Anyone know whats the deal with the L046??

[dannyeproduct]

Ive heard that they are not letting the L046/Zebra pleco in the U.S.? is that true?

 

[Lotus]

I think it's more a case of them not being exported any more, or at least until the population re-establishes. I have heard rumors, but haven't done a search on it.

 

[victimizati0n]

they are becoming very rare, so they stoped import/export of the fish.

you can only get them from people who breed them.

 

[wayne]

Fish exports from Brazil are controlled by a government body. As the wild population was suffering they stopped exports from Brazil. The US was never involved as it's not their business. The Brazilians hope to form an 'in situ captive'breeding program rather like the one they have for Adonis plecs

 

[Prune Tracy]

I usually suggest that people take a grain of salt with things like this. Scaremongering to drive prices higher for zebras has unfortunately been the standard. That said, the good folks at www.zebrapleco.com have been unable to refute this rumor. Several members have told stories that seem to corroborate this indeed. One member mentioned claims from his LFS that their much anticipated shipment "never got on the plane." Either way, I'd expect that price of L046 will rise again.

 

[wayne]

Unfortunately the document link to export regulations controlling zebra plecs is on the web, which tends to suggest this isn't scaremongering. I don't have the link to hand, but it's available thro some other threads on planetcatfish and others if you look around. Some pretty good sources seem to think it's pretty much the case.
Having had a look at an import list in the last week I can tell you L-46 is still on the list I saw. However the link between being on the list, and ordered, and arriving is tenuous.