Victorian frustrations - part 2

[StructureGuy]

I've raised a lot of Haplochromis sp "Ruby Greens" and I gave away around 200 fry between Thanksgiving and Christmas to nine local hobbyests. I advertised the freebies in the local club forum.

Now today I see one of the "buyers" (if we can even call him that) has advertised in that same forum that he has around 25 Ruby Greens available for $1.50 each.

Kevin

[RustyNut]

I feel your pain Kev

[deadman-1]

kevin,
i too have had that very problem.
i donated over 400 xystichromis phytophagus to various clubs, for there breeding program and so on. now i see advertisements for them all over the place, all around the country. we might not care to make a buck and are more concerned with them being bred and distributed by responcible breeders.
on the bright side this person showed their true charictor and youll know next time. also they are still being distributed. its crazy how 12.00 can make folks change.:dead:

[Jcushing]

wow thats low, i mean really is 40 bux worth being a slimeball over?

im assuming you mentioned something in his for sale post?

[Steve C]

You want I should kill em boss? Always loved that line.....

Call shenanigans. That's just plain wrong.

[MisanthropeKitty]

you know, it really sucks when you have this happen. i havent had it with fish but the cloth diaper world is just as bad when it comes to people taking advantage of your kindness. i have seen women tell sob stories about losing their houses and having no heat in -10* weather and people will go out of their way to send them ANYTHING to make them feel better and then next thing you turn around they are reselling your free GIFT to make money!! it sucks bc there is nothing you can do about it :( sorry kevin some people only see dollar signs on things

[Glaive]

Contact the club leaders, there has to be some bi-law.

[RustyNut]

This what happens when people receive gifts, as Kitty points out, many people take what they need and turn the rest into cash for things they don't need...

[Steve C]

Time for a little "Operation Repo" aquarium style.

Probably shouldn't use hooks on the net though.

I would be interested in fry if you ship, during the warmer weather.

[Jeff F.]

Sad to hear stuff like this when I know they're recieving some of the best on the market. Some of us truly appreciate such a gesture, others will never figure it out. Karma works in strange ways. His day will come. Please put me on the list when it warms up. You know I'll do the right thing with the fish in regards to preserving as pure a strain as possible.

[Chromedome]

On the one hand, at least you know they aren't distributing hybrid fry. They could have at least waited long enough to be able to claim that they've got a buck and a half's worth of food into them. However, if people know there was someone giving them away recently, it is unlikely that he will sell any.

I have a rule about giving fish to people. You get one chance to prove yourself, then you go on the list of people who are never given anything again; and if the offense is particularly egregious, they may not even be sold fish directly. I gave one fellow some fish in exchange for a future article for my club's bulletin. A cheap price, but three years later he has not paid up, and I will even go out of my way to prevent him getting fish, if I can afford it. I am a vindictive S.O.B.

I also have a short list of people who I freely give fish to, and I occasionally get fish from them in return. It's called my "draft choice" list, from a late friend who used to follow the same practices. "I give you these fish in exchange for a future draft choice." Two of the three other top breeders in our club are on this list; the third is strictly straight trade, as he is a mercenary, and cannot be fully trusted most of the time.

I will also give fish to beginners who seem promising as future hobbyists. They tend to listen to those who treat them well, and it is easier to encourage good habits. I have yet to be disappointed by an eager beginner, which makes me feel good.

[Jeff F.]

On the one hand, at least you know they aren't distributing hybrid fry. They could have at least waited long enough to be able to claim that they've got a buck and a half's worth of food into them. However, if people know there was someone giving them away recently, it is unlikely that he will sell any.

I have a rule about giving fish to people. You get one chance to prove yourself, then you go on the list of people who are never given anything again; and if the offense is particularly egregious, they may not even be sold fish directly. I gave one fellow some fish in exchange for a future article for my club's bulletin. A cheap price, but three years later he has not paid up, and I will even go out of my way to prevent him getting fish, if I can afford it. I am a vindictive S.O.B.

I also have a short list of people who I freely give fish to, and I occasionally get fish from them in return. It's called my "draft choice" list, from a late friend who used to follow the same practices. "I give you these fish in exchange for a future draft choice." Two of the three other top breeders in our club are on this list; the third is strictly straight trade, as he is a mercenary, and cannot be fully trusted most of the time.

I will also give fish to beginners who seem promising as future hobbyists. They tend to listen to those who treat them well, and it is easier to encourage good habits. I have yet to be disappointed by an eager beginner, which makes me feel good.
I really like the way you think. I would also love the opportunity to prove myself as a promising beginner to the upholding of good cichlid ethics. I'm not far from you and would gladly trade off fish as I have them available. The owner of my LFS gave me the # of a cichlid freak from Benton Harhor named Jason. I haven't called him yet. Perhaps you know him. I'm expecting some xystichromis phytophagus from Trent Stoner in Grosse Ile this week also. Captain Cichlid is also from around your area.(nice fish)
Not to divert from Kevins topic but my point is this, people with the top strains in our hobby have an established name. Blemishing your name over a few fry is not really thinking IMO.

[Mac]

Yeah, I'd have a hard time living with myself. If he wants to wait a year, and this crop of fry start breeding, and he wants to sell the next generation, more power to him. At the very least, he could have contacted you first and got your blessing.

Oh, well. A few fry is a small price to pay to find out who is trustworthy in this world.

[StructureGuy]

However, if people know there was someone giving them away recently, it is unlikely that he will sell any.

Yea, I've pretty much saturated the local market. I've always figured that once you give something away you can't worry about what the other person does with it. It's theirs to with as they please, no strings attached.

I don't really know the person (not a club member) but I know he is a 23 year old with two large tanks keeping tankbusters. He said he wanted to "try" some african cichlids for a change. In his for sale post, he seemed impatient for them to color up and just decided to give up on them.

I just wish he would have extended some one else the same courtesy I extended to him. At least he didn't flush them.

Oh well.
Kevin

[LadyBarbara001]

I'm rereading this thread, and seeing future problems personally. A few people have given me the advice that free things aren't well appreciated. I trust most of the members in my local club, and have decided that most of the fry that I produce will be given to the club's projects as donations, to be distributed as the leader of that project sees fit. I don't think I can personally charge for my fry, as my whole goal is to distribute these as widely as I can, but it's hard to know when the person receiving the gift actually values it. When it comes to endangered species, and especially rare ones, I would have a difficult time deciding who would value it.

[BarroomHero]

I want some free fish! Ill cover the shipping. lol.

People are horrible. I would love to get more into vics, but one of my problems is that no one in Las Vegas seems to be into fish, I can't even seem to give fish away or the people that do contact me want to put africans in their 30 gallon with 3 oscars and a pacu.

[LadyBarbara001]

I want some free fish! Ill cover the shipping. lol.

People are horrible. I would love to get more into vics, but one of my problems is that no one in Las Vegas seems to be into fish, I can't even seem to give fish away or the people that do contact me want to put africans in their 30 gallon with 3 oscars and a pacu.


That's a hard position to be in, for sure. I'm lucky in the fact that my local club can and will help me distribute the species that I keep. Which is great, because I have close to 100 Xystichromis phytophagus fry. I haven't been able to count them all, but I've got 4 10 gallon tanks stuffed with them. Most of those fry will be donated to our Lake Victoria Project, to disburse at various clubs.

Is there a cichlid club near you? That may be your answer to distributing fry.

Oh, and that first statement? I've heard that more than once! In different words, of course, but very similar meanings.

[Jeff F.]

On the other hand, there are still people who embrace "old school" values and appreciate a kind gesture without taking advantage of it. This weekend I'll travel 205 miles to pick up fish from Kevin. I guess that's one way you can know if some appreciate a good deed. Of course when I have fry ready for him, I'll return the favor. I believe it all comes down to knowing who you deal with. Good judgement still goes a long ways.

[BarroomHero]

That's a hard position to be in, for sure. I'm lucky in the fact that my local club can and will help me distribute the species that I keep. Which is great, because I have close to 100 Xystichromis phytophagus fry. I haven't been able to count them all, but I've got 4 10 gallon tanks stuffed with them. Most of those fry will be donated to our Lake Victoria Project, to disburse at various clubs.

Is there a cichlid club near you? That may be your answer to distributing fry.

Oh, and that first statement? I've heard that more than once! In different words, of course, but very similar meanings.

No, there isnt any local clubs. I only know like 3 people who are actually into african cichlids, and its kinda surprising considering there is around 2 million people here.

[StructureGuy]

I'm rereading this thread, and seeing future problems personally. A few people have given me the advice that free things aren't well appreciated.
I gave away around 250 little 3/8" fry to 9 people. The one guy did turn right around and sell them just one month later. But at least he found them a home. This week I saw an add on the Cincinnati club site that a guy raised my fish to 2" in this short period of time and is selling trios. That is exactly what I was hoping would happen so that is a big success in my book.


This weekend I'll travel 205 miles to pick up fish from Kevin. Of course when I have fry ready for him, I'll return the favor.
But the difference is that I'm not willing to drive 205 miles to get them when the day comes. We'll just have to meet at the Ohio Cichlid Extravaganza or something.

Kevin

[Jeff F.]

No problem Kevin! We'll work out the details.

[LadyBarbara001]

I gave away around 250 little 3/8" fry to 9 people. The one guy did turn right around and sell them just one month later. But at least he found them a home. This week I saw an add on the Cincinnati club site that a guy raised my fish to 2" in this short period of time and is selling trios. That is exactly what I was hoping would happen so that is a big success in my book.


Kevin


Ah, the silver lining. I'm very glad to hear that. Makes it worthwhile for sure.

I have no problem giving fish away...that's part of my problem. I would give them to everyone, if I could, but that's not possible. I'm hoping that distributing them through the club, and being sure of a few people that I do give fry to will be my best route.

[I3lazd]

I wish I lived closer to a breeder. I cannot find vics in Colorado. I am stocking a 700 gallon and would love to put in some vics, but i could only find 4 sp. 44 locally so I bought them all. So if anyone would like to make a donation to my in house lake let me know you have no idea how much you would be helping out, My fish bill is getting rediculous.

[jeff.b]

Man that sucks.Stuff like that makes it hard for the no name new comers like my self that have put a little knowledge into what they want.Limits the species and quality for some new comers basicly because it seems they can't be trusted.