Select Aquatics of Erie, CO.
 

Species and Products for Sale

 

     To Buy: Follow each link to the species page. To order, simply email me at selectaquatics@gmail.com or call or text me at 
     (303) 204-8662. After trying a variety of payment options, customers have preferred to simply deposit funds into the
     selectaquatics@gmail.com Paypal account at the Paypal site after contacting me.  If you do not wish to sign into Paypal, and 
     wish to pay by credit card, a simple, secure Paypal billing invoice can be sent to your email address for payment if requested.

     Wait Lists: If you would like a fish currently being wait listed, simply email me and I will put you on the wait list and contact
     you as soon as they can be shipped. No payment is made until just before delivery, but payment needs to be made before
     shipment can take place. Adding your name to a wait list requires no obligation- you are simply offered the fish when it
     becomes available, and you can choose to wait wait until another time, or taken off the wait list entirely at any time. 
     Pricing may change with availability, and usually, (unless stated otherwise), 1-3 extra fish of each species ordered are 
     added at no charge to cover any that may be lost in shipping, though losses are rare.

     Some of the more challenging species can be slow to breed, or breed only seasonally, and a fish being put on to a wait list
     may mean a wait of longer than a couple months until they are again available. The intent of Select Aquatics, however, is to
     maintain these species for the future- a fish may be wait listed, but it will again be available, as soon as possible. We are
     now at 130 tanks here, and at just 30 species, so those species in need of extra tank space to grow and breed properly can
     be provided with what they need.

     Wait List Only Fish- The breeding habits and high demand of some species may require availability from wait lists only-
     as young sex out, the next person on the wait list is contacted and the fish are offered for sale. Obviously the goal is to
     provide enough tanks to allow numbers to increase making this a short term solution. As Select Aquatics grows, I am
     constantly adding tanks to make that happen- the C. lateralis, S. multipunctata and Limia nigrofasciata are species 
     where demand has been greater than their reproduction, and supply issues for these fish are being addressed.
     I keep close tabs on my wait lists, and you can always ask how far out a fish is from being available. A newsletter is currently
     being prepared that will go out in the next few months with updates, photos and articles on keeping these fish to better
     keep in touch with wait list customers and others on the lookout for quality rare and beautiful livebearer species.

     An effort is being made to maintain a stable collection of species that changes rarely, providing a consistent resource
     for species that are in demand and stay routinely difficult to find. To see the current lineup of species currently being
     kept by Select Aquatics, please see Species Lineup. Those available for sale will be listed and updated on the Home Page,
     as well as those species that are unavailable temporarily, and their pages will stay posted at this site. For those species
     that require more time to return to sellable numbers, their pages will be taken down temporarily and put back up when
     they are again either available for sale or are being wait listed to be soon available again. If a species is entirely
     discontinued- hopefully a very rare and infrequent occurrence, its mention will be removed from this page as well as the
     Species Lineup Page.

     Shipping- I keep in close touch with all customers throughout the ordering and shipping process, and use USPS overnight
     Express Mail and Priority Mail exclusively, as they are much less expensive, and the success rate has been very good.
     I will ship by UPS or FedEx when requested. Rates vary by distance from Denver, and size and weight of the box. When
     an order is made I must estimate the shipping cost- if I ever overestimate on an order (except Aquabid orders where
     shipping is stated in the ad) by more than $6 I will refund the difference. There is no handling charge.

     Overnight Express Mail for 2 pair of young fish or 6 fry, shipped within the continental U.S. averages $45, Priority Mail
     averages $25. Rates gradually increase as the weight and size of the box increases. All fish are not fed 24-48 hrs. prior 
     to being shipped, and are sent in a carefully packed styrofoam box, the fish professionally impulse sealed into comfortable,
     individual chambers in breather bags. See Receiving Shipped Fish for more detail.

     Comments: If you have any comments, questions, suggestions or complaints, please do not hesitate to contact me.
     I respond to all emails within 24 hours, and enjoy conversations with customers regarding the hobby, the fish that are
     sold here, why some species are offered and others aren't, and how to attain the greatest results.
     A stable, consistent selection of species will be offered as Select Aquatics grows, (see Species Lineup)
     and which species those continue to be is dependant on demand and the feedback I receive. I look forward to the continued
     conversations and providing fish that often cannot be found anywhere else!

     Thank you for checking out this site and buying from Select Aquatics- your purchase supports keeping these fish in the
     hobby, and contributes to maintaining populations of these beautiful animals that are disappearing from the wild.
 

     Greg Sage- Owner
     selectaquatics.com
     selectaquatics@gmail.com
     303-204-8662
 

     Available Now:

     Alfaro cultratus- 6 fry- $25.00, $6.00 as adults.  The Knife Livebearer
     A beautiful, easy going, hardy but delicate looking species. Yellow with blue and black highlights, 3.5 inches.    

   - These are doing well, with many for sale of all age groups. Fairly prolific, I keep the breeder adults in a 50 gallon long
     with lots of java fern, keeping them well fed, with moderate water changes. Females are moved to have  their young,
     which are then raised in separate tanks with BBS and a variety of dry foods.

     - This population is stable and doing well, with a variety of all ages available for sale.

     Ameca splendens- $7.50 as adults, 5 fry- $30
     An especially attractive line of the original wild population, these are a striking, hardy and fairly prolific goodeid.
     Now essentially considered extinct in teh wild, theis species used to be distributed throughout the hobby and is
     now less commonly seen.

     -Reintroduced after a number of requests for them, it was discontinued only about 6 months ago. I was able to
     re-obtain the same stock and am breeding it back out again. A few can be made available, but its numbers should
     be back up within 1-2 months.  Email selectaquatics@gmail.com  for current availability.

     Danio roseus- $6.00 each as young, sexed adults.

     -These are new to Select Aquatics, and are simply a larger (2.5-3.0 inches) beautiful, reflective royal blue fish with
      red fins that does well with livebearers. Not a hobby hybrid, these were imported from Thailand and are a pure
      strain. An excellent non- aggressive schooling community fish, they also breed fairly easily in typical Danio fashion.

      - Approximately 50 adults have grown out and are at their full color. To make room for more livebearers this
      fish will be discontinued after these are sold.

      Xenotoca eiseni- $7.50 as adults
      Both a particularly hardy and attractive Goodeid, these are available as young adults. The females will drop 5-15
      fry approximately every 60 days, and she should be separated to a small planted tank of her own, as they can be
      fry eaters.

      - I obtained a large group of young adults, and will begin breeding them here to always have them going. They are
      doing well, and I expect they should be dependably available after spawns begin this spring.

     Ilyodon furcidens-  5 fry- $30.00, $7.50 as adults  A "Trout Goodeid"
     A colorful, beautifully marked larger goodeid that looks like a miniature U.S. native bass or trout. This species is one of
     the Ilyodon species known as the "trout" or "basslet" goodeid. This is a striking fish, and will look unlike anything else
     in your aquarium. They are peaceful and non-aggressive, but as adults can hold their own with larger fish when challenged.    

   - These have really taken off, and truly begun to consistently show the intense, complex markings I have been selecting for.
     A recent pic just posted at the species page and on the homepage shows the quality of the current breeders. This is definitely
     a fish that is enjoyable to look at, breed and work with. There are a large number of all ages available, but young fish ship
     much better than adults. A very cool, distinctive fish that doesn't look like anything else kept in the hobby.

     Limia "Tiger", Lake Miragoane, Haiti-  5 fry- $30.00, $6.50 as sexed out adolescents.  The Tiger Limia
     Still formally unidentified, an attractive new species from Haiti with distinctive vertical bars.

    -These are hardy, and when provided with fairly clean conditions and water changes, they reproduce easily. Not big fry eaters,
     a layer of Java Moss or  fine leaved plants ensures that most young will reach adulthood. Generally females are removed to have
     their young, which are then raised separately.  Closely related  to the Limia nigrofasciata, the males also take until they reach full
     size to fully sex out, and are best bought as groups of fry. 

     Neocaridina spp./ Grass/ Algea Shrimp-  $.50   
     A small algea eating shrimp that does not bother livebearer fry, great cleaning shrimp, prolific. .75 inch

   -These are available in fairly large quantities. Though listed at .50 each, I generally send a healthy sized group of at least 20
     for $10.
    
     

     Puntius padamya "Odessa", Burma-  6 fry- $30.00, $7.50 as adults  Odessa Barb
     Reputed to have the brightest red of any freshwater fish, this fish is truly breathtaking. 2 inches

   - We have many of these, but the males take 7-8 months to develop the red stripe. Until then it is difficult to distinguish
     them from the females. Best in groups of 5 or more, unsexed groups of 6 are available that offer both future pairs
     and a group large enough to show their schooling behavior. Recent improvements have led to brilliantly red fish.
     being recreated here, resulting in fish possessing color like nothing else available for the home aquarium.

     Vinegar Eel Starter Culture-  $5.00  A tiny aquatic nematode used to feed small fry

   - I keep a supply of about 30 2-liter containers going, and ship in plastic bottles or breather bags. When shipped with an order
     of fish there is no extra shipping charge.

     Xiphophorus alvarezi-  6 fry- $30.00, $7.50  The Blue Swordtail
     Arguably the most beautiful of any Xiphophorus swordtail. A striking blue sheen covers the caudal peduncle in the males,
     some of whom will turn a near solid red as they get older. Prolific, 3.5 - 4.5 inches
      
    -These have proven to be very hardy, and this line will occasionally throw mutations, including an occasional albino.
     Females are separated to have their young, which are then raised up separately.

     Xiphophorus alvarezi, Gold- $10 each Also bred from mutations of the wild X. alvarezi, this line has been in production
     for over 4 years, and has begun to produce large, husky brightly colored fish that are both hardy and prolific.

   - Many of these are growing out and being chosen for sale based on size and color. Email selectaquatics@gmail.com
     for current availability. Fry and occasional young pairs are available,  

     Xiphophorus mayae, Rio Bellaire, Honduras-  6 1-6 mos. old fish- $25.00
     The largest swordtail by body size in the world, rare in the hobby, only identified recently (1992) and a very beautiful fish. 5+ inches.
     
   - These are doing great and many are available. This has proven to be a very prolific line, and when well fed
     generally do not eat their fry. We have about 15 breeders in a 40 gallon with lots of Java fern, going in monthly to remove
     fry. Check out the recent video  of the breeders, some just under 6 inches! Best bought in groups of 6 young (and with shipping,
     8 are usually sent, as available), so that the hobbyist can grow them out to their full size with frequent feedings of quality food,
     adequate aeration and water changes. Recently, we have stopped selling near adults or adult fish (Except by request, and
     when available), because they grow so large. It became impossible to provide the space required to sell adult fish at their
     full size, and I did not want to ship fish that weren't as large as they could have been. This way you can raise them up as big
     as you like, with all the space and food they need!

     Xiphophorus montezumae, Tomosopo-  $7.50 each, 2 pair minimum. 6 fry- $40. This is the fish with the longest sword in   
     the world, often exceeding 1-1/2 times its body length! A beautiful, elegant fish with black and gold markings, it can get quite large,
     usually past 5 inches. A magnificent fish.

  -  This line of montezumaes has been very popular, and I recently sold down to my adult breeding pairs.
      Many young are growing out, and they are available. See the video here.  Email selectaquatics@gmail.com for availability.

     This was my "Holy Grail" fish when I first started keeping wild fish, and finding a pair at that time took me over a year!
     Having this fish available for everyone is one of the main  reasons I started Select Aquatics.  I am pleased to finally provide
     access to them for hobbyists on demand, in larger numbers, and at an affordable price.   
    

     Zoogoneticus tequila-  5 fry- $30.00, $7.50 as adults.
     Long believed to be extinct in the wild, this pretty fish has been the subject of many so far unsuccessful attempts to
     reintroduce it to the wild. A very special fish.

   - This fish is now doing very well, with many available of all age groups. This fish has generally bred seasonally for me,
    in that their breeding declines during the winter months. But their numbers are up and they are ready to go in groups of
    fry or pairs.

    
Articles:

     Previously published articles such as "Beginning and Maintaining a Selective Breeding Program", "Raising BIG Fish",
     Moving Fishrooms and an article on building and maintaining an automatic, no drilling of tanks Water Changing System.
     Other authors have also begun to contribute free articles, posted on that page. Currently there are articles on the high fin
     mollies and the development of the high fin mayae that are posted free for use.

     Rapid Grow Fertilizer:

    Recently developed here at Select Aquatics after years of searching for an effective plant fertilizer for larger fishrooms
     that is both amazing as a fertilizer and inexpensive, each 6 oz. container will treat over 40,000 gallons. This 10-5-14
     general use fertilizer is mixed at 1.5 teaspoons per gallon of water, then dosed at 1.5 oz. per 30 gallon aquarium, and
     you only need to fertilize once a month. It is currently $12 per container with $8.00 shipping.


   
 Available Soon:
          

     Characodon lateralis, Los Berros- $10.00 each  The Rainbow Goodeid
     Considered to be the most beautiful goodeid, it is also critically endangered and not easy to find in the hobby. This is a
     partcularly bright red line that I have been selectively breeding for especially intense red and black coloring throughout the
     body, as well as the fins.

   - This fish is currently wait-listed until their numbers pick back up. I expect them to be available again soon. A fish that
     tends to breed seasonally, young are being grown out as breeders for the spring and hopefully they will be available
     in larger numbers once again. A recent video (March 2013) shows where they are today.     

      Jenynsia lineata, Arroyo India Moreta, Uruguay - $10.00 each as young adults. Highly desired in the hobby, this species
      has a distinctive appearance and has the unjustified reputation for being slightly more difficult to maintain and breed.
      Information provided in the Care Guide has proven to make this population easy to keep and care for, hardy and prolific.

   - Recently collected from Uruguay for Select Aquatics, this beautiful line is doing well and reproducing quickly.
     This population displays the same dark, well defined linear markings of populations previously in the hobby, but
     are proving to be particularly hardy and prolific. An active schooling fish, when well fed frequently with occasional
     higher protein foods these grow quickly and will drop 5-15 large young roughly every 6-8 weeks. (depending on temperature)
     A group of approximately 50 young adults is about to start producing young, and it will be those fry that
     will be sold, hopefully available spring 2013. A few pairs are available now, simply email selectaquatics@gmail.com .

     Limia nigrofasciata, Lake Miragoane, Haiti-  5 fry- $30.00,  $7.50 as adults,  The Humpback Limia
     Rarer in the hobby than it should be, the male develops a raised back with striking dorsal and body markings.
     2.0 inches

  - This is a distinctive fish you do not see very often. The males are the most interesting looking livebearer kept.
     Females may reach 2 inches, males slightly smaller. After a recent setback these are coming back and beginning
     to drop fry again. They should be regularly available again shortly.    

     Xiphophorus alvarezi, albino-  $10 each. Bred out from mutations born to the X. alvarezi line offered at this site, a pure white
     or translucent fish with deep red stripes has been the goal. This has become a very pretty, delicate fish in appearance.

     -These are slowly coming along, and I am holding off on selling them until individuals with the multiple bright red striping become
     the norm, such as is the case with the breeders (see Video). Though producing many beautiful fish, the predominant red coloring
     is not as set in recent fry as I had hoped. The red does increase with age, and a few breeding pairs continue to produce fry.
     Hopefully, with good color and size young adolescents should be available shortly.     

     Xiphophorus helleri, Rio Otapa-   $10.00 young sexed adults, 6 fry- $40
     Introduced to the hobby in 2011, these are possibly the largest and one of the most colorful wild X. helleri populations
     in the hobby. Some young males will show a bright yellow stripe above their thick brown lateral line, which will fade as
     they get older and a bright red speckled dorsal fin takes prominence.

     - Once established breeding pairs are in place they are proving to be fairly prolific, but this population has tended to
     produce spawns that are male heavy. This is a tendency that can settle down as they are kept in aquarium conditions
     after a few generations (The alfaro cultratus also used to do this, but now breeds pretty close to 50/50). It may be best
     to sell these only after they are old enough that clear females can be identified. Many fry are growing out to be offered
     for sale  months shortly.

.     _______________________________________________________________________________

    Many species are being developed or worked on for the future, and will be introduced to the lineup as they become
    available for sale. If you wish to be added to the wait list for a fish being developed, or wish to ask what is coming,
    simply email me at selectaquatics@gmail.com. The site is regularly updated, and the availability listing is kept
    current at the homepage.

         ________________________________________________________


     I currently raise most fish sold by Select Aquatics, and generally maintain large quantities of each species offered so that
     the fish you receive are genetically as stable as possible with proven, well known breeding consistency and hardiness.
     With newly created lines, understandably, the fish may not yet breed entirely true. When you order, I generally add extras to ensure   
     that you will always receive at least what you have paid for. If a species offered is not currently available, please email me with 
     how many you would like and I will put you on a wait list, and contact you as soon as they can be shipped.

     I will update the site regularly. Younger fish travel better, acclimate more easily and cost less to ship, so I will generally ship younger
     fish whenever possible. For information on gently acclimating your new fish to your water conditions, see Receiving Shipped Fish
     and Keeping Select Aquatics Fish. For further, more in depth information on how each of these species is kept and bred here,
     see the Care Information page for each species provided at each species page and from the Homepage.

   
   
     Greg Sage, Owner, Select Aquatics of Erie,  CO.
     selectaquatics@gmail.com

 

 

 

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