Can you keep coral as a pet?
Yes, you can own live coral in the United States. Coral is related to anemones and jellyfish. Captive-grown beginner corals cost $40. Expert coral packs average $180. Exotic corals cost over $300. A coral colony takes years to reach harvest size. Even then, only a small amount can be harvested without damage as it grows slowly.
Legal Aspects of Owning Coral
It is illegal to collect or export US corals without permits. This hurts coral farmers. Coral needs permits to sell legally. Use packing so bagged corals do not move during shipping. Laws vary on collecting dead coral from beaches.
Coral Growth and Identification
Real coral has distinctive physical features. To identify real coral use magnification to check the surface texture. The coral’s value depends on quality. Prices range from $1000 up per gram.
Coral reefs replenish more oxygen than rainforests. Buy UK coral frags from regulated local growers. Consider online sales to increase revenue. Check laws before selling live corals. Thanks to aquarium advances, compact home tanks can now grow coral reefs.