Quality online cichlid vendors?

[eyespot]

I recently lost my 10 year old F1 Nicaraguan male managuense and I'm having an unexpectedly difficult time tracking down another one online that's bigger than a couple inches. I usually deal with Tangledupincichlids but there's nothing listed and I checked out CichlidsoftheAmericas. I've also been checking in on the MFK vendors with no luck. Can anybody point me in the direction of a good online seller with quality stock? Unfortunately I live in the boonies so checking out local pet stores isn't an option. Ideally I want a confirmed male in the 5-7 inch range. Thanks for any help.

 

[ragin_cajun]

Those 2 are the only ones I deal with. You could try http://www.wetspottropicalfish.com, I bought some fish from them one time and it went ok. Floridatropicalfishdirect.com sent me some VERY nice Breidohri about 4-6 inches a few years back.

 

[kewpiefishypewpie]

I searched all of my go to's and can't find one that size, only juveniles. You could email some sites and ask them if they can special order a larger one.

 

[eyespot]

Thanks for the tips. For whatever reason it seems like vendors generally aren't keen on special requests. Wetspotropicalfish always has a good selection but all of their stock tends to run small. The other problem I've run into is minimum orders and people selling in lots like six juvies when all I want is one fish. I think the irony is jags are so common they're not big money makers so sellers probably don't bother with them. I'll probably just have to be patient.

 

[ragin_cajun]

I buy the 6 juvie and pick the best one now. It's too easy to get a sub standard specimen, or have one die, catch a disease, etc.

 

[eyespot]

Ragin cajun-just checked out the freshwatertropicalfishdirect and they have some 6-8 inch specimens in stock. Thanks for the heads up! The list is a few weeks old but hopefully they still have some in stock. Sending them an e-mail.

 

[ragin_cajun]

Pics when you get one. If they have those black and white ones with the tiny maze pattern, like NOT the Honduran ones, I might get some, too.

 

[eyespot]

Pics when you get one. If they have those black and white ones with the tiny maze pattern, like NOT the Honduran ones, I might get some, too.

I asked them if they had any pics of their stock so I'll see if they oblige and let you know. That's the biggest thing I don't like about ordering fish online is not being able to see what you're getting plus not being sure I'm getting the right sex. Like I mentioned my last male was F1 Nicaraguan. He was stunning with a lot of vivid purples and blues. I don't know the difference between Honduran and Nicaraguan stock.

 

[Jglenn213]

Very happy with my recent purchase from Jeff rapps at tangledupincichlids.

 

[ragin_cajun]

I'm not sure about this, still looking for real answers from somebody who knows a lot about Jags....but I THINK that "Honduran" Jags are black and white with a subdued gold tint on their body and blue in dorsal fins, and a bigger thicker barring in the black / white pattern.

The Nicaraguan Jags are a brighter white, with less or no gold tint in the body. They have a very fine/tiny black and white pattern on the body.

This is a picture from Mo Devlin of one of his "Honduran" Jags. http://www.thephotoforum.com/threads/jaguar-cichlid.136213/


A Nicaraguan, is I think more like the one in the video below.

Now, if I could find one with the very fine black / white pattern like in that youtube clip, I'd buy a 180 today and grow some out--they're awesome. I just don't know what collection point to look for.

 

[Fishnthehood]

WETSPOT is my go to but if your looking for large first check out Amazing Fish on Facebook.