Anybody know where you can purchase a true SAE?

Well, you can get some here. Take a look at the shipping costs, though, before you click on the "Add to Cart" button ;).
 
I searched every pet shop in the tristate area for these guys over the course of three years. When finally I asked if someone could get them and was told yes, I didn't believe them. The day they were said to arrive, I swear I stared at the tank for like 20mins trying to remember every last thing I had ever read about how to distinguish them from the other similar species. The guy (different from who I asked to order) at the store even said they were called flying foxes and had never even heard of the SAE!

Finally of the three I got, one is still alive after six months, much bigger, and most certainly is a true SAE.

And now another store of the same owner near here is stocking them, and the manager promised me it will be fairly consistent.

Moral of the story - sometimes ask and ye shall receive.
 
Mine were called siamese flying foxes I think. I have seen them mixed with ff too. Remember in true SAE all fins are colorless, black body line continues straight into the tail fin & olive-gray above black has noticable cross-hatched look (dark edged scales). I love mine, sharky good looks & useful too.
Nancy
 
Any other online stores have them? The only one I've found is Albany Aquarium in Albany, CA - and they will ship. There must be other good choices though? HELP?? I'm too rural for LFS - we're too far away and they don't stock them. :huh:
 
I actually got a few from my local PetSmart store about 4-5 years ago. They were sold as Siamese Flying Foxes. When the last one died off recently I asked my LFS to special order some...unfortunately the ones he got were Thai Flying Foxes aka false SAE. I picked up a few anyway. If I ever find the real ones again, I'll get 'em and give the false guys back to the LFS.
 
Neptune’s in Littleton CO usually stocks them. I really believe this is an over rated fish.

I used to shop at the Albany Aquarium when I live in CA. At one point they were the only importer of this fish. That store had more plants than any other fish store I have ever been in. I think it has changed hands since I left.
 
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