Trading Plant Strategy

[HappyGuppy]

I just saw this posted in the "LF" classified section:

Hi,

I have a low-tech 20gallon that I have started to plant and I'm looking for a variety of plants. I'm looking for hardy low-tech type plants of all types.

I have java moss and water lettuce at the moment and would like to add a carpet plant as well as some taller, leafier plants (java fern, anubias etc.) but am open to everything that might do.

Don't hesitate to let me know what you have. I am willing to pay for them but would rather not spend too much.

Thanks!

http://ovas.ca/index.php?topic=48486.msg270217;topicseen#new

Since I can't reply there, I'll start this thread, and PM him to look here.

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Remi,

Over the past few years I have become a "plant collector", where my desire in the hobby was to amass many varieties of plants (I have lost a ton of varieties over the past year due to a sad story, but ignore that for now).  I too had a meager start to my low-tech planted tanks.

I remembered a couple of concepts I learned from trading things (collectibles, and even a trading up game) and decided to build a small fortune in plants, without spending a dime.  Try the following... you might find it fun (I sure did).

One interesting thing about plants, unlike "things" (imagine a rock & mineral collection) is that when you trade you really aren't losing anything.  If you trade a ruby for an emerald you both still only have one rock.  But with plants you get to keep some, thus by trading say a water sprite for a hornwort you both now are twice as rich!

Get something, trade it, grow more, trade more, grow more, trade more, etc etc etc, until you realize that you can't have any more!  Initially stick to fast growing plants, which are excellent for your low tech setups (oxygenate & remove nutrients), and then later branch out into the rarer slow growing stuff.

Another trick I used to use when building up was I'd also sell baggies - typically $2 to $5 (they always got a fantastic deal, of around a dozen plant species).  Years ago people used to buy & sell plants a lot more than there seems to be action happening today.  But there are still a few that do sell (and always newbies to buy), so I think that this strategy is still good.  Use the few bucks you get to buy something really cool & unusual.  Then you get a flock of people willing to trade really super cool things back with you. 

Remember a few pointers:

1)  Give people a good deal in the trade from you.  The fishy people in town (OVAS) are a bit incestuous (I mean that in a funny, not offensive way) thus your reputation will become established.  Screw people, and well, don't expect much love from others.  Go out of your way to help others, and you never know how that kindness may come back to you (Remi, I'll share with you some plants.  PM me). 

2)  Trading plants & fish with people is, IMHO, crudely equivalent to being very promiscuous.  I have learned my lessons to QT & treat all plants I get from people.  Diseases, critters and algae (my favorite = cladophora) are no fun (though I now know the solution to algaes, so it is just the diseases & critters to treat for).  It is better to kill the plants than to get infected in your tanks.  Furthermore, if you remember point #1, people will come to know your reputation of having "clean" plants, or if they should serve your plants restraining orders.

3) Be nice & educate people.  When they come to get plants (or whatever) from you then teach them something about the plants... and the amazing virtues of low-tech aquariums (convert people to our religion... get them to trash their filters & air pumps).  When you visit with someone more knowledgeable than you than politely ask to learn from them, as they get a pleasure out of talking, and you might learn something worthwhile too!

Remember, if you sell (for chump change) plants then use the funds to support your hobby (buy food, tanks, whatever), but also buy something cool to enjoy for yourself then share with other hobbyists in town.  Buy online that funky new & expensive plant/snail/shrimp/fish/whatever, breed it, then contribute to the hobby by letting others in town enjoy it too.  Also, if you encounter starving students, or people that for whatever reason you choose, then please just share with them stuff for free to help them get started.

I hope this thread offers some useful ideas to someone.  Remember that this is a hobby, not a business (I am not aware of anyone making any real money with this though).  Keep it fun.  Trading is fun in & of itself, but the interactions you get with others is what makes all this priceless.  Enjoy!!!