challenges of the hobby

[Magnum Man]

probably my biggest disappointment, from this hobby, is working around the winter months... seems like many fish only come into "season" in the winter, so then you have those challenges... for the most part, we have had a warmer than normal winter, but when it comes to shipping, many of the shipping hubs m, have had a challenging season... I have gotten pretty lucky with receiving live fish, but plants don't often get the same attention as fish, s lot of those sellers ship postal, rather than next day air... any plants I've ordered this season have not survived... I really hate limiting the hobby to 8-9 months out of the year, especially when a lot of neat fish, are only available outside those 8-9 months...

 

[GaryE]

It's the rainy season problem. They can only easily catch fish during the dry periods, and those tend to be when it's cold in the north. As far as farmed fish go, people don't buy fish in summer because they're out doing weird things instead. If smaller stores stock up before summer, they lose money. People seem to want fish by late Fall, just when shipping becomes an issue.

When I sold killies online, I would announce no more sales after October. I would receive the majority of requests in November, often for eggs, which wouldn't have stood a chance. People would discuss buying in September, and then wait til it was impossible. Then they'd get mad at me.

Patience, and a slow build gets you around it. I found it harder when I suffered from "Fish acquisitionitis" but time has cured me to a degree. I avoid looking at online sellers in the dead of winter. It's tempting, but it can be masochism.

The only solution is to sell up and move to a large city where rare fish are easily available, move very close to a large airport or to travel and carry stuff back. Both are more easily said than done. I'm 4 hours from a cargo hub airport, each way.

 

[Back in the fold]

You , my friend , have too big a wish list . Not that that’s a bad thing .

 

[jaylach]

That is an advantage of living next to Dan's Fish. I just walk over and get. The fish are outside for about 2 minutes.