Importing

[coralbandit]

Hey all !
You guys have a ton more experience then me so I figured I would start my search here ..
What do I need as far as permits or license to import fish from lets say Germany ?
Thanks .

Tom

[Willie]

I don't know the exact number but there's a threshold above which you'll need an import license. When I brought in discus from Taiwan and Hong Kong, the limit was 20 pieces. But you'll have problem for geographic reasons. Fish would need to be inspected by Fish and Game. Unless you can go down to JFK, they're unlikely to have Ag inspectors at small airports.

Willie

[jeep]

You would have to contact both the U.S. Customs, and U.S. Fish & Wildlife for the exact rules and regulations. The boxes must be inspected at a port of entry and you must pick them up at that point of entry unless you use a trans-shipper as a middleman.

[peewee1]

Hey all !
You guys have a ton more experience then me so I figured I would start my search here ..
What do I need as far as permits or license to import fish from lets say Germany ?
Thanks .

Tom

You did not say if you were going to keep the fish for personal or for resale?

[seanyuki]

An old article about U.S. Rules on Importing Tropical Fish https://badmanstropicalfish.com/articles/article15.html and https://www.fws.gov/le/commercial-wildlife-shipment.html

[Second Hand Pat]

Tom, you may want to pm Ryan (username is Ryan) as he imported discus from Ricky Lim a few years ago.
Pat

[LizStreithorst]

Tom, you may want to pm Ryan (username is Ryan) as he imported discus from Ricky Lim a few years ago.
Pat

He brought some real beauties. All my current Discus are descended from the fish he imported. I still have my old daddy domestic RSG I got from him. Unfortunately, he doesn't turn the lady fish on as much as their brothers do.

[coralbandit]

Thanks everybody ! I think the fish would be for me ,but possibly some would be sold to friends ..
Going to the city when possible would not be a problem for me ..
I will read the links and check with a couple of my buddies who I know have imported or shipped internationally .

[Johnny95132]

I think you could also ask an existing breeder to import the discus you want along with their existing order. That would save the extra paperwork.

[LizStreithorst]

What I have learned from watching other friends import, a first timer often gets screwed. They aren't looking for a one shot wonder. You will not impress them. Do it if you like, but be prepared to be disappointed. I don't know if you know of George Garcia but if you do, he would be a good one to talk to.

[peewee1]

I think you could also ask an existing breeder to import the discus you want along with their existing order. That would save the extra paperwork.

I was thinking the same thing. Maybe get in touch with Kenny. See what he thinks or can help you with.

[LizStreithorst]

If you want to import from Stendker you can forget it. He and Hansie have a agreement. Stendker will only sell to him and he agrees not to breed Discus.

The commercial breeders are not as kind as we are here on Simply. Their livelihood depends on their sales. If you decide to try I want to know all about how it goes for you. I would love to see you succeed, but I don't think that you will.

[coralbandit]

I don't expect coop from the big sellers but no one is bringing in what I want so …
So far what is required does not seem real bad . I read the Badman link from Francis and it was very useful ..
Even if the listed prices were double it is not as much as I expected ..Now that does not mean a thing on how much shipping or the fish would cost .
And then there is the ultimate cost ..Do they arrive safely and do you get good fish since they know you are small time ..
My interest is in Piwowarski discus since no one seems to have them ...Maybe there is a real reason why they don't ?

[danotaylor]

Tom if you know how to contact Cary Strong in Michigan he may be able to assist you as well. I don't have a FB acct but I believe he is on there.

[coralbandit]

No FB for me .
Shame if any of them actually have any legit info they don't participate on the true forum .
I suspect I know why they are on FB..I'll keep my distance from them ..
Thanks Dan you always do help when you can .

[danotaylor]

My pleasure Tom!! I hope you can make the arrangements you need mate!

[Second Hand Pat]

No FB for me .
Shame if any of them actually have any legit info they don't participate on the true forum .
I suspect I know why they are on FB..I'll keep my distance from them ..
Thanks Dan you always do help when you can .

Tom, I sent you Cary's email via pm if you care to contact him.
Pat

[CliffsDiscus]

I don't expect coop from the big sellers but no one is bringing in what I want so …
So far what is required does not seem real bad . I read the Badman link from Francis and it was very useful ..
Even if the listed prices were double it is not as much as I expected ..Now that does not mean a thing on how much shipping or the fish would cost .
And then there is the ultimate cost ..Do they arrive safely and do you get good fish since they know you are small time ..
My interest is in Piwowarski discus since no one seems to have them ...Maybe there is a real reason why they don't ?

I heard a few years back that his hatchery was having problems with the fish. A breeder show me an video and mention
that his fish didn't look well.


Cliff

[coralbandit]

Thanks Pat .
Thanks Cliff.
This is his latest video of some of the fish he has to offer ..
People let me know you think of these guys ..I can not say I know exactly what I am seeing but I am sure you guys and gals with have valuable imput.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o558VeDZeA8
Thanks all .

[LizStreithorst]

Most are way better than you would get if you were to import yourself. Which strain are you most interested in?

[coralbandit]

I am not even sure Liz . The San Merahs look hot ,hot hot but many of those guys looked pretty good to me .
That video was actually sent to me by one of my buddies [on this forum] who already knows the length I will go to, to get better fish then most can find ..
I really don't want adults or pairs I would want a small herd of maybe a couple colors but not real sure ..First I need to start communication with Alec .
My buddy in Hawaii says to find a trans shipper who deals with Germany ..I have not had any luck yet with that so may ask one transhipper in Texas who sent me the alien bettas if he could do me a favor ?
Personally I am not thrilled with ordering fish ,as I really like to see them in person but the chances of me ever going to Germany [in this life] are somewhere around zero so if I can arrange something I might just make the leap ..
You did not see anything concerning/noteworthy in them ?

[danotaylor]

Tom there was a lot of really nice discus amongst them, overall very good quality. There was 1 tank of fish that had a reasonably high number of fish with the split dorsal rays that were discussed in this forum recently, with the general consensus being that it's a genetic defect. The San Merahs did look great, particularly the first tank full of Jumbo's, then there was San Merahs cross with a name I cannot remember right now which looked excellent. I truly hope you can acquire the quality you're chasing...that would mean great fry availability from you sometime down the road a bit! ;)

[seanyuki]

Thanks Pat .
Thanks Cliff.
This is his latest video of some of the fish he has to offer ..
People let me know you think of these guys ..I can not say I know exactly what I am seeing but I am sure you guys and gals with have valuable imput.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o558VeDZeA8
Thanks all .

Some nice discus there €160 up for those red snakeskins !

[madhan1979]

127259
127260

Could anyone please let me know the strain names of above 2 varieties? Also i would like to know if this is being imported to India.

Thanks
Madhan

[coralbandit]

I guess blue snakeskin for first and Santarem for the bottom one .
I am not real good at knowing variations but the second one looks very much like 2 Santarem . Very nice halo coloring on the fins ..