That got me thinking!

[Gemini]

Well this weekend I went to my first fish auction! IT was on Saturday and wow what an experience! I only stayed for a couple of hours (first mistake was taking SO with me) but in that time I saw some AMAZING deals on fish and plants!! Oh and a couple of tanks! $6 for 12*6*6 I think tanks. $50 for an L3?? pleco. And people paying like $6 for a java fern!! I couldn't believe it! If I had known I would have taken in some! I throw them out or throw them in the African tank for them to play with! Now I'll be saving them for the next auction!
And then I started thinking about the Dwarf cichlids that were selling - averaging about $20 for a trio. Now in the LFS dwarfs are kinda rare. You find a lot more of the normal africans like elec yellows, venustus, maingano etc. I know the LFS buy from local breeders as I have sold pepper corys before. So I started thinking... should I change the set up of my current adhoc miscelaneous male sorta african tank, to a dedicated dwarf breeding harem?
Thoughts?
Oh and if anyone in Bris is wondering it was the QFAS auction at Spring Hill.

[Northernguy]

Nice prices! Sounds like you could have had a really good time!:19:
I love going to auctions!

[korith]

Sounds like you had as much as fun at your auction as I did Gemini. Spent the whole day at the one I went to, next time leave your SO at home. It's amazing how much the fish and plants go for compared to stores. I don't think I'll ever pay retail again. The common stuff was going for a fraction of the cost of retail prices, and the rare stuff went for a fair bit. Always fun to see rare stuff that you'll most likely never see in a store. I was kicking myself too, people were buying bags of hornwort which I had always just tossed the excess of into the compost pile.

[Gemini]

Sounds like you had as much as fun at your auction as I did Gemini. Spent the whole day at the one I went to, next time leave your SO at home. It's amazing how much the fish and plants go for compared to stores. I don't think I'll ever pay retail again. The common stuff was going for a fraction of the cost of retail prices, and the rare stuff went for a fair bit. Always fun to see rare stuff that you'll most likely never see in a store. I was kicking myself too, people were buying bags of hornwort which I had always just tossed the excess of into the compost pile.
Oh trust me next time he can go to a mates for a gameathon and I'm going auctionning!!!thumbs2:
I can't believe how cheap somethings were!! And the rare stuff. It was such a cool thing to go to!! I know what you mean about paying retail again - it will be near impossible after seeing those deals.
I'm glad I'm not the only one who let the money making venture go past - bet your saving all yours for your next visit too!!
I'm watching out for the next auction date so I can save the pennies. :1luvu:

[korith]

Oh trust me next time he can go to a mates for a gameathon and I'm going auctionning!!!thumbs2:
I can't believe how cheap somethings were!! And the rare stuff. It was such a cool thing to go to!! I know what you mean about paying retail again - it will be near impossible after seeing those deals.
I'm glad I'm not the only one who let the money making venture go past - bet your saving all yours for your next visit too!!
I'm watching out for the next auction date so I can save the pennies. :1luvu:

Yep that I will be, gonna keep all the plant trimmings for a month or so before the next auction in the fry tank. The only cost savings thing I did that day was to take only 100 bucks cash with me, so I knew my limit going in. Stuff usually goes for decent or cheap prices at the monthly auctions, but this big auction things were much cheaper, hoping people bring cichlids to the next one, going to be getting a few I think. So did you get hassled when you got home, when they asked why you bought so many things or tanks? Makes me glad I live alone, just had to sneak the tanks past the apt manager :hmm3grin2orange:

[Gemini]

Haha yeah this auction is held by like a sister group - basically there was a whole bunch of local groups that grouped together.
I wasn't sure what to expect and with the SO there I only ended up looking :spam: but next time I'll be ready!!! I didn't realise how good the prices would be!!
I also need to plan - what should the next tank be.....
I even thought about just making a planted tank in the storage area! A light, bit of CO2 and ferts, and a few java ferns and anubias and bobs your uncle! That could fund the next trip.......

[slimey]

Next time you go to one of those auctions give me a call and i'll carry your bags for ya.lolthumbs2: Hope ya had fun.