What in the world? (L134)

[Ltygress]

A couple of years ago, these plecos were CHEAP. Less than $50, at least! Now they're all over the place for $100+! FOR BABIES! I can even find zebra plecos cheaper than some of these things are being listed for! What happened?

I know they are still legal to import. I know an importer who gets them very regularly from Brazil (part of Project PIABA). She said there has been NO mention of those getting on the ban list, so wild-caught specimens are still perfectly legal, all the way up the ladder to the source.

So what has become the deal with these guys that prices are jumping SO incredibly high?!?

[Jobro]

15-20€ for juveniles over here. They reporduce easily. No idea how the prices in the US went like that.

[bekateen]

Yeah, their prices are crazy here. That's why I bought mine in the UK.

[Ssevasta924]

I just bought 9 including shipping for $290.00 from discusnmore.com They're pretty small 3-3.5cm but I jumped at the opportunity and bought all of the fish he had in stock. I'm hoping to start a breeding colony after I grow them out. Years ago I got a group of six from Apistomaster but I never took the time to provide them with an ideal breeding environment. Back then they were more of just a pretty clean up crew for my discus. This seller at discusnmore also gives simplydiscus premium members 10% off which was nice.

[Ltygress]

Now that's a good price. But this $125 stuff is WAY too much!

I know a couple of people told me they thought wild imports had been banned. I corrected that, but I'm wondering if someone started a rumor JUST to drive up prices.

BTW, at Sunpet wholesaler, they are currently $42. That's incredibly expensive for a WHOLESALER.

[ClayT101]

Sunpet includes shipping though.

[YSR50]

Why does Sunpet list them as Peckoltia "vittata" though?

[pleco_breeder]

I do know that a rumor started circulating about these about a year ago. Several people had contacted me about getting fry as I was getting my tanks closed down for the move to Japan. All were telling me that L134 and L264 had been added to the ban list. Because I was closing down tanks, and not keeping track of any changes at the time, I didn't bother with trying to correct anything. I'm now assuming that speculation would be the basis for the price jump as before that $25-30 would buy two inch L134 relatively easily.