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Is this a fair price??

Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 5:50 pm
by ApacheDan
Let us imagine that I bumped into somebody who has a group of +/- 20 wild-caught Zebras (3 inches or better) adults. Let us imagine that I'm satisfied that they are indeed wild-caught, but can't determine the sex. If I'm willing to buy a group of 6-7, is $600 (US dollars) a piece, a fair price?

No funny PM's please...remember I said "let us imagine". I just want to know if given these circumstances and nowdays, this would be a fair price. Thanks. Dan :?

Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 6:09 pm
by smithrc
cant comment on US prices, but a group of 6 wild caught adults with disputed sexes has just sold for £1800 over here (The UK)

Thats £300 each - so about $600 a peice...

Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 6:19 pm
by ApacheDan
Hummm $600...ouch.! I guess I could imagine that I would get lucky & get my return on investment in a year or two. The going rate for 1.5" fry is $238 a piece...that's what I just paid over at Aquabid...

Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 7:28 pm
by John
smithrc wrote:cant comment on US prices
I cannot comment on us prices either, price in germany for a 1,5 inch zeb would be around $90 for a wc adult a price of $300 is average.

Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 10:28 pm
by KnaveTO
I would call that about average for WC L46 plecos. I have seen prices higher for 3" F1's let alone WC's

Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 12:54 am
by mistern2005
WOW :shock:

That seems outrageously high...but then again I've never even seen wild caught sold around my neck of the woods.

The only way I would spend $3600-$4200 on a group is if I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that I had a good ratio of boys to girls so I could try to recoup some of the cost eventually through breeding. Even then - I don't think I could do it.

Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 1:54 am
by ApacheDan
Thanks for knocking some sense into my head guys.....too much $$$ for a fish, although I've seen some flowerhorns fetch that and more. I think I'll just be patient and let the little ones grow... :roll:

Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:11 am
by TwoTankAmin
How much money any fish is worth is directly related to how much money one has. I assure you Bill Gates can buy all the adult zebras he wants for $600 each and never bat an eyelash.

Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:53 am
by KnaveTO
Heck... if you want to see even higher prices take a look at Aquabid... they are going for upwards of US$700

Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 7:03 am
by mistern2005
I am with TwoTank - if I was rich (or could do a one to one swap of my crummy American Dollars with the very lovely British Pound :D ) I'd love to drop a chunk of change on a slick colony of wild caughts. My wife, however, would probably leave me and take half of my newly found hypothetical British Pounds with her.

But hey - all and all life is good, I got 7 happy and healthy F1s! Things could alawys be worse!!!

You will have to tell use if you go through with it anyone so we can be all kinds of jealous.

Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 11:46 am
by ApacheDan
Well...since we're talking about it, ...it is an established importer, who claims he has connections in the right places, but due to the risks involved, that is the price. He didn't ask for any moneys upfront, just my assurance that I would buy, since he will need a minimum lot of 20...that plus a lot of other plecos around the L046. Afterwards we would conclude the transaction with pictures and an escrow service. Very tempting....but I decided not to break any laws....my conscience won't allow me. I know this is a whole new can of worms, but come to think about it...rumor has is that Brazil has or will put a ban on ALL Hypancistrus. And if they build the dam damm, then what's the point of the export ban, if the government is going to end up killing them all??? So I thought...might as well rescue some...but heck...I guess I chickened out... :cry: