Where To Find Butterfly Goodeid (ameca Splendens)

HI all. I'm relatively new to fishkeeping, but I'm friends with several other fishkeepers who give me advice. I have a 10 gallon that has been running for a few weeks and I've kept some wild-caught fish alive in it, but I've decided that I'd like to replace the wild-caught fish with some butterfly goodeids. I've been interested in raising endangered species for some time, and I recently found the CARES for Fish group, which lists Ameca splendens as extinct in the wild and commercially available. I've been doing some reading, and it looks like my tank parameters are good for that species (heavily planted, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, 20-40 nitrates, 7-7.5 pH, temp 78, tested weekly).

The problem now is how to acquire them. I've been looking online and several sources mentioned that it is raised commercially in Florida, where I am located, but I can't find any websites for Florida companies selling them. I have found companies that sell online, but their prices are high. How should I go about finding butterfly goodeids for sale or for free? I would post in the BSTF forum, but I don't have permissions to post there.

If this is the wrong forum, I apologize. I've read that butterfly goodeids produce many fry and people often have so many that they need to get rid of them, so I figured I'd ask around here and see if anyone knows where I could find some. If no one has any, I will probably just order online. Thanks!

Edit: I found the AquaBid auction mentioned by Jocelyn in the first reply and went ahead and bought the fish that were for sale. I've contacted the seller and I'm hopeful everything will work out well.

 

I believe I saw them recently on aquabid...

 

I believe I saw them recently on aquabid...

Thanks for letting me know about that! I just signed up for an account and hopefully I can register in time to bid.

 

This might be a good place to inquire about the availability.
Homepage

Going to specialized fish clubs in your area might be an option.

 

There is also a Facebook group killifish breeding conservation and maintenance, possible someone there may have some leads...
ashenwelt chromedome52 any ideas?

 

I kept them for many years, but decided to move on. I can say with no reservations that they should not be in a 10 gallon, ever. They are kind of hyper, and a 3 inch fish grown up (it takes a couple of years, but they get there). In cramped spaces, they are apt to get aggressive as well.
I had them in a 50 gallon single species tank. I used tens for babies, for the first month. After that, the tank was too small.

 

I kept them for many years, but decided to move on. I can say with no reservations that they should not be in a 10 gallon, ever. They are kind of hyper, and a 3 inch fish grown up (it takes a couple of years, but they get there). In cramped spaces, they are apt to get aggressive as well.
I had them in a 50 gallon single species tank. I used tens for babies, for the first month. After that, the tank was too small.

I'll keep that in mind.

This might be a good place to inquire about the availability.
Homepage

Going to specialized fish clubs in your area might be an option.

If the auction thing falls through, I'll check this out. Thanks.

 

Ask Select Aquatics when they will have them in stock again. They should give you a date... and they DO sell them.

They specialize in rare and endangered. But when dealing with these rare and endangered... please focus on breeding and putting those fish further into the hobby. We need to look at aquaria as backup populations. Otherwise... they may end.

Oddly, that group listed by Jocelyn will be another possible source and you could easily sell them. They are some of the most hard core protectors and collectors of exotic and rare fish anywhere... and their focus is breeding. They are basically the AKA FB group.

 

Ask Select Aquatics when they will have them in stock again. They should give you a date... and they DO sell them.

They specialize in rare and endangered. But when dealing with these rare and endangered... please focus on breeding and putting those fish further into the hobby. We need to look at aquaria as backup populations. Otherwise... they may end.

Oddly, that group listed by Jocelyn will be another possible source and you could easily sell them. They are some of the most hard core protectors and collectors of exotic and rare fish anywhere... and their focus is breeding. They are basically the AKA FB group.

I've bookmarked their page and I'll take a look at it in a bit. The fact that Ameca splendens is extinct in the wild is actually why I chose that species. I've been wanting to get involved in captive breeding endangered species for a while now. caresforfish.org keeps a list of commercially available endangered species, and A. splendens looked like a good option, since it is hardy and a prolific breeder.

 

Ameca splendens is not extinct, but it is critically endangered. Two previously unknown populations were found a few years ago, and the locations are being protected.

A Killifish group is not where you go to discuss a Goodeid livebearer. Join the as they have access to many breeders, and a convention in the US every spring (usually late April or early May). There is also the Goodeid Working Group, lots of information there.

I would not keep them in anything less than a 30 inch long tank.

 

Ameca splendens is not extinct, but it is critically endangered. Two previously unknown populations were found a few years ago, and the locations are being protected.

A Killifish group is not where you go to discuss a Goodeid livebearer. Join the as they have access to many breeders, and a convention in the US every spring (usually late April or early May). There is also the Goodeid Working Group, lots of information there.

I would not keep them in anything less than a 30 inch long tank.

Found their page on A. splendens. Good to hear that they found wild populations. I'm still gonna keep it, though, because it seems like a good beginner fish, and it can't hurt to have backup populations, just in case. I'll check out the American Livebearer Association.

 

Chromedome52 is right. This kind is not extinct but endangered.
My own experience with Ameca splendens is that they don't have large numbers of fry. Overhere (I still keep and breed them) the average number is 15 fry. But they're large in size when they're born overhere.

 

I believe I saw them recently on aquabid...

^ I second the vote for aquabid. I have had a lot of success through there.