Hatchet Fish

[lloyd]

I cant find any marbled hatchet fish in anywhere at the minute. Being from the amazon i assumed that there possibly seasonal but it seams iv been searching for them for most of this year and i just cant see any of them. last weekend i rang 11 stores and they all said they havent got any in stock.



Other types of hatchet fish are still around but thats not much help to my nans single marbled hatchet fish.


Does anybody know why there not around or when i can expect to start seeing them???



thanks in advance


Lloyd

 

[ColR1948]

Where abouts are you. I'm sure the LFS near me had some last week, World of Water in Timperly Cheshire, 0161 903 9944.

 

[Electric Warrior]

I never see them at my MA up here either, but Kesgrave on ebay always has them for £3.49 each + £15 postage. Just search 'marbled hatchetfish' and you will see them.

 

[Dazzer87]

Few places in cornwall that have them atm, usual prices are around 3 for £10. I have been tempted a few times but to get the right schooling numbers would be a bit pricey for me.


st.Austell - Cuddra
Truro - Maidenhead aquatics
Fraddon - Billy the fish

Trimar, mail order but I haven't checked their stock list or visited in awhile.

 

[MBOU]

They just seem to be coming in to season now, we have a load in now.

Whereabouts are you?

 

[creeker]

They just seem to be coming in to season now, we have a load in now.

Whereabouts are you?

To MBOU, are they breeding these now, or are they still wild caught? I notice they are scarce around here too. I wonder if it's because they are a bit more sensitive than the Silvers?

 

[fluttermoth]

Hope MBOU doesn't mind me answering seeing as she's not online atm

Yes, marbled hatchets are still wild caught. They're not that hard to spawn, but raising the fry is very difficult, apparently.

I've always found the silvers more sensitive than marbleds, contrary to popular opinion.

 

[MBOU]

As Flutter says, they are generally imported as wild caught. Can import them from places like Singapore but I suspect that they are still wild caught, if they were reptiles I can say they'd be classed as 'Long Term Captive'.

 

[lloyd]

Thanks for the replys every one. i have finally found some after all this time. my local world of water have just had a load in. there crazily expensive £7.50 each or three for £20. its ridiculous, i dont know how petshops get off selling small shoaling fish at such crazy price. my nan is now £40 pound down and 6 fish up lol

 

[MBOU]

Well.. it all depends on how much the fish cost the shop doesnt it, hence fish out of season cost more... just like food in the supermarket. Fruit like strawberries will cost you far more in the winter than they do in the summer...

Most shops have a set standard mark up so the price of fish fluctuating will depend on a lot more than the shop but more the rate of exchange, packing charges, vat, box charges, the fish price changing.... a lot and generally nothing the shop can help with.

It is hardly surprising that when there are few marble hatchets around, they demand a higher price....

 

[lloyd]

Well.. it all depends on how much the fish cost the shop doesnt it, hence fish out of season cost more... just like food in the supermarket. Fruit like strawberries will cost you far more in the winter than they do in the summer...

Most shops have a set standard mark up so the price of fish fluctuating will depend on a lot more than the shop but more the rate of exchange, packing charges, vat, box charges, the fish price changing.... a lot and generally nothing the shop can help with.

It is hardly surprising that when there are few marble hatchets around, they demand a higher price....

i know but 3 for 20 quid. the fish would be better off if the pet shops didnt sell them a know one will keep them properly in a large group