Ordering Wild Bettas from Overseas

[Mudskipper]

No worries, it's all good. Must always keep the best interest of the fishes we have on hand already when we think of adding to the collection.

[Mudskipper]

OK, I think we finally have it. The final order:

Mudskipper: 2 pairs of Unimacs
Emokidz: 1 pair of Persephone and 1 pair Uberis
Biweilow: 1 pair Rubra and 1 pair Patoti
Similus: 1 pair Rubra

Thanks to everyone for the orders and for paying Johannes who is collecting them on our behalf. Please PM me your phone numbers (got yours Emokidz and Similus, so Bieilow still need yours) so that we can arrange for pick up. Johannes returns on August 8 so we'd like to do the pick up that night at his place in Woodlands. For the safety and well being of your fish, please leave that date open...in the evening after 9 pm. Thanks.

[Mudskipper]

Final Final order...

Mudskipper:1 pair of Unimacs
Emokidz: 1 pair of Persephone and 1 pair Uberis
Biweilow: 1 pair Rubra and 1 pair Patoti
Similus: 1 pair Rubra

No more space...got one batch of Channoides fries growing out. One batch just released. Two more batches releasing in a week. No tank space for anything else. *sigh*

[apistomaster]

In response to the general thread topic about ordering Bettas from over seas, I ordered a pair of Betta sp "Mahachai" several years ago.
The FOB price for the pair in Bangkok was US$35.
By the time I paid freight and a trans-shipper's fees the pair ended up actually cost me $US 90.00.
They bred within a week and later almost continuously in a colony style breeding set up. I got up to over 500 fry and had to cull half to make room to grow them out.
I bred them through the F3 generation before I stopped raising them and shared hundreds with other hobbyists within the USA. I was pleased with how it all worked out and I easily recovered my initial investment.

Now I am breeding a wild pair of Betta smaragdina and took this photo of my male flaring at the mirror I put in the tank to elicit the flaring response.

[Mudskipper]

That's one of my fears...I'm nervous about not being able to find the wild bettas that I've become so addicted to when I finally move back to be with my parents in Canada, in a few years. Shipping animals live is so expensive and troublesome. Will have to figure something out when the time comes.

[apistomaster]

I think you will find that you can order many wild Betta species from Oliver Lucanus at www.belowwater.com in Canada.

[Mudskipper]

Interesting site, but nothing on wild bettas. It's ok, it won't be for a few more years so I'll enjoy while I can.

[apistomaster]

When the time comes just sign up to receive Oliver's current stock and price list which he sends out every two months. That is where you will see what wild Betta spp he has in stock.

[Mudskipper]

OK...cool. Thanks so much for the lead. I will check into his list when I do move over.

[similus]

Fishes received safe and sound. Thank you guys.

[Mudskipper]

8-) It was really great meeting everyone too. Next round...hahaha.

[Emokidz]

Yes it was! Really had a lot of fun talking with everyone and sharing. Will try to get some pictures up once they colour up!

[Mudskipper]

Amazingly...even after I covered the tank, the female unimac managed to jump and jump and jump and move the cover...and jumped. Don't think she's going to make it. *sigh* Fortunately, I put the male with my lone female and she's in love. Both swimming around happily together. Still hope the jumper survives.

[Emokidz]

I'm sorry to hear that mudskipper, hopefully the remaining pair will bear some babies in time!

[Mudskipper]

Nah, it's ok. I kinda had that feeling last night. I even doubled up on the egg crates and plastic mesh...but if they are bound and determined to do it, there's nothing you can do to prevent them, I guess...short of tying their tails down to an anchor. Anyhoo, the male is very happy with the female I've had all along and he is suddenly in full shimmery colour and she is showing her bushing maiden shades. They are swimming together, lying on the ground together, eating together...so hopefully soon they will be...now, I'll leave that up to your imagination.

[12end]

Are there any cheap, good quality betta pairs in Singapore? Cuz' I was looking round and sellers have been asking for alot of money for their pairs.

[900801]

Good quality and cheap doubt you'll hardly find any. Maybe if you're luckily but how much is considered expensive to you? Sometimes a lot of people don't know the amount of work that singapore breeders put in just to obtain that quality pair. Many generations to solidify the color, food $1-2 per day for 3-4 months that's like $40 already. They sell at most 1-2 pairs it hardly even events off. Excluding effort needed to change water, time needed to wash the food. I do understand if your coming from a student point of view. Just set aside some money for 2-3 months worth of allowance. Just my two cents.

[900801]

Hope everyone enjoyed their new acquisition and may it breed for you guys.

[Mudskipper]

I think the point that 900901 is trying to make is that in this world, you get what you pay for. If you want high quality stuff, you have to be prepared to pay a little more for it than say, B or C grade. Take a look at the shrimp world. People are paying lots for high grade shrimp because they enjoy them. Quite frankly, if you are an experienced betta keeper ... wild or ornamental ... you will realise that it takes a lot to produce good quality fishes. You can't expect to pay peanuts for a show champion...fish, cat, dog or monkey. I know that we all want to get our money's worth but reality sucks. Of course, once in a while, someone has to offload some good fishes at a great price but it will seldom be "cheap" even at that point.

[similus]

Wild bettas are usually hard to come by in Singapore... as the saying goes "物以稀为贵".