Looking for Rarer Plecos(preferably Leopard Frog)

Hi Guys

New to the forum here, really great forum at that. I just want to know if anyone could help me source some more rarer Plecos. Unfortunately here in PMB we basically just get the common one and after setting up a brand new 120L tank I'd like to get some small colourful plecos. Right now the Leopard Frog Plecos really stands out for me and would love to get some. Does anyone know where I can get some this side or if anyone knows of anyone that can help me out?

 

Is this mission impossible? I saw the user southflea importing but seems like he/she hasn't been around for a while. Honestly it would just be great to get any other less common plecos.

 

Hmm, unfortunately I wouldn't even know where to begin to find one.
Unfortunately we basically get 1 type of pleco here! Just the common one.

I'll have to take a drive to Durban just to see if I can find some, hell just anything other than common would make me happy.

 

Maybe give Pet Stop in Pretoria a call.
012 329 8965

 

Why don't you consider veil ancistrus, they are one of the most striking plecos, work well in planted tanks unless you are Joshua, don't grow too big and are great algae cleaners IMO. Many of the 'rare' fancy types seem to hide in the tank most the time or keep low key in the undergrowth or under hardscape from what I've observed when the lights are on....

check my babies out...



A couple of shots of adults in my old tank vid -

http://youtu.be/u7ubQQy0iZU

 

@Trevor

Wow, man, just wow. That's an amazing tank.

That is an excellent idea, those are really great looking plecos. How much would they cost abouts?
Now its just finding them.

 

Wow!!! I thought I had seen veiled ancistrus before.. how wrong was I!!! What beautiful fish..

I need to make time to pop in and get one for the school tank.

 

Speaking of which, would to ship to PMB?

 

Bit of a trip for you, but exotic pets in Hillcrest has some of the rarer plecos and they are beautiful. I forget which ones they have, will check when I'm back in there sometime this week.

 

Thanks bud, but delighted I survived the collectoritus phase or the 70s as WBS puts it, so been there done that

At LFSs here in CT veils go for about R69 to R79 a fish for the smaller size 35 to 45mm, howver imported stock usually arrive terribly thin and not in great shape and sometimes don't recover, so you need to give them TLC with marrows and veg tabs rather than expecting them to survive just on tank scraps and tank algae from the start. I also supply the trade with larger fish up 80mm or bigger, which obviously go for more..Panorama currently have stock of all sizes in CT and several shops in the S'suburbs.

Pleasure Luis, it will be my little donation to the 'MySchool' campaign

Would be prepared to if I got a biggish order ideally with a LPS to make it all worth it, rather than a trip out to the airport together with flight proof bagging and poly boxes, all for a couple of fish you know what I mean...

 

@Trevor, how many would you sell minimum that would be worth your time?
If you are willing to ship to me then I'll have a chat here with the local LFS and see if he wants any.


EDIT: Anyone else got any ideas for other more accessible uncommon plecos that look great?

 

Really? That's great, if you do pop in there and see anything cool please let me know. Maybe they will ship, although I doubt it.

 

You really need to see Trevors ancistrus in real life. Thay are amazing ! I currently have 2 and would have more if I had the space...

 

Yeah man, I saw the ones in his vid and they were really just out of this world, I can only image what they look like up close in person.

 

Of all the fish in my tank, the ancistrus is the one my 3yr old daughter always wants to see

 

Haha, it naturally just the steals all the the thunder. They are definitely some nice "standout" plecos.

 

Difficult one, 50 fish is the minimum amount I will make a special delivery to the Northern suburbs for, as it costs about one ancistrus for every Klm or two of petrol,so by the time I make a return trip I probably end up even, lol...oh what you do for this crazy hobby !

If you have folk flying down to Cape Town this is another option.

 

Bugger

I was hoping for much less but logically it makes sense. I think our biggest LFS would have a little trouble housing 50 of them. (Our shops are that small)
I thought there may be an easier way to ship these little guys. I guess its difficult/stressful for them, traveling.