Queries...Like to find out...

[Milk]

Hi Guys;

I have seen recently that the apistogramma keeping scene in singapore have recently being spiced up due to a few shops have being bring special species of Apistogramma regardsless of where their sources are from..

Now what really puzzles me is that are singapore apistogramma keeper/breeder willing to pay a premium for the special species of apistogramma that are coming in?? I know a handfuls of serious keeper/breeder are willing to do that...But how many more keepers are willing to spend on theses premium species??

I have saw a recent poll done that most people will buy the apistogramma if they like it...But to what extend are you guys willing to pay??

For example:
Recently Biotope have a shipment of German grade apistogramma.till this day,there are still some nice apistogramma balanced inside their tank.And frankly speaking,with a price ranges of S$80 to S$180 max,these apistogramma are affordable..So what are the main factors that are holding back you guys from buying theses beautiful species of apistogramma??

And if you guys really wants shops to bring in more differents species of apistogramma,the demand must be there so that there will be a constant supply of different special species coming in

Regards
Milk

I will like to thanks Thio & guys at Biotope for specially bringing in the recently shipment species of Apistogramma.And also the 2 famous shops to bring in some apistogramma as well.Thanks for the supports given to us, The Apistogramma Keeper/Breeder..

[leeruisheng]

But i think you cannot associate serious apistogramma keeping with the quantity of apistos one should adopt.

[kaganesti]

Hmm
I would say space is a big issue.
We can't possibility buy every apistogramma we like because we just don't have the space for tanks. And we have to consider that if the pair of apistogramma breeds successfully... probably more tanks will be needed also.
Perhaps the apistogramma community is not big enough yet..
As one wants to move on to another species, we will also have to find adequate homes for the ones we had in our home.

[yorky]

I think its a matter of personal preference and not so much about price.
I won't pay $100 for an arowana let alone say $1000 because I am just not into them.
No offence to arowana-keepers out there..

[sheng]

What i think only the more experience keepers/breeders are willing to pay to spend on theses premium species. However, i dont think they are many experience keepers/breeders out there. Thay why some nice apistogramma balanced inside their tank.

Beginner may be willing to pay for the low grade one as a start to gain experience.

[Cacatuoides]

Most novices would only pay the bare minimum for a pair of apisto, they ofther go for the coloration first! Most experienced keepers look out for quality such as source, locality, finnage, parentage and so on...

In every hobby, there are always the group of begginers and the other, the group of more serious keepers who pay a premium even for a low-entry fish such a A.cacatuoides, A.agassizii and so on....

[yorky]

hmm.. its interesting that we think Ap. agassizii as a low-entry fish.
If we go into the specific locality of this grouping, it can get very exotic and costly too.
I also do not think the apistogramma-keepers group is big.
However its good that shops like C328 and Polyart are bringing in more specimens so that more can appreciate the beauty of this fish and then pick up the hobby.
Only problem is that they are housed in tanks that do no justice to the fishes. sigh.

[Cacatuoides]

hmm.. its interesting that we think Ap. agassizii as a low-entry fish.
If we go into the specific locality of this grouping, it can get very exotic and costly too.
I also do not think the apistogramma-keepers group is big.
However its good that shops like C328 and Polyart are bringing in more specimens so that more can appreciate the beauty of this fish and then pick up the hobby.
Only problem is that they are housed in tanks that do no justice to the fishes. sigh.

I was referring to the common A.agassizii "double red", definitely not referring to A.agassizii "Tefe"

[michael lai]

Totally agree with what Yorky said. The person must first like the fish if they were to purchase it. The cost being another matter all together.
Another view I like to bring up is there is no website here that dedicates to the species like ie killies.com, plecofanatics. The beginners are fed with pictures, lingos that they don't understand and every once in a while people saying about how his $xxx trophy refused to eat or got infected then died.
I'm sure if thio takes pictures of his existing fish and post more regularly, his fishes will definitely not stay there for long. Another point is they are not readily available like plecos or killies at other shops, so exposure is not as great as the other species. The collectors know what they want but exposure to the general public is still by far a long way to go.


My 2 cents,

[wks]

I'm into apistogramma keeping full time except for a tank of discus. For me, whether or not the fish can get into my tank depends on some X-factors. It can be source, rarity, shape, finnage, colour, swim pattern etc. or a combination. Sometimes, I just feel good looking at the fish and if the price falls within my budget (<=S$200), I will not hesitate to buy them.

[Milk]

Humms...From all the previous post, I can see what the markets in singapore are missing liao..So it will be long distance to be travelled before we can get to the markets like those in Hong Kong or Taiwan..Hopefully we will be able to get there...

Regards
Milk

[|squee|]

Space is a big issue, as well as time available.

There are only so many tanks you can keep in a HDB flat and only so much time in hectic Singapore.

[valice]

Doubt space is an issue.
If you want to talk about space, look at HK. HK's "HDB" space is even more premium than ours.

[wks]

Hi Milk, I think it is inappropriate to compare Hong Kong and Taiwan with Singapore. Market size is all that matters. Hong Kong has a big market- China whereas Taiwan has a much larger population than us.

[Wackytpt]

My 2cent worth,

Basically it is good to see an interest for these fishes. I personally will pay up to a certain amount for them. Space is a constraint. But it is not an obstacle.

Personally I feel that the public need to be educated in order to arouse interest for them.

I mean people are willing to spend hundreds and thousand for an arrowana. Why not for apisto?

It is the small pool of serious apisto lover in this country.

[genes]

I feel...

Most people here associate expensive fishes with size. So they would rather pay say $200 for big fishes like arowana or discus rather then an apistogramma which is considerably smaller in size.

Also, so many people have the misconception that apistogrammas are not suitable as community fishes. I have to rebute this claim. My tetras, pencils and many other fishes in my 3footer planted lives peacefully with my apisto pair. Even when they breed in the tank.

Yes they do chase other fishes away during breeding when other fishes get too close to their territory, but not to the extent of death as a result from aggression. Apistos only get aggressive towards other apistos or cichlids like rams and discus.

[valice]

I feel...

Most people here associate expensive fishes with size. So they would rather pay say $200 for big fishes like arowana or discus rather then an apistogramma which is considerably smaller in size.

Woohoo! You just hit the big fat nail on the problem!
"Why your baby "luohan" has no kok tao?!"

Still remember this question?
Well.... Shall not say more.

[Crazy Dragon]

Hi,

Here is my personal view. Apisto is not considered as "fengshui" fish and that could be the reason why the market is not big in Singapore.

Remember how luohan started in Singaore, because somebody striked lottery, good fortune from those markings on the luohan's body. During the luohan craze, the fish tank business skyrocketed. Everybody will keep luohan, hoping to get some good fortune in return.

Somehow, that is how Singaporeans react to good fortune fishes. If one day, someone can somehow convinced the public that Apisto is a Fengshui fishes and approved that it bring good luck etc, the demand for Apisto will skyrocket too.

Just my personal view.

regards
Crazy Dragon

[leeruisheng]

And also arowana have a long life span and can grow to majestic size. I second that people associate size with price.