Can you buy chitons?

[Pandora]

I am curious if anyone has ever even seen colorful or unusual looking chitons for sale at the LFS. I would love to pay money for one, but never see them for sale, and I go to stores that stock unusual stuff like octopus, harlequin shrimp and mantis shrimp, in fact I'm working for my LFS now, and I have yet to come across one for sale.

http://www.lausd.k12.ca.us/NH_Zoo_Magnet/virtual/graphics/gumboot_lg.jpg


http://www-biol.paisley.ac.uk/biomedia/graphics/jpegs/Chiton.jpg

[rgardiner]

I have not seen them at a LFS, but http://www.inlandaquatics. lists chitons for sale.

[Pandora]

Neat...will check them out, thanks. I was considering them for some of their other stuff anyway.

[pcmankey]

I got two chitons there when I got a detritivore kit but they aren't a groovy red color--at least the ones I got.

[junior]

Call FFE....chat them up a bit (while ordering something else)
and I'll bet they'll be able to set you up with
some interesting diversity. I asked for and got
a mystery *grab* bag from them once for $10 extra
that included several interesting limpets, a chicton or two,
a few tiny cowries, and other little
desireable *hitch-hikers* with a fish order I placed. Many of these
interesting (and reef safe) critters are still inhabitants on a tank
I had to leave behind in Boston according to its current owner.

But worth a shot....Inland Aquatics also sent me a few *odds & ends*
items on another order I placed when I told them I was looking for
as much *reef safe* diversity as possible. But I was warned that
I was doing so at my own risk. Everything survived and co-existed, so
just try a wee chat with the person taking your order. They'll take
an interest and you'll probably get some groovy stuff....along with those
fascinating chitons.

[Pandora]

Aww thanks Junior! That was smart of you... I should have done that with my last order, darn I didn't think of it. I have ordered from FFE, prem aquatics, etropicals, fishsupply and liveaquaria in the past... and I missed out on my chance to do the same! Oh well, maybe next order which will probably be in a year or something lol...

[junior]

Re-read your post...since you work at a lfs, why don't you just
carefully inspect the LR shipments and
see what you might come up with?!

I sure would! And agree to pay the owner $5-10 for a bag of the
wee ones you cherry pick.

Good luck

[Pandora]

We don't regularly get LR shipments in anymore... what my manager does now is just have a tank ongoing seeded with LR once every half year or so with fresh LR from FL, the rest of the time, he puts in dried LR and lets it seed from the other stuff from before. Thanks for the thought though.

[junior]

Perhaps you can *gently* persuade your manager that a small, careful
infusion of Figi or Tonga might improve the diversity of your
LR at the store.

Start thinking on those feet of yours, girlfriend! If you play
your cards right, he'll even think it was his idea!

LOL!!