Hours/weeks With Apistodave Buying Fish

[jollysue]

I started a conversation with apistodave last night. I bid and won an Orange Flash cockatoo pair. When we started the pay and shipping negotiations, he asked if I wanted to fill the box. Haha what a question to ask a fish addict.

He sent me a list of dwarfs he had available. I did a quick google based on size and looks. I asked for a blue apisto--handsome fish--or could I put a triple red pair in the new 40 too. He answered an hour or six later, " Sue, the flour wqould be enough for the forty!"

I thought we were talking about money. Haha So I returned," Is that I can have 4 for $40?"

Well we continued to have different conversations at the same time off and on all day--I mean literally different conversations.

I mentioned the agassizi as a possible that was on his list, too. So, that's what I am getting.

Flour Orange Flash for forty and 3 agassizi red tails, Strike that! 1 male 3 female Orange Flash and 1 male 2 female agassizi red tail.

I now have a colony of 4 Orange Flash, 3 agassizi, 2 honey girls, up to 20 or more pygmy cories, some otos, 4 scarlet dario dario (badisbadis), about eight sparkling gouramis--there may be two species, and duck weed, some frogs and apple snails.

If I ever get to set it up It is going to be very cool.

 

[pseud]

wow, that's a nice deal!

I've seen apistodave's username on aquabid, considering purchasing from him. Certainly cheaper than my not so local fish shop ($34 pair agassizi)

 

[jollysue]

All 7 fish including DHL 2nd day shipping, was $68. $70 would have gotten me USPS Express. The part about the 4 for forty= 4 cockatoos is enough cockatoos in a 40 gal. I had asked earlier if I could put 2 colonies w/two males in a 40 usg tank.

This is the price list he emailed me:


I have other fish if you are interested and want to take advantage of the
shipping:

A cacatuoides-----17.00Pr
Apistogrammacacatoides Orange Flash---24.00Pr
Apisyogramma panduro-----17.00Pr
Apistogramma borelli=====18.00Pr
Aistogramma eunotus--------18.00Pr
Apistogramma Rotpunkt------15.00Pr
Apistogramma SpBigFoot-----16.00Pr
Apistogramma nijsseni--------20.00Pr
Apistogramma uapesi---------25.00pr

Nopn-apistos
Latacara curviceps-------------19,00pr
Mikrogeophagus altispinosa---5.00 pr

I don't know why but the agassizi red tail aren't on his list, but it appears he gave them to me for about $11 a piece.

The shipping was $20 for DHL 2nd day, $22 for USPS Express, and next day USPS $30

Google David Soares or apistodave and see what you get. David is a cichlid word celeb. If you google my name you would get: "Huh? Check your spelling and try again."

If you win them on bid it is generally cheaper The Orange flash at Aquabid were $12. $24 is thlist price for a pair. I paid $44 (w/shipping) for 1 male w/3 female and $34 for ! male w/2 female agassizi (riding piggy back on the caucatoides.)

Get your fish from apistodave. He is probably considered the top breeder in the country, maybe world, next to God.

 

[pnyklr3]

I know a few people who have ordered from apistodave (Dave Soares), and they had good experiences with the fish themselves. The delivery, on the otherhand, left much to be desired.

The one that went wrong: DHL delivered a day early, but my friend had no idea......because the package was stolen from his doorstep. *dave was great and helped replace the fish*

My only experience with DHL was watching a delivery truck rear-end a parked car in front of my house, then proceed to burn to the ground in the middle of winter. For that reason, I do not ship with DHL.

*Not fair, I know, but I can imagine what my package (usually something live:geckos, snakes, fish) would have went through.*

You will be VERY happy with your purchase.

 

[jollysue]

Hi pnyklr, I have never heard of DHL. I suppose I should go with USPS express. I get Express deliveries quite regularly now, so they know my house and me. I guess the problem for apistodave is that he lives in the boonies. What is the difference with the two USPS Express? I will check w Dave. When I get USPS Express 2nd day I usually get it the next day just like overnight air. I get so confused....

Thanks for the heads up. It's not to late to change.

 

[jollysue]

Hmm? More Hours? Yes!

The package arrived with 4 fish and one was DOA. And the agassazi were still in Oregon. One of the three female cacatuoides was doa. I emailed dave. He got right back to me--well within a few hours. Meanwhile I worked on trying to get a photo of a teeny baby in a highly reflective bag. I doubt I ever could have. Dave emailed that the photo wasn't needed that he will reship on Monday.

Boy, they are babies, but there's no missing that Orange flash male. No trouble sexing these babies.

I put them in a temporary tank with some sparklers and dario dario (scarlet badis badis) that are going to the 40 gal mini tank when it's ready. There's also some cories, baby pygmies and pandas, & 3 African dwarf frogs.

I caught one of the cacatuoides girls eyeing my dario dario. I hope she doesn't think it would make a good snack.

 

[lucky62]

Too bad about the little female , but awesome that you got some cackatoos .........enjoy them


Cockatoos can be very sensitive to amonia buldup in tanks , or bags .

You don't need to take the pic of the D.O.A fish in the bag , I've put them into a cotainer of some kind then I take the pic ........so far I've only had to do this 2 times .........



I want a 125 or a 150 for my Dwarf community too

 

[jollysue]

Ooooh! Sounds good. Just think of all the different fishes we could mix and match in there. Break all the rules.

Dave said not to worry about pics. They were packed very loose. They must have bounced around lots.

I've had to resort to treating two tanks with some kind of acid, NA, for the neon culimnaris. I didn't read the directions good getting confused with the instructions from the lfs who gave me the med. I treated the 12 and 100 usg tanks 3 X too close together and too small of water changes. I lost about three newer younger pygmy cories in the small tank. In the 100 gal some fish are blanched white! I haven 't seen the Gent in a week. After all that, the little green neons are still showing symptoms. I haven't seen my clown loaches in a couple of days, but the hifin serpae are a nice bright red and hardy as ever. Haha

Dave is sending me a second regular cockatoo for the 100 usg community.

Now, where shall we put this new 150 usg Dwarf Lake Tank? What shall we stock so we don't mix interbreeding species.

The agassazi and cacatuoides are ok together and won't mix breeds, I read.

UhOh! I just found the Gent. He is not well. Breathing a little fast not swimming. He's gotten a toxic level of the Nuke juice. It is remarkable how beautiful he is even ill. I was able to cup him and move him with my hand. I moved some caves to find him and the clowns. I discovered two of the clowns and stopped there. They are alive. Then I saw the Gent floating all stiff but upright in the current created by my hand. His fins and ventrals were straight stiff, like a stick doll. I cupped him in my hand and kept him still for a minute. Then I moved him to near the cave mouth where I think he was. He has situated himself between a stone cave and a plant for stability. Later I will do a 30% water change. Then I will do another one the next day. Then I will wait a few days.to see.

 

[pseud]

How is the fish doing Sue?

 

[jollysue]

The three Orange flash (1 m/ 2 f) which arrived well in shipping appear fine--if less than delighted with their temporary housing with only marginal hidy places. I hope to get them set up in their home tank along with some of their tank mates today. I will use bio-spira, an established filter and decor.

The Gent returned to hiding out, probably in a cave with the clowns, as soon as I left from watching him. There are lots of courious fish in that tank, including hifin serpae. It is very resaonable that he has hid. I will start the first of three successive water changes today. I do like him and would miss his charm and beauty if he left me, the Lady, and his Girls. He has a harem of three: the Lady (I got the Gent and the Lady together) and the Girls (Dark Girl and Light Girl were added when I saw how delighted I was with the Couple.) I am nothing if not original.

The culumnaris never affected any fish but the neons. I hate the idea of having to treat that tank again. It is a very hard hitting medication. If I thought I could get the neons out of the tank without tearing it apart I would do that. I will see about setting up a small tank fpr the gent to rest in. I have found it impossible for me to catch fish in that set up. I doubt I could catch the clowns, but maybe I can get the Gent.

 

[jollysue]

I found the Gent lying on the bottom when I fed a bit ago. He didn't make it.

 

[jollysue]

Well, it's a new day!!!

The new Miniature South Sea Tank is up and running. The Orange flash trio from apistodave are in and awaiting the agassazi trio and the additional Orange flash female.

There is also a beautiful scarlet dario dario male, his gals and another fellow; about 12 pygmy cories, 5 small pandas, 3 sparklers (schalerri). It is an awsome tank already. It sits right in front of my computer desk where I can look up tp see it.

There are honeys and sparklers (trichopsis pumila) waiting to join them whenever their quarantine ends.

This may end up being my favorite tank.

Oh! And let's not forget the 3 frog family.

 

[jollysue]

For some reason Dave desided to ship the second shipment Priority. The agassazi and cockatoos have been in bags in a box for 4 days starting tomorrow. They were shipped Monday.

Thought I'd share some photos:

The 40 usg tall 5 sided corner tank
Those are some baby pandas in the front combing the sand

The Orange flash and girls

Just the boy