My attempt to sell HRPs to LFS=fail

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cichlidfish

cichlidfish

Peacock Bass
MFK Member
Jun 18, 2005
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I went to five different LFS to sell HRP youngsters and no one knew what they were and I kept hearing "cichlids don't sell we'll". I was a bit shocked by that.
The one LFS that didn't know what they were asked me to send an email w/ info an pics. I never got an returned calls or emails.
A few months later I go into the LFS and guess what they had for sale-"HRPs". The funny thing is that they were labeled as HRPs but I'm pretty sure they were convict/HRP hybrids lol.
Anyway I gave a bunch of the fish away to friends and keeping the rest.


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It's never easy selling fish (especially fry) to LFS mainly because most of the times they have no idea what you're trying to sell them and they don't want to (or need to) take risks. Sometimes the employees you try to deal with are not even in charge of what is sold there, they don't make any decisions. The owners do all of their business with wholesalers (cheaper) that keep all kinds of records and have policies that would make them responsible for any problems with the stock, so there's no business in taking unknown fish from random people.

Only way most LFS will take any fish from customers is when it's for free, but sometimes even that won't work, I've given healthy large cichlids worth a few bucks to local LFS only to find out later that they were flushed down the toilet or thrown away in the trash; always with the dumb (albeit valid) excuse that they can't risk introducing foreign diseases to their stock. You would have to be a well-known and reputable local fish-keeper in order to have a chance at doing these types of business with local stores.

That's why most of us just feed our fry to other fish, cuz unless you own a LFS or are friends with the owner of one, no one will take them.
 
^^^^^I have two LFS'S that buy all my unwanted fish one pays 1/3 retail the other 1/2 retail ... matter of fact I went yesterday and traded in all the fish I didn't want for one pbass. View attachment 763585js

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omg i could walk into 20 lfs here and they wouldnt know what hrps are, nor festae, motas, none of those fancy things. my hubby tried to trade in a pair of F0 rapps rainbow cichlids once and they had no idea what they were dealig with they told him it was just another brown cichlid and offered $5 or something rediculous. By the way to the op ill buy your hrps :)
 
Where I live most stores will give store credit, although most fish must be 2" or more. 1/2" or less fry are worth practically nothing.
Many cities have aquarium societies that have bi-annual auctions, swap meets, or mini auctions at meetings, these are much better places go unload excess fish. Where I live HRPs are very common, at the last auction they were going approx 5/$1.00 or $2, a bag of 5 dovii, the same. And just as another example, a mated pair of medium 7" & 5"haits went for $10. I find it easier to give fish away or trade with friends, when my haits were spawning, I probably gave away or traded hundreds.
 
In my area local fish stores are picky unless they know who you are and how well you maintain your fish. If they are all beat to heal or have a little make some won't do anything for you but seein as how my buddy and I know some store owners we are lucky enough to be able to trade are fish in and or swap fish for what thy have


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The few stores that still remain around here don't even give credit for unwanted fish.....but they will gladly take them for free.
 
woofy said:
omg i could walk into 20 lfs here and they wouldnt know what hrps are, nor festae, motas, none of those fancy things. my hubby tried to trade in a pair of F0 rapps rainbow cichlids once and they had no idea what they were dealig with they told him it was just another brown cichlid and offered $5 or something rediculous. By the way to the op ill buy your hrps :)
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Yup that is how it is in my area. You have a better chance buying any cichlid at pet smart or pet co. The one LFS takes free cichlids but that is it. They had one stupid kid there that told me you could keep an Oscar in a 40g for life lol.
There is one LFS that is about 30 miles from me that has a great sellection of cichlds, but they have a "no buy" policy". That is where I get mine other then from Rapps.
I have about 8 HRP left (gave some away others were eaten) that are 1-2". I think I will be keeping them, but if I breed again I will let you know:)
 
It is really interesting to hear how similar a lot of LFS are in different areas.
I still can't get over the "cichlids don't sell" thing though. The majority of the stock is small community fish only.
Also the owners don't seem to know much about fish either. I would think someone would open a LFS because they are passionate about fish, because there really isn't very profitable business.
 
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