Where To Buy

[DAlmond123]

I just have two questions.

Could anyone tell me why has the quality of these fish declined over the years? And if you live in the U.S., where do you buy your fish? Online? None of my local fish stores sell healthy livebearers yet all the other fish seem healthy. It's been so bad that the best place to get them is Wal-Mart.

 

[OldMan47]

I get all of my best livebearers from other hobbyists at club auctions. Once in a great while I manage to find some decent quality livebearers at my LFS but then I end up being a source for that particular breed of fish at my club auctions. Your fellow club members know when they have good stock and most of us have more than we can continue to keep. The end result for me is to sell off my best mature fish to maintain my own populations young and vigorous. That means anyone buying a livebearer from me is probably buying a breeding age adult that is ready to go to a fish show for the breed. Since I do not have fancy livebearers, my fish are judged by health and are not judged by the artificial standards of fancy fish breeders. Vibrant good health is the real key to breeding and showing wild type fish and that is where mine sometimes demand a premium. They do better at large livebearer auctions where people really understand what they are buying than at club auctions where people are buying the fancy stuff that catches their eye.

On July 10, my own local club will hold their summer auction. If you are near central Illinois, please come out and see what we are selling. For the club it is a fund raiser and for me and lots of others it is an opportunity to buy and sell surplus stock. The club name is CAFE if you want to run a search for it on the internet.

 

[DAlmond123]

I wish I could. I'm in Georgia.

 

[Rafael Dilone]

Yea the best possible solution is to get fishes from your local fish club or society in your state. You mentioned you live in Georgia so perhaps you should take a look into the Atlanta Area Aquarium Association. I am pretty sure someone there could trade you some vibrant and healthy livebearers. Here is their website http/www.atlantaaquarium.com/
Also here is the link to all the upcoming events http/www.atlantaaquarium.com/events.htm