Zebra pleco fry - $250

[ameekplec]

On price network:

http://www.pricenetwork.ca/showthread.php?threadid=188789

Zebra pleco fry, $250: 3/4" - 1"

[Zebrapl3co]

A bit pricey.
It's kind of funny the way people keep hoping that the prices of the zebras will eventually drop. If that where true, it would've drop years ago.

The problem is that the zebras aren't going to breed themselves like the BN pleco. And even when they breed, it's 1/3 the size of the batch. You have to do so much work and you have to change so much water and buy expensive food to grow these guys that it's difficult to grow them out to a sellable size.
Alot of stores aren't willing to chance any fry smaller than 1". At the smallest, most ask for 2" in size. But to grow a zebra to 2" in size, will take you at least 1 1/2 - 2 years.
That's alot of expensive food and water changes in 2 years. You would make more money breeding albino BN plecos or the long fin ones.
And ofcourse, the recent popular calico plecos.

[CanadaPleco]

It's true...

I am honestly thinking of selling my zebras.

[ameekplec]

Well, as long as something is difficult to obtain, difficult to make more of and the demand is there for them, then the price will always be up. I'm sure even if they were to open exports again, prices would still go up, even if there is a perceived increase in supply, as there would probably be an increase in demand anyways.

Anyways, my two cents. If you really wanted them, then you'd go out to get them.

[24/7]

Another Eg. Do you really feel the blue eyed Pan is worth $1800
???

I guess if you have always wanted one sure, supply and demand

Peace

[Zebrapl3co]

Oh, don't get me wrong. You do make money from them. It's just not as much as people think, thats all. And it's a lot of hard work and you have to be really good at growing them up without any deaths or mishapes.
If I was in it for the money only. I think it would've been more profitable to go after breeding the latest popular plecos (like the callicos pleco). Or the plecos that laid large batches of eggs and grow really fast and breed every 30 or 40 days. Namely the BN plecos or the leapard frog or the long fin.

[Rush2112]

How much would you be selling your zebra plecos for? Do you have any for sale now?

[CanadaPleco]

I am conisdering selling my zebras. Prob for the same price as the PN ad. However mine are much older and bigger then the ones in this ad above. I also have an adult which I believe to be a female that I'll sell for more $$ though, prob $400.

[KnaveTO]

If you are selling some of your plecs I would definately be interested to add to the 4 that I already have

[PlecosRus]

that does look steep, 2-2.5" should be priced around $250, but that's just my opinion.