every mature reef , but the amount on the skeleton/stalk is beyond anything I have ever seen on a live coral, completely covered so much that you can barely see the actual skeleton.

*This is where I am most concerned*

Originally the coral opened up , but after about 24 hours is retracted , once it has fully retracted I noticed that the entire rim of the torch head (where the tentacles come out of) is also covered in frag glue , it is difficult to see in these photos here , but someone made a full ring of thick frag glue surrounding the tentacles , all the way around. I can see absolutely no flesh since the glue is covering the entire edge of the head , I can also see where some tentacles seem to have been cut off / from the ring of glue ….

What are your guys thoughts ? Is this acceptable for a $500 single head torch ?

Maybe they glued it to keep the worms from encroaching on the tentacles ? Maybe to hide the non existent flesh ? What are you guys thinking ?

I certainly am not happy to spend $500 on a torch coral and receive this … thinking I will have to call the vendor and ask for either a refund or replacement

1) get some really detailed pics in white light ASAP.
2)email pics and a note(nice note to start) and ask the history of this coral.
3) ask if this is normal business.
4) if #3 is yes, tell them your sending it back and expect a full refund pronto.

 

[Dburr1014]

Also do you think this ring of glue around the head and 2/3 of the skeleton will keep the coral from growing or splitting ? In the photos I took show the front side where it’s not covered in glue , the entire back of the skeleton / head that you cannot see in the photos is covered , I angled it like this in my tank because any other angle you would only see glue and no skeleton , lol …. Smh

No, it will not keep it from growing.
These type of coral build on itself. Growing from up under the head. The flesh, with healthy water parameters, will stay put as it grows giving it an effect looking like the flesh creeps down. If fact, the flesh stays and as the head grows the flesh will lengthen. This happens when it splits also. So no glue will impede it's growth.

 

[mark007]

Where did you buy it？

 

[Dburr1014]

Where did you buy it？

Oh, don't say or this thread will be shut down.

 

[LRT]

I'd love to know how its doing today?

 

[MnFish1]

Unless I missed something, no vendor has been named so there is no vendor for vendor feedback. At this point it seems that the OP was trying to understand what was happening with the frag.

You're correct - however there is talk about emailing, returning, asking for refunds etc. The comment was maybe the vendor will be more likely to 'make it right' - if he/she is named. Of course - thats up to the OP

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

Oh, don't say or this thread will be shut down.

This.

 

[LRT]

Oh, don't say or this thread will be shut down.

I've seen @revhtree move these kind of threads to appropriate vendor forum for feedback but a vendor hasn't been named.
I think it's obvious what happened with this particular frag. I just split a torch frag 3-4 weeks ago and accidentally super glued it with the crack open and it did heal as well as im seeing some noticeable new vertical growth. Not the end of the world in some cases.
Saying that though I'd never ship a $500 cracked torch frag as a reefer. I'd let it heal. As a vendor I'd expect a total loss shipping it cracked. Ethically and from a business prospective I'd never let my product leave my facility like. If not for the total loss of face alone.

I'd love to see the op start a feedback thread in the vendors section of this forum so A. I know who to never buy from and B. I'd like to hear the vendors side and explanation to see what happened.

I've purchased corals from most notable vendors here. They all at least make a noticable attempt to clean up the coral frags. For me that's red flag #1

 

[areefer01]

He hasnt outed the vendor, I dont see a problem with this. Just shows the crap that vendors will put out there, sight unseen.

I'm not saying there is a problem but rather raising other questions. There is no reason for me to sling mud at anyone. My preference, and it is mine, is to work with vendor and go from there. Sometimes as a few noted here one needs to stir the bee's nest which I fully understand and support.

 

[Dburr1014]

I've seen @revhtree move these kind of threads to appropriate vendor forum for feedback but a vendor hasn't been named.
I think it's obvious what happened with this particular frag. I just split a torch frag 3-4 weeks ago and accidentally super glued it with the crack open and it did heal as well as im seeing some noticeable new vertical growth. Not the end of the world in some cases.
Saying that though I'd never ship a $500 cracked torch frag as a reefer. I'd let it heal. As a vendor I'd expect a total loss shipping it cracked. Ethically and from a business prospective I'd never let my product leave my facility like. If not for the total loss of face alone.

I'd love to see the op start a feedback thread in the vendors section of this forum so A. I know who to never buy from and B. I'd like to hear the vendors side and explanation to see what happened.

I've purchased corals from most notable vendors here. They all at least make a noticable attempt to clean up the coral frags. For me that's red flag #1

100% agree.
My comment is strickly to keep this thread open so we can help the OP repair the situation. How that plays out, we don't know. Either a swap, healing of the frag, or something else entirely.

 

[LRT]

100% agree.
My comment is strickly to keep this thread open so we can help the OP repair the situation. How that plays out, we don't know. Either a swap, healing of the frag, or something else entirely.

I agree with you 100%.
As far as I'm concerned nothing has been answered here. This is a forum im sure tons of folks have differing opinions. Besides im only seeing happy, fun and harmless threads being shut down lately So as long as we try not to exceed any kind of fun limits here we should be good lol
The answers that have been given are solid based on what we have observed and experienced ourselves.
Better pictures have been requested.
No vendor has been bashed.
Let's see if thread gets closed.

 

[MnFish1]

100% agree.
My comment is strickly to keep this thread open so we can help the OP repair the situation. How that plays out, we don't know. Either a swap, healing of the frag, or something else entirely.

No problem with this philosophy - but isn't that what the vendor feedback forum is for?

 

[LRT]

No problem with this philosophy - but isn't that what the vendor feedback forum is for?

Not if a vendor hasn't been named.
So far it's been the op showing a frag he purchase for $500. Cold hard common sense opinions have been given. Better pics have been requested. I'm sincerely hoping to see a vendor feedback thread once the vendor is named

 

[Cell]

Glue on skeleton, no big deal. But the flesh on the head looks very recessed to me in the picture. If that is accurate, it was not a healthy specimen.