trip to japan

horkn · #1 04/08/2005, 08:55 PM

well, my bro is going to japan. how feasable is it to have him import an acan lord or 4 for me when he comes back? is this impossible to do? can he go to jail for it? any other issues?

clownfishcrazy · #2 04/08/2005, 09:22 PM

well, my bro is going to japan. how feasable is it to have him import an acan lord or 4 for me when he comes back?
I wouldn't send my bro to Japan to buy Acans. If he is not familiar with the hobby he most likely will buy the wrong coral and not know how to properly transport it home.

is this impossible to do?
No, how do you think other Japanese Acans got here.

can he go to jail for it?
Yes, or he will be fined a large sum.

IMO I would only try to bring them back if it was myself going there, not someone who is not familiar with the hobby.

FWIW I go to Japan at least once a year, to buy koi, so I have an importers licenses and all of that good stuff. For that reason I would never try to bring any acans (or any corals) back, if I got caught my licenses would be taken away, I could never do that to my family. If I didn't have any of the licenses I still wouldn't try to bring anything back, its not worth the risk to me.

horkn · #3 04/08/2005, 10:12 PM

interesting. but my bro would know the difference, esp if i had him look at what i wanted.. he isnt a reefer, but knows how particular i am about my tank, and would only bring back interesting species, taht alone would be worth it. but i want to see what others have to say about this topic, since he owes me a belated bday present from early march...

he is going to japan all on his own...

and is the issue with US customs? or japanese customs? or both????

bugsy714 · #4 04/08/2005, 10:28 PM

For what you are looking in the way of fines/jail time, plus the high risk of the coral dieing, plus the fact that japanese stores will charge you basically what we pay over here, when you add it up you are better off buying one

horkn · #5 04/08/2005, 10:40 PM

sounds that way.. not like i want to pay 60 plus for a lord polyp though.. i got my micromussa for a lot less than that...

i just am seeing what the options are since he is going to japan....

clownfishcrazy · #6 04/08/2005, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by horkn

he is going to japan all on his own...

and is the issue with US customs? or japanese customs? or both????

I know what you were getting at, but the way I worded it made it sound like your sending him to Japan to buy acans. Sorry for any confusion.

Both.

horkn · #7 04/08/2005, 11:28 PM

got it.. if i could send him to japan, i think i would rather jsut set up a bigger badder reef tank

with whatever the hell i wanted in it

Blastomussaman · #8 04/09/2005, 01:08 AM

It's not a protected species in Japan so wouldn't worry about getting it out. Worse case, they find it at the airport and make you dump it or don't fly.

U.S. customs, if found, illegal. Simple as that.

PUGroyale · #9 04/09/2005, 01:15 AM

declare it a Favia and have him overnight it to you... ?

Blastomussaman · #10 04/09/2005, 01:20 AM

You can't import corals from Japan because they can't export.

Vili_Shark · #11 04/09/2005, 03:12 AM

Hey Bugsy,
Why do ya think that Japanese are paying same prices as in America?

amgbenzs · #12 04/09/2005, 03:29 AM

horkn,
Which part of japan is he going to?

clownfishcrazy · #13 04/09/2005, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Vili_Shark
Hey Bugsy,
Why do ya think that Japanese are paying same prices as in America?

They know that you are a tourist so they charge you more. The natives don't pay as much.

AL ur Pal · #14 04/09/2005, 10:48 AM

Could you take a boat to china then ship it to the US? or can you not export from there either?

clownfishcrazy · #15 04/09/2005, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by PUGroyale
declare it a Favia and have him overnight it to you... ?

Its illegal to export all corals out of Japan. If it was just acans then I'd have some pretty sweet acros!

clownfishcrazy · #16 04/09/2005, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AL ur Pal
Could you take a boat to china then ship it to the US? or can you not export from there either?

I'm not sure if you can export/import corals from/to China, but if it is legal to then yes you could do that.

horkn · #17 04/09/2005, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by amgbenzs
horkn,
Which part of japan is he going to?

dunno. but i know that he is going somewhere in japan in a few weeks....

bugsy714 · #18 04/09/2005, 09:26 PM

Japanese people pay waaaay less than anyone who is an outsider, they aren't dumb, they have the net and see that people are crazy for acans over here and they exploit it.

Because of c.i.t.i.e.s. It is near impossible to legally import stoney/hard corals from anywhere except the usual collection areas.

amgbenzs · #19 04/09/2005, 09:32 PM

i have notice that mainly in tokyo has all the saltwater selection. I was in sapporo and mainly all the store in the area were freshwater/planted tanks.

amgbenzs · #20 04/09/2005, 10:05 PM

here is a couple of japanese links for you. hope it helps,

www.top-rush.com
www.remix-net.co.jp
www.crystallagoon.com
www.marine-blue.co.jp
www.namanmugi.co.jp
www.petballoon.co.jp

invincible569 · #21 04/10/2005, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Vili_Shark
Hey Bugsy,
Why do ya think that Japanese are paying same prices as in America?

Thats exactly what i was thinking. THEY DONT. I have seen prices on their acan colonies and they are priced average just like a regular LPS.

Blastomussaman · #22 04/10/2005, 12:36 AM

All the marketers have already established every legal way to import corals. Any other creative ways to bring them in are called smuggling. And if you are found with protected species, jailtime.

GreshamH · #23 04/10/2005, 05:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bugsy714
Japanese people pay waaaay less than anyone who is an outsider, they aren't dumb, they have the net and see that people are crazy for acans over here and they exploit it.

Because of c.i.t.i.e.s. It is near impossible to legally import stoney/hard corals from anywhere except the usual collection areas.

C.I.T.E.S.

invincible569 · #24 04/10/2005, 08:31 AM

From Japanese "Crown" Website. I converted Yen to US Dollar. The only reason corals are so expensive in the US is because the Internet hypes it up.

$55

$73

$55

Blastomussaman · #25 04/10/2005, 09:51 AM

It's all about supply, demand, and domestic availability. Yes it only cost that in Japan, but can you get it at that cost? Plane ticket? Do you know how much ricordea florida costs outside of the U.S.? 3-5 times the cost.

Why do people pay a couple of grand for a clarion angelfish?

It's all the same. Buy it if you like it and if you can afford it. Hey, my favorite fish is a clownfish that costs me a couple of bucks.