Any breeders left in Ontario / Canada?

Dustinmicks · May 21, 2022

I've always wanted to keep seahorses - fascinating little guys, finally decided to dive in, the only issue is finding a supplier for captive bred (or any) seahorses in Canada seems nearly impossible! I've heard a rumour there may be a breeder in my area, in London or Woodstock Ontario but haven't found anything concrete. Does anybody around here have an idea if there's a source for any species in Canada anymore?

Most of the information I've come across seems to be outdated and all the shops that I've called in SW Ontario say they haven't seen any for years at this point.

It would be easy enough for me to take a short drive across the border into New York State or Michigan but I don't know the legality of such things and would prefer local if anyone can point me in the right direction

CoralB · May 23, 2022

Call , text , or email a supplier in Michigan or new york and I’m sure they will know how to get them over the border.

Viridis · May 27, 2022

The Coral Reef Shop in Burlington had some not too long ago... I would call them.

Dustinmicks · May 29, 2022

I actually called them a few days ago and they said they get them semi regularly, thanks!

Viridis · May 29, 2022

Dustinmicks said:
I actually called them a few days ago and they said they get them semi regularly, thanks!

Nice!
Did they mention which species?

Dustinmicks · May 29, 2022

Hippopotamus erectus and another species, possibly cirri. They're quite expensive, 175$ each for the erectus and 210 for the other

Karen00 · May 30, 2022

I'm trying to get a group order going for the dwarf seahorses. They will be about $100 to $120 each. Minimum order for the shipper in the US to do the cites paperwork is 100 I think I'm up to about 20 or 30 accounted for. Let me know if any of you are interested.

Send me a PM. It's easier to keep track. They are social creatures so I think it's recommended to do at least four but I think the minimum would be two. I think the little guys feel safer in groups.

Viridis · May 30, 2022

Karen00 said:
I'm trying to get a group order going for the dwarf seahorses. They will be about $100 to $120 each. Minimum order for the shipper in the US to do the cites paperwork is 100 I think I'm up to about 20 or 30 accounted for. Let me know if any of you are interested. Send me a PM. It's easier to keep track. They are social creatures so I think it's recommended to do at least four but I think the minimum would be two. I think the little guys feel safer in groups.

dang, I just spent my extra money on frogfish and another tank!

Whoever ends up getting some, put me on the list for offspring!!!!

Karen00 · May 30, 2022

Viridis said:
dang, I just spent my extra money on frogfish and another tank!
Whoever ends up getting some, put me on the list for offspring!!!!

Murphy's Law strikes again. LOL. I will be sure to add you to the list for offspring if I can get to the magical 100.

Dustinmicks · May 31, 2022

Karen00 said:
I'm trying to get a group order going for the dwarf seahorses. They will be about $100 to $120 each. Minimum order for the shipper in the US to do the cites paperwork is 100 I think I'm up to about 20 or 30 accounted for. Let me know if any of you are interested. Send me a PM. It's easier to keep track. They are social creatures so I think it's recommended to do at least four but I think the minimum would be two. I think the little guys feel safer in groups.

I'm looking to get a larger species, I think the dwarves seem super finicky and I work long days lol, so looking for something a little more hearty. Now if you could get some of the giant Australian species I'd be into that!

Karlene · Jul 21, 2022

Karen00 said:
I'm trying to get a group order going for the dwarf seahorses. They will be about $100 to $120 each. Minimum order for the shipper in the US to do the cites paperwork is 100 I think I'm up to about 20 or 30 accounted for. Let me know if any of you are interested. Send me a PM. It's easier to keep track. They are social creatures so I think it's recommended to do at least four but I think the minimum would be two. I think the little guys feel safer in groups.

I’m interested! I’ve been looking for a place in Canada to get some!

Karen00 · Jul 21, 2022

Karlene said:
I’m interested! I’ve been looking for a place in Canada to get some!

Awesome. I will add you to the list. I'm going to reach out to members on other forums where I have seen folks asking about them over the past four years to see if they're still interested. Hopefully I can get enough folks. It's too bad people stopped breeding them up here. What a pain it is trying to get more into the country.

Rmckoy · Jul 21, 2022

Karlene said:
I’m interested! I’ve been looking for a place in Canada to get some!

They aren’t seen that often anymore .
I haven’t seen a wholesale list in about 10 years but even at that time they were becoming harder to come by .
If you were to contact a few places that import and sell only captive bred species ( @fragbox they might have information

there are a few other shops to check .
Big Als are hit or miss . But I have had some luck ordering hard to find fish from the Newmarket location .

Rmckoy · Jul 21, 2022

Karen00 said:
Awesome. I will add you to the list. I'm going to reach out to members on other forums where I have seen folks asking about them over the past four years to see if they're still interested. Hopefully I can get enough folks. It's too bad people stopped breeding them up here. What a pain it is trying to get more into the country.

Good thing is once you can find them , they breed like rabbits .

Karen00 · Jul 21, 2022

Rmckoy said:
Good thing is once you can find them , they breed like rabbits .

That's what I'm hoping. I see so many old threads going back pre-2010 and there seemed to be a lot up here. Not sure what happened to all of them.

blaxsun · Jul 21, 2022

You can also try reaching out to Bayside Corals in Saskatoon. They're usually able to get anything in.

Rmckoy · Jul 21, 2022

Karen00 said:
That's what I'm hoping. I see so many old threads going back pre-2010 and there seemed to be a lot up here. Not sure what happened to all of them.

Because they are expensive and prefer a species specific setup

their dietary requirements make them on the harder side to keep

there was once upon a time a lady in Toronto . As well as a
Breeder I believe in Alberta that shipped
Across Canada .

Rmckoy · Jul 21, 2022

Karlene said:
I’m interested! I’ve been looking for a place in Canada to get some!

Depends where you are in Canada I found a lfs that ordered some expecting to arrive in the next few weeks
@Karen00

Karen00 · Jul 21, 2022

blaxsun said:
You can also try reaching out to Bayside Corals in Saskatoon. They're usually able to get anything in.

Thanks. I will check with them. I found a store in BC that has a connection into Florida that is willing to do all of the CITES paperwork but they will only ship a minimum of 100 at about $120/pony so the challenge is finding enough people to do the purchase.

Rmckoy · Jul 21, 2022

Karen00 said:
Thanks. I will check with them. I found a store in BC that has a connection into Florida that is willing to do all of the CITES paperwork but they will only ship a minimum of 100 at about $120/pony so the challenge is finding enough people to do the purchase.

Buy them all and sell them privately