Butterfly

According to http://www.zebrapleco.com/ Females reach sexual maturity at 2.5 yrs and males at 3-4 yrs. That's a long time to wait for fry after the kind of cash outlay that is required to purchase these beauties.
If you can find them and afford them I wish you all the luck in the world but don't expect to get rich
Welcome to FishLore !
Carol

Slug

Yes, its getting them to sexual maturity thats the work and wait.

Neji

They actually go around $700 to $1,000 they are very very rare.

How does he raise them? they are one of the hardest fishes to breed and you have to get them from the wild usually. Is the breeder place that sells them cheap? Or does he sell them for an expensive price?

Toddnbecka

Are they legal to import into Peru? It seems ironic, I was just watching a presentation by someone who has made numerous trips to Peru to collect and bring back fish.
Tank-raised juvies sell for around $200 USD here; what does that come out to after currency exchange?

Slug

Zebra Plecos are no longer being imported. Any young ones you see for sale are pretty much tank bred. There have been many successful spawnings. Problems people have is just acquiring enough of them to start a nice breeding group.

I just missed a deal to get them at $200 each through my local club. They went for $500-700 at the ACA in Atlanta in 2008. The guy selling them had a tank full (15+). If you look in the right places you can still find some for $200-250 each.

m-corbett1

if u look harder u can get them for cheaper ;]

SWilkins

Okay now I am already on a pleco kick....where can you find them cheaper? Like I need more fish. Of course I do get to setup some more tanks when we get everything moved....hopefully by the end of the week or maybe even before. Keep us posted on your search for the zebra pleco.

m-corbett1

okay so i gave up on the zebra pleco search... but through my efforts i did find them =] ... but I decided to just not get them. If you all want a good deal on them go to canadianaquatics.com ..... email the guy and ask about them... he gave me a great deal if i wanted them... 3 for a little more than the price that he posted for one haha. I hope that I have made your endless search for these beautiful fish much easier... and maybe if you get them and breed them off you could send your good ol' friend mikey from NY a nice lil' token of gratitude ... *cough.zebrapleco.cogh* .. jk... unless ur not.. haha .. anyway thanks for everyones help.