Who Gives A Fish Forums

Just got back from the pet store and picked up some new additions for the South American tank. Originally, I was supposed to get 6 palmeri emperor tetras, but they only had 2 in stock. So I decided to substitute with 2 black emperor's and 2 blue emperor's instead. Now the tank's got all the tetras grouping off by species, which is pretty interesting to watch. Plus, the 6 apistos are out and about, and the 3 electric blue rams are all exploring each other. It's kinda crazy, 'cause this tank is right next to my "overcrowded" African tank, and with both of them going on at the same time, it's almost too much to take in.

They're usually pretty reclusive, the apistos will occasionally make an appearance but mostly they're hiding, the rams are a bit more outgoing but still tend to keep to themselves, it's rare to see them all out at the same time like this, new additions to the tank always seem to bring everyone out of their shells.

@muddywave, yeah they're actually pretty active. The electric blue rams are out a fair bit, especially the larger one - he claims the middle of the tank, that is unless the angels decide to assert their dominance. The apistos, on the other hand, tend to come out more during feeding time or when new fish are introduced, but they don't completely disappear afterwards. They usually hang around their favorite spots, and with all the hidy holes and caves, they've got plenty of places to observe each other without feeling too exposed. For the most part, the dwarf Cichlids coexist pretty peacefully, but I think all the visual barriers help keep the peace.

I've got a pet peeve about online ordering - when you're hit with a flat shipping fee, only to find out they're short on one of the fish you wanted. Not sure if that's what happened with your tetras, but I always cancel if they can't deliver a full group. Now you're stuck paying more for shipping on the substitutes, just to get more of two other species because they couldn't come through on the first one.

I'm in a similar boat, what with shipping rates being sky-high in my country. I tend to hoard orders for 5 or 6 species before I take the plunge. Just had to put an order on ice because two of my target species sold out. But that can change with their next weekly shipment - fish hunting's a... well, it's a process, let's just say. Supplier stock can turn on a dime, so you've got to stay on your toes.

I've dealt with this mail order seller before and they're pretty good, but their shipping costs are steep. They'd already charged my card when they called to say they only had two of the fish I ordered. They were looking for me to accept a substitution, and I ended up with six Emperor tetras, just not the ones I initially wanted. I wasn't too keen on the black ones since my tank has a dark background, but I was intrigued by the fact that the males have blue eyes and the females have green eyes. I asked them to try and get me one with blue eyes and one with green as part of the substitution. The lady I spoke to said they were pretty small and couldn't guarantee it, but would give it a shot. One of the black ones is bigger with blue eyes, and the other is smaller and appears to have green eyes. The other two were supposed to be "super blue Emperors" but after 24 hours in the tank, they're still light brown with a dark line down the middle - they look just like some of the Apistos I already have. The only way I can tell them apart is that the Apistos tend to stay near the bottom while the Tetras swim near the top. I'm hoping the "super blue" ones will color up in a month or two. This isn't the first time I've had to make substitutions after a seller has charged my card - one seller took three weeks to tell me they didn't have the fish, and they're now on my "do not buy from" list.

I've heard Dan's a solid shipper, but his prices just don't cut it for me. Never ordered from him, so can't speak to the quality of his fish. Came across a listing for "Super Red Bushynose Pleco" - Hobbyist Bred and Raised in Europe Ancistrus sp. - and the price tag was $19.99. I recently scored three of these for a total of $14, bred by a local experienced hobbyist. No shipping costs, either. Now that's what I call a bargain. I'm always on the lookout for deals, especially for my planted tanks. I needed a few more algae eaters, and I'm not about to pay retail for them.

I've picked up a few of those from him too. He seems to be sourcing some fish from Germany now, especially the ones he's had issues with in the past. I think that's a good move, he takes the time to hold them and treat them if needed before selling. I like that he bags them individually, it gives me a bit more peace of mind. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for a good deal, but when I'm adding fish straight to a tank I've worked hard on, the extra cost is worth it to me. I've had my share of bargain fish come with unwanted extras, like Ich.

I've bought fish from a club member, who's been in the hobby for years. Our club's got a mix of experienced folks, all with different interests in fish and plants. Some of us have been spawning fish for a while and have a good reputation.

I usually buy fish in bulk, which helps with the cost. I've dealt with Bellenz farm before, they're known for individually packaging their high-end fish. But they also use a machine for bagging, which I've seen firsthand when we received 350 individually bagged fish. Those fish cost between $35 and $72 each, after all the added costs.

I've had my share of ich, once from a store and once from a shipped order. The store-bought fish I didn't quarantine, and it cost me. The shipped order I did quarantine, but I still lost most of the fish - they were tetras and danios.

Over the years, I've learned who to buy from to get healthy fish at a good price. Buying in bulk helps, of course. I didn't say Dan doesn't sell healthy fish, just that he's pricey. I expect anyone I buy from to quarantine their fish or breed them properly.

I've got a decent reputation for selling healthy fish, even though I don't have a website or social media presence. People seem to find me when they're looking for rare fish. When I was selling zebras, I'd often throw in an extra fish, and I always asked buyers to let me know when the box arrived and how the fish were doing. It was surprising how many people thought I couldn't count, since they'd receive 11 fish instead of 10.

I've had the pleasure of keeping Inpaichthys kerri, the purple emperor tetra. I've obtained them on a few occasions, starting with some from msjinkzd, which I resold at an event. A few unsold ones ended up in my 75-gallon tank. Later, I bought five from a master breeder in my fish club who had successfully spawned them. I also added some from a speaker at one of my club meetings who had a store nearby. At one point, I had a dozen of these beautiful fish.

When they swim in the open water at the front of my 75-gallon tank, they can display a stunning purple coloration above the stripe. It's truly a sight to behold. I've found some great information on Seriously Fish about this species.

I currently have seven healthy purple emperor tetras. Unfortunately, I have an eighth one in a specimen box that's not doing well. It was swimming poorly and missing part of its face, making it difficult for it to eat. I suspect its tankmates might have been responsible for its injuries. The tank also houses a few Bleheri rummy nose tetras, some orange fin zebra danios, a few paleatus and albino aeneus corys, five small bristlenose plecos, and some amano shrimp. The tank is heavily planted, which seems to be working well for the fish. However, I've noticed that the purple emperor tetras have been dwindling in numbers recently, and I suspect their tankmates might be contributing to this issue.