GCCA Swap Meet - Sunday March 2nd

[joshua969]

This will be my first swap meet, so I'm kind of excited. I plan on getting there when it opens to improve my chances of finding apisto cac females.

Anybody else plan on going ?

[Sponsors]

[Ryzilla]

Originally Posted by joshua969

This will be my first swap meet, so I'm kind of excited. I plan on getting there when it opens to improve my chances of finding apisto cac females.

Anybody else plan on going ?

Im planning on being there. Cac females will be no problem, especially if you are looking for double red.

[eds]

I was planning on going with my buddy. I have some plants to give him and was in the market for some bosemaniis. But I've got a line on the bosemanii elsewhere. If that goes through, it will be more convenient for me to get the plants to him on Sat.

[joshua969]

From everyone's experience, when is the best time to go to the swap ? Early ? Before closing ?

[Ryzilla]

Originally Posted by joshua969

From everyone's experience, when is the best time to go to the swap ? Early ? Before closing ?

depends on what you are shopping for. If you want to get the good filter, tanks, and rarer fish then early is the way to go. If you are looking for the deals then you should show up at the very end because at this point people are trying to get rid of fish for nothing. I have seen $0.25 angels at this time. I also got at the very end 4 apisto cacs for $15.

[squirrelproductions]

This was my second time to a GCCA swap meet. So I was not as awestruck nor overwhelmed/underwhelmed with all that was going on. I got there a little after 10:15am, and the place was packed! It was hard getting past some vendors because there was a "gridlock" of sorts. I went in looking to get a new HOT/HOB filter as my TopFin20 was dying, some driftwood, and a "nutrient sponge"-type plant.

I made one round around the perimeter and picked up two $5 "small" pieces of Malaysian driftwood. On my first venture into the middle, I saw a Whisper PF 30-60 powerfilter for $10 which I wasted no time picking up from the guy selling Aquadine ; the other vendors that I'd seen had HOT filters for $15-$25. From there, I came across Gerry (Asian moustached fellow) who was again selling his albino BN plecos, cories, etc. I picked up two albino BN plecos from him for $5; he throws in extras with your purchase, so I actually got 3 for $5. With the last $3 in my wallet, I picked up a bag of hornwort from an older couple who was selling the pond plants.

All in all, I had a better experience with this swap meet. As I knew what to expect plus the addition of 50% more space for the vendors, I wasn't underwhelmed as I was in the previous meet that I had attended. Again, I didn't see any cherry shrimp.

[eds]

Man, that place was jammed!
I got there around the same time - 10:15 or so.
Didn't need any plants, cause I just got more than I could use from the caga swap the week before.
Bought some plecos from the same guy, some Brazillian Rams from a caga guy, and 3 kuhli loaches - something I've never kept before. I guess since I tossed them in my tanks I'll never see them again!
Didn't need much of anything else. Bought a little food, and that was it.
There were tons of fish I was interested in - some green tetras, and several cories, but I was able to restrain myself. Probably a good thing my buddy and I were on a pretty tight timetable. I don't think I even got around to looking at all of the tables.

One thing that made a bit of an impression on me. There was one guy with a particular type of fish I had bought from him 3 times before. Had also talked with him quite a bit. I had been having iffy luck with these fish, but wanted to give it one more shot. So I stopped by him quickly, and said when he got a chance to hold back 3 of the fish, and I'd come back and get them. He had done that the last swap. No one else there sells these fish, so it wasn't as tho I would be comparison shopping. Well, this time he said, "Nope. If you want them, buy them now."

Now I certainly understand his position. Although I recognize him, he probably does not recognize me from the many folk he sees at various shows. Also, to be honest, there are 2 guys at that table, and I had spoken with the other guy more in the past than this guy. But he made the choice not to trust me at what I said was a guaranteed sale from a repeat customer, so it was easy for me to decide it was time for me to try a different kind of fish from a different vendor.

[joshua969]

I was completely overwhelmed with all the stuff there. I got there at 10, and it was completely packed. At one time, I went outside just to get a little fresh air.

I ended up getting 5 apisto cac's from a vendor in the middle aisle. He was even cool enough to hold onto them until I was ready to leave the swap. I also got some plants and a few MTS. My one regret is not picking up a couple of very cool terra cotta caves a vendor was selling.

I did notice that you have to act quick on certain items. I passed on a sword plant early in the day, and when I went back it was gone.

Overall, it was a great time, and I can't wait for the next one. These events aren't for anyone with a fear of crowds though.

Josh

[Ryzilla]

once again I had to miss the swap. I wanted to pick up some calico longfin BN plecos and possibly start a Blue Ram tank($5 a peice is awsome). Well I guess I will have to wait until April for the next one. I am glad to here some of you scored.

I really like the older pond couple. You could get massive mats of java fern from them and swords. I think they usually have florida flagfish as well that they breed themselves. I love how there is an overwhelming availability of many types of angel fish. We are really lucky to have this swap here in Chicago.

About how many vendors do you think packed into the new place? I am sure they will post the turn out.

[eds]

Originally Posted by Ryzilla

... I think they usually have florida flagfish as well that they breed themselves.

I think I remember them telling me they collected these wild, but I may be mistaken.

About how many vendors do you think packed into the new place? I am sure they will post the turn out.

You know how there is usually one aisle running along the perimeter essentially in a big square, with cross aisles bisecting the square forming a "+" in the center?

This time the square was extended into a rectangle, and in the middle there were 2 aisles going one way and the usual 1 going the other. The middle aisles were essentially shaped like "++". I'd estimate it was about 30% bigger than usual.

[Ryzilla]

I may have been mistaken because I asked them if they breed and they said yes. I may have taken this as they are breeding them to sell at the swap.