I wish to obtain 10-15 ameca splendens to create and maintain a shoal of these livebearers. Any info. on where and how to get tese would be appreciated.

There are a lot on aquabid.com

My friend got a ton of them in all sizes. He breed fish for a living. He has these cheap real cheap.. if you like he had about 300 or more 1.5 to 2 inch fish and about 20 adults for sale.

where do you live

Welcome to the forum Barry. Many of us do have some Amecas that we could part with. In my own case, I have about 20 altogether so sending off 15 would be out of the question. All you really need to establish a viable colony is one female that is carrying fry. I have found that Ameca splendens are easy care livebearers that will drop about 20 fry with each pregnancy. Unlike poeciliids, they do not carry sperm packets from drop to drop so a male must be present before the next batch of fry can be expected.
The simple fact is that these fish are extinct in the wild so any of the fish that we all have are genetically closely related. I see little benefit to a large population of males and females since the genetic diversity of a wild population is simply non-existent with these guys. Instead, those of us who maintain the species are more interested in keeping our own populations healthy and robust in their homes, our tanks. If you can supply a separate tank for just Amecas, they will breed for you until their numbers are large enough to limit further expansion. At that point their numbers will stabilize and you will need to supply another tank to increase the total number that you can keep.
If you are new to goodeids, I appreciate that you are drawn to helping preserve a species. I have many goodeids in my tanks which are equally in need of species maintenance and are also easy care fish. My A. towerii, last year's ALA SMP offering, are also easy care fish that deserve a place in any species maintenance program. I also have some of the Xenotaenia resolanae that can be hard to find for many people. They thrive in my tanks and are definitely in demand locally. I judge the demand by the prices offered at club auctions and those guys are far more in demand than Ameca splendens. They are, simply said, far harder for hobbyists to find.

To vinman... I live in Las Vegas, NV, USA Can you provide info on how to obtain some from your friend? Thanks.

Hi,
I also have plenty, and can offer you juveniles with collection data for a reasonable price, figuring the shipping is the lion share. Juveniles ship better thank adults.
Contact me via email at ALAChair@aol.com
Rit Forcier
ALA BOD

I'm ready to get some juveniles from you. Contact me as to how and how much. Barry Augarten

Rit, "alachair" does a really nice job with his fish. I am sure that you will not be disapointed with his fish.