Zebras in US ( Aquabid )

Shell231 · Post by **Shell231** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 9:05 am

http://www.aquabid.com/cgi-bin/auction/ ... 1112486616

Says he has 3 F1's and maybe able to sell more to a higher bidder! check it out

Post by **Barbie** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 9:38 am

That would be Kevin, the guy that wrote the article on spawning zebras that's all over the internet. If he says he has them, he does

. He's paying shipping too, which seems like a great deal. Hopefully I can use his auction to gauge just how much interest there is, now that mine are actually approaching the size I want to ship. Well unless you're Ed that is

.

Barbie

Shell231 · Post by **Shell231** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 10:18 am

How big are they Barbie do you know?

Post by **Barbie** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 3:38 pm

They're fry, so I'd assume maybe an inch or so. He'll probably chime in and tell us if we talk about him long enough

Barbie

Shell231 · Post by **Shell231** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 4:01 pm

I see no offence who is going to pay $300 for fry! i am probably the only one that shares this feeling but i like to say what i feel

McEve · Post by **McEve** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 4:07 pm

I must admit I was thinking the same thing, but it will be interesting to see

At least you know your getting quality fish from this seller

Post by **Barbie** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 4:31 pm

Did you actually read the auction? It's for 3 fish, and he pays the shipping. 2 F1 zebras just sold for 140 dollars EACH at the same size. Kevin is starting the auction at 100 dollars each, and he'll pay the shipping. That's still cheaper than you guys can buy them on your side of the pond, either way, and the ones that come available over there ARE being purchased, even at the high prices, no?

Barbie

McEve · Post by **McEve** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 4:41 pm

Barbie wrote: That's still cheaper than you guys can buy them on your side of the pond

That's not quite true... adults sell for up to $200 in Norway and Sweden, but fry that size go for as little as $40. I talked to a friend in Sweden yesterday that just bought 10 fry at that price.

Not that it matters for this auction, I just thought it apropriate to tell what the prizes are on this side of the pond - at the moment that is

No need to be upset

Post by **Barbie** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 4:53 pm

I'm not actually upset

. I just think reputable people should be treated as such, and the last time Kevin posted an auction there was a disparaging remark or two made about it, sooo.....

From the prices that I've seen on the board here, his auction is for less than the UK prices. It's all I have to go by, since I can't exactly hop a jet and go check

.

I tend to come across as upset because I get right to the point. Sorry if it seemed I was being snippy.

Barbie

Dr. P · Post by **Dr. P** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 6:17 pm

Barbie wrote:I'm not actually upset . I just think reputable people should be treated as such

To be fair, I for one have never delt with this dealer, and I am sure a lot of ppl on this board have not either, so how are we to know who is reputable or not? Discussing it on such a forum is the sensible option IMO.

Post by **Barbie** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 6:47 pm

Yep, I agree completely, which is why I was posting

. It seems strange to me that so many people haven't heard of Kevin Korotev though, as I've literally seen his article reproduced everywhere and it was the first one I read when I started thinking about spawning zebras. I'm honestly not upset. I just don't see where a price that's 40 dollars less per fish of the same size, with shipping included is any form of a bad deal, as was implied.

THIS is the last thread Kevin's fish were discussed in. I do realize that suspicion abounds with the many people willing to cheat anyone and everyone that's anxious to buy a zebra. I just didn't want that assumption to carry over yet again on the board and perpetuate a mindset that's neither fair, nor appropriate, IMO.

I've worked very hard to keep my good reputation in the aquarium world, both in shipping fish and dealing with people. Kevin is one of the few people that I trust to ship me things and be shipped things and we'll settle up later. He's very good people. That was my only point to all this. I'm still not sure just which part of the post I made got everyone sure I had my undies in a wad, to be honest.

Barbie

McEve · Post by **McEve** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 7:18 pm

I think it's important that we don't sit back and applaud louder and louder the higher a price a Zebra can fetch. Kevin is a reputable breeder, there's no doubt about that, and I can find nowhere in this, or the other thread where this fact is questioned. What people talk about is the price, not only for this auction, but quite a few lately....

I don't get the impression that Kevin takes this as a personal attack towards his integrity, as it shouldn't either. I also think it's a very important part of a board that these very things also gets discussed, without anybody being attacked or placed under suspicion on nonexisting grounds ofcourse.

I'm just all for everybody being allowed to express their opinion, as long as it's done in a polite manner - this does not mean I do not think that you disagree with this Barbie! We can all feel the need to defend our friends, and I fully respect that! But it's also important that it's being respected that somebody wants to question any matter on a board, bring it into the light and it's soon apparent what stands the light and what doesn't

Post by **Barbie** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 7:48 pm

McEve what do you intend to sell your zebra fry for? The $40 you quoted? I'm just honestly curious now. I have already sold 6 of my children, and I sold them for far less than market value is right now for fish at the same size. I literally have a waiting list with people that will pay whatever I set the price at. Do I raise the price to weed out the people that want them bad enough, or can just plain afford them? How do I choose who I "grace" with some?

I'm not sure Kevin doesn't have the right idea, in all honesty. An auction will set the price, and he doesn't have to. His price is basically $80 a piece for the fry, by the time you figure out what shipping and packing are going to cost him. The last zebra I saw on a wholesale list before the ban was $103 for a wild. This subject has been discussed at length between a few of us raising these fish in the US. The attitude that we're only raising them to get what money we can make out of them is both insulting and untrue. On the same note, the attitude that we're crooks for expecting to recoup any of the costs of the setups, breeders, and maintenance is also insulting, IMO.

Economics can and will dictate where the price of the zebras go from here. Not the breeders, IMO.

Barbie

McEve · Post by **McEve** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 7:56 pm

That's an easy one to answer - I don't sell them.

And I do not critisize Kevin or you, merely pointing out that the prizes are going to be discussed, and people will have to be allowed to do so without being put in place.

Post by **Barbie** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 8:01 pm

I was under the impression that I was discussing. I'm sorry if I was mistaken. While you say you are defending the right of discussion, how about you add in what YOU personally think the price of the fish should be set at, for the record? Not all of us have the luxury of being able to keep all we can raise, and it might be nice to have a perspective from someone that can.

Barbie