Just wanted to share my recent Siamese Algae Eater (C. siamensis)
hunting experience.
Southern Tropical Fish in Lakeland FL. (one of the places recommended in
the Neil Frank, Liisa Sarakontu article) kept saying they were expecting
a shipment of these fish anytime but they never seemed to arrive. They
were to be $1.50 each but they only sell to pet shops. Reasonable
price, no fish.
A wholesaler in Michigan (who's name escapes me for the moment) referred
to me by a guy who was referred to me by Cary had them for $1.00 each
but for some reason said they could not ship them to New Mexico (funny
because Chris sent fish to me from Michigan). They were rather cloak and
dagger about the identity of these fish as well. They were calling them
"true flying fox". We (the pet shop I was working with to get the fish
here) could never get the person on the phone who could or would
positively ID these fish as C. siamensis. They would not come forth
with the scientific name of their fish either. Good price, no fish.
At last, the Albany Aquarium in Albany CA has the fish at $8.00 each.
Quite a price, but they have them. They stand by them as being the real
thing. They do sell to individuals at an obviously retail price. Fed
EX overnight for $35.00. I bought 15 of them today. We'll see how they
arrive on Tuesday. Ouch!
Jim