Place to find oddball/rare fish

[mooseman]

Does anyone know of any online site or other organization that you can request or order specific fish that you may not be able to find through "common" means? I have tried AquaBid and a few other online sites that sell fish (Dr. FosterSmith, Fishnet etc..)but haven't found what I am looking for. I thought there might be a site that sells fish but if they don't have it they would search for it for you.

I have asked my local lfs's about it but they have not been very helpful...we don't have very good ones around my neck of the woods and are not really willing to go out of their way for you.

Any suggestions would be helpful!

Thanks

[Wippit Guud]

Well, if it's a fish native to somewhere in the country, could check with a fish & game site.

[Shikkapow]

what specifically are you looking for?

[pinballqueen]

What sort of "oddballs" are you interested in? What is an unusual find in one part of the country might be a really common thing somewhere else. I know of a couple of fish stores in my area that carry strange breed fish (to my area, anyhow) and they usually have them shipped in on request from breeders and/or importers all over the country.

For example (keep in mind I live in BFE, tennessee), my mother had the lfs import a rather rare species of mormyrid in. She paid a small fortune for it, but it is a really nice, unusual fish. Ripley's Aquarium doesn't even know how to get ahold of one of this particular breed (or they didn't at the time). Also, the same lfs got a redfin barracuda in for me (import from Brazil, I think), as well as an African Featherfin eel (got it from another dealer somewhere in New Jersey, if memory serves)....these are not typical fish store fish, so it took some cash, but nobody else had the types of specimens I had.... Man, do I miss having a houseful of tanks....

If you live near a large town, you might try patrolling the yellow pages to find some of the smaller fish dealers, they're usually more accommodating to special requests (since, to them, it is a lot of money to be made, as opposed to a big pet store that doesn't need your business...). Also, the deal with the fish and game commission is a great idea, not only for native species, but for exotic realeases that have been captured (there is a non-profit company that has programs for capturing and placing non-native fish, I'll see if I can find the website for you...)

There's quite a few options, so don't just settle for guppies yet...

[Shikkapow]

you tried stuff on the web, but this particular site has an "oddball" section, but like the pinball queen.. what exactly is "odd"
http://www.*****************/

[Wippit Guud]

Originally posted by pinballqueen
Also, the deal with the fish and game commission is a great idea, not only for native species, but for exotic realeases that have been captured (there is a non-profit company that has programs for capturing and placing non-native fish, I'll see if I can find the website for you...)


I'd kill for something like that... for the life of me, I can't find a list of species in my area that aren't 'fishery' fish...

... probably don't have one for Canada, though :)

[pinballqueen]

Aha! I found that website that deals with exotics removal & placement...

http://www.nativefish.org/

The Native Fish Conservancy. They deal with native tank keepers mostly, but they have a capture program as well; I think they auction off the non-natives they collect (that are sellable, that is, really huge ones are humanely destroyed, since almost nobody has room for a 2 foot long oscar...)

Hope this helps a little!

EDIT: I'm on it, W.G., lemme research a minute...

[pinballqueen]

Wippit, check in chit-chat. I dug up a few things for you.

P.S. Sorry for the thread-hijacking, Moose....

[mooseman]

Thanks for the help everyone, I will do some internet surfing tonight and see what I can find.

I am looking for what they call an Eel Catfish or Channallabes Apus. I don't know much about them yet other than max size etc.... If anyone knows about them, let me know.

Also, if any of those local fish stores will ship out livestock let me know and I will give them a call and see what they can do for me.

Thanks!

[pinballqueen]

Apparently AC's database doesn't include this species....to where is it a native? Also, where did you find out about this fish? You've got me curious now! (By now, I'm sure you've gathered that I've got a thing for exotics....)

[Wippit Guud]

Hmm... wonder if you can train a lamprey to eat something other than live fish....

[Wippit Guud]

Common Name: Eel Catfish
Country(s) of Origin: Congo Democratic Republic, Angola
Size: 30.5cm. (12¼ins)
Temp: 22-25 (71-77f.)
pH: 6.5-7.8.

Not local...


http://www.scotcat.com/images/apus.jpg

http://www.planetcatfish.com/jpg/clariidae/channallabes_apus1.jpg

http://www.planetcatfish.com/jpg/clariidae/channallabes_apus2.jpg

[Darkangel]

http://www.caoac.on.ca/ It may not be exactly what you are looking for Wippit Guud but it is a rescue program for unwanted fish. Take a look at it.

[mooseman]

Thanks Wippit,

Those are the basic sites and pictures I have seen as well. Now if I could just find where to get one.

I have a couple of FW Moray eels right now but they are not as hardy as I would think the Eel Catfish would be and Moray's are hard to feed and if this catfish is like others, I don't think that would be much of a problem.

Let me know if you find one anywhere.

[Wippit Guud]

Hmm... all in Ontario... and it links to the US site for relocation... but hey, at least it's a start, thanks.

[Ledslnger]

Well...then check out


http://www.alloddballaquatics.com/
http://rarecatfish.com/

[pinballqueen]

Hmmm....looks like someone turned a dragonfish inside out....I prefer mine scales-out, I believe....

Different strokes for different folks, I suppose....

[Z Man]

I contacted my wholesaler and he tells me that he hasn't seen this fish on the import list in over a year. He did have a few before that and all he could tell me is they easily reach 12 inches and from his description the photo by Wippit Guud is the fish.

[carpguy]

That fish is… not for everyone.

You might try these folks (http://rehobothaquatics.com/index2.html). They "offer an extensive listing of West African freshwater fish, Catfish, Dwarf Cichlids and Jurassic fishes being our specialty."

Or these folks (http://belowwater.com/). I get the impression that they're a really unusual fish shop.

Of course after you pay too much, then there's shipping .