guess what

[unleashed]

Gues what I'm getting on Saturday.................................................................................................................................



























A Blackcap basslet (Gramma melacara). I'm just hoping that it survives governmental 3 week quarantine. I know the guy ordered 12 blackcaps but 11 were DOA (dead on arrival), 32 Royal Grammas (30 DOA with the last 2 dying a week later) and 12 harlequin tusks (all DOA). For some reason, this was a really bad shipment.

I just hope that the blackcap is healthy because I am forking out $280 for him :c11:

[squirt_12]

holly...they ALL died???? thats not good...and $280 for a fish??? that is insane.

i hope that it lives.

[~Erik3.8.07~]

y is it so much? i just looked online and they are 60$ at 2 different places

[tropfish]

WOW! i hope it lives too, or you'll be out alot of money.

[unleashed]

y is it so much? i just looked online and they are 60$ at 2 different places

New Zealand is very different to the states.

All animals (including fish etc) have to go through quarantine. FW fish have at least 6 weeks of quarantine whereas marines have 3 weeks of quarantine.

MAF (Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry) have heavy compliance costs for the importer. That along with a small market, huge freight costs, customs fees, cost covering and losses in quarantine really jack up the retail price. That is why marine stock in NZ is sooooo expensive.

I was speaking to the importer and he said that this is the worst amount of loss he has had in quarantine in ten years. So, heavy losses + MAF + Retail mark up really jack up prices for the consumer.

BTW, out of 150+ fish he imported, over 100 are dead. Quite a few were DOA. However, all of the corals and about 90% of the shrimp survived

[Rue]

I wonder if the fish were very stressed for some reason? Temp. shock or lack of O2?

Regardless...hope your fish makes it! Congrats!

[Drumachine09]

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]




They look awesome!

Hope he survives too, as it would be a shame to have one of those little beauty's die.

[tropfish]

WOW! awesome fish!

[stunner]

wow, that's crazy how so many fish died...and the price too haha. well, hope it all goes well for ya!

[unleashed]

this here is a good photo which actually shows what they look like in person.....

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

[cocoa_pleco]

nice! for how nice they look its worth the price