Recently livestock retailers have begun using the J word again–”Japanese”. In this industry if you add Japanese, Australian or Deepwater before any animal, a premium pricetag is married to the name. Very rarely do these animals live up their marketing description and in some cases that’s a good thing, because they may put someone behind bars. If you see a coral labeled as Japanese, outside of Japan, be wary. Here’s why
A reef tank in Japan with locally collected azoox corals.
Recently livestock retailers have begun using the J word again–”Japanese”. In this industry if you add Japanese, Australian or Deepwater before any animal, a premium pricetag is married to the name. Very rarely do these animals live up their marketing description and in some cases that’s a good thing, because they may put someone behind bars. If you see a coral labeled as Japanese, outside of Japan, be wary. Here’s why:
5 Reasons NOT to Buy “Japanese” Corals
#1 | They are ILLEGAL.
- Yes, the export of live (‘stony’) corals from Japan is illegal. By buying Japanese corals you are supporting a black market that is giving this industry and hobby a black eye.
#2 | It’s probably not from Japan.
- We’re not sure which is worse, that most of the corals are not illegal or that livestock retailers will do anything for a sale. Do livestock retailers lie to its customers? Sadly, yes.
#3 | Unethical stores use the marketing term, or, buy the illegal animals.
- If the retailer is outside of Japan and selling corals “from Japan,” they are either selling illegal animals or lying. Is that a business you wish to support? What does that say about their credibility in terms of animal care or customer service in the event of coral mortality?
#4 | If truly Japanese = Longer Supply Chain
- As live coral exports from Japan are illegal, they are often first shipped to a neighboring country and then to the final destination under false paperwork. This means more time in bags, more shipping and more stress to the animal.
#5 | See #1 & 2!
- Recently the craze has been deepwater Japanese zoanthids. The large majority are neither from Japan or collected in deepwater. If you see a retailer using the word Japanese I would urge you to avoid them, or better yet–ask them for paperwork!
[update made 5/1 for language. Japan prohibits exports on 'scleractinia', this includes SPS, LPS, and often the substrate that soft corals are attached]
