To Russ.
This situation is what happens all the time, both in UK – Denmark, and also Germany. It is not as if the situation of bying though shops are any better here.
There are exceptions such as this recent import of p.phoenicurus, – it happens very rarely.
When I find parosphromenus in my local shops in Copenhagen I can never get a location, or if there is a location its most likely inacurate. Or the fish are not what they are said to be. Lately they have had p.gunawani (not!) and p.deissneri (not!) They sometimes even have p.deissneri, with the location Bangka (not!) … it is really difficult. I go every time to check, but I dont bye anymore unless its really really clear to me what species it is.
The import of p.phoenicurus in september in Germany was very exceptional. I would say though that identifying p.phoenicurus without locality is possible, – it is a very remarable fish with some clear markings which seperates it from other species. (see our species index)
And if it was in UK at the same time as the import in Germany, there could be good chances that it is p.phoenicurus.
However, I must say, I have also experienced that shops have a tendensy to suddenly have the same species, as if when one import is creating a lot of attention, such as the phoenicurus, – then the next time my shop gets fish its likely to be named as the last ‘popular’ import. And often isnt. For example suddenly there were p.gunawani all over, – now its p.phoenicurus (actually right now they have phoenicurus and deissneri, I should probably go and have a look 🙂 )
Living in Denmark to me probably resembles a little bit living in UK, – I have to go to Hamburg, – probably the plane to London would be faster, – but it is a lot better for me to get fish through personal contacts there than keeping on trying my luck in my local shops.
So I agree with you, and with John, we should see if there is a way to create not only something which could perhaps help here and now one time (at the international meeting) but perhaps also a more lasting structure within the project.
We have connections to for example Poland and Lituania as mentioned in the last Newsletter, where more people have joined the Project, and are forming a group helping each other, – I think it could be very relevant in UK too.