Tropheus, what is your interest in these?
Are you an importer?
Most suppliers overseas have a very limited selection to choose from.
The Asian suppliers are worse still, as they have higher ambient temperatures to contend with, which only suits certain species.
To obtain a fish of choice, is to know breeders of the killie fish species that you are after and go from there.
For several years now, I have been trying to locate a importer who will land our (NZKA) fish that we obtain and ship to NZ and have them go thru their quarantine room.
An almost impossible task at a reasonable cost.
We have had a quote of $800 per tank, plus MAF fees, food, labour, and no care responsibility.
Recently a cost of $300, plus plus etc.
We don't expect this for nothing but I know that the fees have to be paid by the importer for their fish and ours would still come under that banner, so that cost could come off to start with.
We would have to pay for the first check of course when they are landed, unless of course the orders were combined at the point from whence they are sent.
Some of the NZKA members have excellent contacts overseas with absolutely fantastic fish, that we'd lve to get hold of.
As far as permitted species, about the only ones we can't get are endangered species and ones considered a threat in our waters, in other words, that will survive in cooler conditions.
Over the years we have had heaps of species in, but as the number of a species increases, the object of keeping them going is left to the next fella, and soon you run out of them and the species disappear.
We did have a system whereby a spedie controller with the members agreeance, would take responsibility of one or two species, and more or less be the bank for that fish.
This system has completely crashed now due to several reasons, one of which is the apathy of the people owning the fish to fill in census forms sent out normally twice a year.
Then when we have sent them in there is no feedback to follow up on what species could be in trouble of disappearing from NZ.
Glenn, the President of the NZKA should have the relevant information that you require re the species, and I'd suggest that you try phoning instead of emailing, I'm not sure, but she may be having problems with her computer.
Aquanut who trades on that big dealing site in NZ has a very good setup for breeding, that I can attest to as I visited him last night. He has almost all the species that are common or slightly hard to get for sale and I'm sure that as a member of the NZKA he'd cut you a good deal.
I hope I've answered your queries, and haven't deviated off the track too much.
There could be a slight glimmer of hope as far as importers are concerned.
One of my suggestions to a local importer was to set up our own tanks, as we don't need their huge import tanks for our fish, but negotiations fell down with them, but I'm talking with others about a similar system.
Just have to wait and see what happens.
Please read NZKA when you see WE and I, as having been a member of the club for many years it is in their interests, and that of the hobby that I persue this goal of importing