Singapore VS US aquarium stores.

[nurburgring]

I've never been to an aquarium store in the states before, how are they like ? It seems you guys have quite some trouble getting certain plants, and mail order seems to be the way to go.

Fish stores in Singapore are plentiful, some specialises in plants, some in marine, some general freshwater. There are also fishfarms and aquatic plant farms in the outskirts. If you live in the centre of Singapore, there is at least 30 -50 fish stores within 30 mins drive. Maybe 10 within 15 mins drive.

FIshstores stock everything from Eheims to the Taiwanese brands which are much cheaper, and equally effective. There is very little american brands for filters and lights although for ferts and medicine, there is quite a few. Most brands are from europe or asia. Sera, Eheim, Dennerle, Jebo, Boyu, etc etc.

Here are examples of prices in USD.

1 fistfull (as much as your hand could grab) of glosso/hairgrass/moss - $3
1 pot of stem plant (all sorts, and there are many) - $0.60
2 feet tanks - $12~$20
3 feet tanks - $40~$70
Eheim 2222 - $90
1 2x36w compact PL string - $25
Cardinal Tetra - $0.60 ea.
Neon Tetra - $0.30 ea.
1 foot long Armoured Catfish - $100~$200
Riccia tied to half foot log - $8

Maybe you can tell me more abt your side.

 

[kira]

There are also fishfarms and aquatic plant farms in the outskirts.

Yes, many of the distributors that supply fish stores here get their fish from these places. We find adolescent fish that are already in adult colors. The Dwarf Gourami from the farms come with bonus materials - tumors and parasites in nearly all of them. The imported fish are notoriously sickly and short lived.

The fishfarms are far more concerned about getting mass quantities of fish to the market and appear to have absolutely no interest in quality. The existence of these facilities is eroding and will eventually destroy the fishkeeping hobby as we know it in the USA if things continue as they are now.

Many stores have no access to locally bred fish - only what they get from the distributors. The result is that the stores have been forced to raise prices to cover losses, and sales have been reduced because people know better than to buy these fish that look deceivingly colorful but are actually very near death.

Neon Tetras cost anywhere from $.99 to $1.99
Cardinal Tetras go for $1.49 to $2.19
Dwarf Gourami are now in the neighborhood of $6.00

 

[Squawkbert]

Neon Tetras cost anywhere from $.99 to $1.99
Cardinal Tetras go for $1.49 to $2.19
Dwarf Gourami are now in the neighborhood of $6.00

Where abouts are you?

In my area (St. Louis), Cardinals are sometimes tough to find and go for up to $4 ($2 if on sale) - and I've had a tough time finding healthy ones.

I think I paid $5 for my DG, Black neon tetras, Pristella tetras ~$1.75
Black phantom, Serpae & similar tetras ~$3
Cories from $2.50 for albino common ones to $6 for pandas, adolfi & other fancier looking species (I'm still looking for C. sterbai).