Is all hope lost? Mekong cat****ed?

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pelleeklund

pelleeklund

Peacock Bass
MFK Member
May 23, 2009
1,494
425
122
Pennsylvania
Thats it, this sucks. I've been living out the same nightmare for too long and I'm getting close to quitting. I have been searching high and low for a Paroon shark for over ten years and have suffered too many near misses and devastating failed promises to keep my head up. I will not buy one more god damned iridescent shark only to watch it swim like a jerk around my tank for years while not getting any bigger. It's not the same thing, it's a cop out. Please, anyone who owns one of these fish, let me know where you got yours, what you paid for it, how great it is, what it's like to look in the mirror and know that you have accomplished something I have worked so hard for, anything. Where are these fish imported to? And by whom? Am I allowed to board a plane with a fish in a bowl? I need some hope and any persons involved in any way with these catfish could help.
 
you must not be looking around. There are always people talking about their paroon sharks and there have been several this and last month giving some away for free.
 
I been looking around, I just haven't ran into any. Tough thing is I want to raise the fish from around 5-6 inches, not necessarily inherit a 2 footer. Most people aren't giving away a 5-6 inch fish. But either way these fish aren't common and unless they start selling them at my local shop its hard (for me) to find a vendor over the internet. I forgot to mention I have a wife and three kids now so I've got about 2 hours a night if im lucky to harass internet suppliers. Thats the reason for the thread, i need help from people who are better than I am at searching these fish out. Like you said, people got them and i'll be the first to admit i'm out of the loop. So i need leads, if at all possible, seeing I have proven since I was 15 that I can't locate this fish.
 
Pel- you are probably having the same problem that I am, bad location. Considering Memphis is a huge metro area and we have the central hub for FedEx who probably moves millions of fish right through this area, its hard to find what I want. Luckly i have scored a good relationship with a LFS owner who uses TFD and segrest and special orders fish if/when they become availible. MKMAN has it good being in CA and it is very frustration listening to all the MFKrs in CA, TX, FLA and overseas, who have better access to harder-to-find fish, talk about their fish, the great deal they got, the freee stuff we'd give a body part for and all the MFK meets. Hang in there, you'll find your cat. You just have to be patient. I still haven't found my P. granulosus catfish.

Here's a few tips for finding what you want in a bad fish town:
1st, make friends with the shop owner, most in memphis know me
2nd, ask which distributors they buy from and watch their availibility. when you see what you want, call the shop and ask to put it on their next order. (this is where the friends-with-owner part helps)
3rd, make is known that you help the shop. I make is known that i send a ton of business their way, i bs with the owner and if i have any fish i dont want, i'll give them to the shop. This is how i just got a $25 silver aro when retail is $60 here.
4th, internet. use sites like craigslist.org, the local paper ect.

Just be patient, you'll find one
 
Right on buddy I understand exactly, I've had the same problems with availability. I'm in pretty good with a bunch of guys at very decent shops and we have done enough wallet emptying transactions that a request like this wouldn't be too out of line. Thanks for the hope toehead your right, maybe I'm not leaning hard enough, I've asked as a second thought before but never really pressed it. This weekend I will go down specifically to inquire about the Paroon. I will find the guys I know and do some better detective work. And good luck with your fish as well my friend, ill keep my eye out for it while Im beating the streets. Very inspiring dude, i feel more positive now.
 
Pel, if you ever plan for an overseas vacation, come to Thailand. I dont know about the legality of bringing fish overseas, but if you come here and are able to bring them back, I'll make sure that you are able to start off with a 2 - 3 incher. Pangasius Sanitwongsei and I'll hook you up with a Pangasidon Gigas for good measure too.
 
kind of dramatic
 
I actually sympathize with his situation. Mine is more of the reverse though. I brought 2 fish as what i initially thought to be two very small ID sharks, but by a lucky mistake they turned out to be a pangasidon gigas and a pangasius sanitwongsei (I'm not used to calling it the Paroon Shark, over here its known as the Chao Phraya Giant Catfish)
 
Maverick much appreciated. You may see me there yet. Funny you should post man I think I have one of your pictures saved as my desktop on my mac. It's the one of the Paroon Red tail hybrid. Sick fish, honestly cooler than the paroon itself. Actually, speaking of the red tail, what do you think about it as an alternative if I have continued failures chasing the Chao Phraya? Your desktop has begun me thinking of ordering one, just the red tail of course, which is very possible. Still a cop out? The fish seems awesome.
 
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