Monopterus Albus

[Merbeast]

"Gold Tulip Eel" "Hong Kong Eel" "Rice Paddy Eel" "Asian Swamp Eel"

10 years ago, they were all over the place at fish stores (here in California)... Now I can't find them. What the heck? I checked with Fish and Game, and they are not banned here. Anyone know where I can get them? Checked all the online fish stores (at least the ones I know) and can't find any. I don't want to buy the $200+ dollar albino one on aquabid either, thankyouverymuch! Questions, comments, suggestions?!? I'm open to any ideas. Thanks!

 

[guppy]

Have you tried the buy+sell forum here? All I see on a quick search of the web are wholesalers.

 

[guppy]

Try here http://www.intlpet.net/hobbyist.html

 

[Merbeast]

Try here http://www.intlpet.net/hobbyist.html

Yeah, saw that. Unfortunately my lfs is unwilling to deal with international wholesalers. They have a local wholesaler that they use (as well as every other nearby fish store), and that local wholesaler doesn't seem to want to carry them. I actually talked to the local wholesaler and they said some bs like "they die a lot in captivity, so we don't want to carry them." Neons die a lot in captivity. Monopterus Albus has been kept alive for seven months in a moist towel with no food. http://www.sherpaguides.com/georgia/atlanta_urban_wildlife/rice_eel/

 

[Miles]

Many of those eels take special care requirements, and can be susceptible for fungal diseases.. You can't just treat them like any other wholesale fish, and turn a profit. They take extra time and attention, and that's probably what is detouring the wholesaler.. Not to mention jumping out.

Sounds like hes just making up excuses.. Eels tend not to have alot of profitability as well, as not many people purchase them frequently (like tetra).. People who want large eels, probably already own them.. People who do research realize they get huge.. They also ship them in high numbers with hardly in water, bringing down the initial cost.. So it might sound like a great deal to get a box of 50 eels.. but after you sell 2 in 2 months and still have 48 eels around for another year, you will remember not to re-order them.

Did you check asian fish markets that sell live food? I hear the Albus are commonplace at these places because of that low shipping cost.

 

[guppy]

The most common import use in the USA for these (live) is asian specialty markets, they are actually only a few bucks each when you find them. If you are near SF try chinatown.

In Portland, Or. the Fubonn Supermarket often carries these, Just found that out online. Try googling For local Asian markets that have live fish tanks.

 

[darthbravo]

Yeah i have one and i would love to get another one. When it was sold to me the guy said and i quote, "Its called a Gold Tulip eel and you'll probably never see another one". Mine is the only one i've ever seen. As for a price i paid $40 but i have heard that you can find them at live asian fish markets. If you find out where to get more let me know! Oh and i have seen them also called "Cobra Thai Eels"

A few pics