Shrimp question!

[AquaManCanada]

I was looking at the prices of some of the CRS shrimp on eBay and I noticed they were very expensive. Some were sixty-five dollars USD per shrimp. Is this normal pricing or are they cheaper in Singapore?

[whuntley]

Hi Joe,

I was just in SG, and they were a lot cheaper than that. HOWEVER, they get pretty pricey for the higher grades and prime breeding stock. I didn't price those, as I wasn't in the market for them. I got second-tier quality (i.e., very pretty, but probably B grade) for a buck or two, as I recall. Certainly not US$65!

Wright

[timebomb]

The Crystal Reds you bought were Sing $2.50 a piece, Wright. That would be about USD 1.60 for a shrimp. It isn't worth the money buying the higher grade shrimps. Grading, after all, isn't an exact science. What's a Grade A shrimp to someone could very well be a grade C to another.

Loh K L

[AquaManCanada]

Thanks Wright and Loh I appreciate the response. Are they shippable? Or does anyone know of anywhere to find them in North America at a decent price? They are beautiful shrimp and would make a great addition to a planted tank that I am setting up.

[RonWill]

I recall a time when show-standard Albino Full-Red guppies and Full-Moon bettas went for US$300 a pair. Beautiful to look at, not that I was willing to spurge that kind of money, but to say "it isn't worth the money" is a sweeping statement that undermines the effort of the breeder.

Grading isn't a science but there are standards in how specimens are benchmarked. If in doubt, just ask any betta, killifish, koi or arowana judge what they look for in a winning fish.

Ditto with CRS, since the traits that makes a better grade shrimp takes some effort and time to establish. I experimented briefly with them and realize that C-grade are much easier to breed than say, A-grade.

One can brush all this aside and say it's all due to commercialization but isn't that the same with nice expensive downoi or zipper mosses that originated from some stream somewhere? Oh hell, I'll bet that's what others say about killifishes too.

[AquaManCanada]

Yes Ronnie I agree with you that there would be alot of time and effort placed into breeding and raising such nice shrimps. I love the CRS shrimps and I would be quite happy with a lower grade shrimp since I have never seen anything like them in Canada. The only shrimps I have come across are the Ghost Shrimp, Amano shrimp Japonica, and the Marbled Shrimp.

[joteo]

Hi Joe,

Even if you did manage to ship them at a low price, they're quite delicate and demanding, so you should expect quite a number to expire enroute.

Bearing that in mind, perhaps it may be less risky to purchase the C grades for a start. The prices of these things can go up to hundreds a piece. I am even aware of some Singapore breeders to who fly to Japan to choose just a pair or two and fly back. I find because of their distinct white bands, they really do stand out in a planted tank.

Anyway, back to your problem. I'm sorry, I don't personally know any breeders to recommend from Singapore.

I chanced upon this site when I was reading about shrimp:
http://www.petshrimp.com/store.html
But the guy there says he only ships to the US. Perhaps you might persuade him to ship to Canada? (I have no affliations with him nor have I bought from him and I did not do any research as to whether he is trustworthy or not.)

Perhaps you can contact "vinnymac", the author of this article:
http://www.plantedtank.net/articles/...d-Breeding/22/
who might point you to the "US hobbyists" where he got his CRS from. (Again, no idea who this guy is.)

Are you aware of the forum called ShrimpNow.com? It seems to be based in Germany. Perhaps you'd be able to find more US shrimp hobbyists there. Breeders from Singapore also hang out at that forum.

Good luck in your search,
joanne

[imported_kenny]

Yes Ronnie I agree with you that there would be alot of time and effort placed into breeding and raising such nice shrimps. I love the CRS shrimps and I would be quite happy with a lower grade shrimp since I have never seen anything like them in Canada. The only shrimps I have come across are the Ghost Shrimp, Amano shrimp Japonica, and the Marbled Shrimp.

Hi Aquaman,
I believe someone in BC has CRS, probably some in Toronta/Ontario area too. I can't exactly remember who, but I think you can find him/her in the shrimpnow.com forum.
Good luck finding them,
Kenny