According to MTF-Aquatics, successful auction buying starts before bidding: confirm tank readiness, understand the species’ exact care requirements, and budget for acclimation infrastructure. Every fish shipped via MTF is covered by the Live Arrival Guarantee and arrives quarantined; the first 30 days at home are critical for establishing stable water parameters, feeding routines, and behavioural recovery. Research the species, prepare your tank, and bid with confidence.
Buying specimen fish at auction is thrilling—but it demands planning. A £250 rare Gar, a one-off Bichir, or a show-grade Datnoid doesn’t forgive careless setup. At MTF-Aquatics, we see the same winning patterns among successful bidders: they research first, they prepare their tanks before placing a bid, and they understand that the fish’s welfare in week one is what determines its long-term survival and temperament.
This guide walks you through the auction journey—from spotting the right specimen to settling it safely into your system.
When you bid at MTF, you’re often buying a one-off specimen that may never be restocked. There is no second chance to get the husbandry right. Auction fish are frequently wild-caught or limited-availability captive-bred animals, meaning they carry higher stress loads during import and transit. They’ve travelled from Indonesia, survived acclimation at our facility, and are now heading into your system—a third environment change in weeks.
Contrary to myth, auction fish are not “cheaper because they’re weaker.” They’re cheaper because they’re unique: unsexed juveniles, rare colour variants, or species that arrive in small cohorts. The affordability is your advantage—but it comes with responsibility. A stable first month determines whether the animal thrives or declines.
Never bid on a fish whose minimum tank size exceeds your current setup. This is non-negotiable. Auction fish often are apex predators or large cichlids with serious behavioural and spatial needs. A 5 ft tank looks spacious—until a 12” Hoplias aimara (Giant Wolf Fish) grows into it and becomes a pacing, stressed predator.
Common auction species and their minimums:
| Species | Common Name | Minimum Tank | Difficulty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hoplias aimara | Giant Wolf Fish | 5 × 2 ft (150 gallons / 568 L) | Expert | Solo only; aggressive feeder; requires live/ frozen prey |
| Datnioides microlepis | 4-Bar Datnoid | 4 × 2 ft (100 gallons / 380 L) | Intermediate | Prone to lateral-line disease in poor water quality |
| Polypterus mokelembembe | Mokelembembe Bichir | 4 × 2 ft (100 gallons / 380 L) | Intermediate | Escape artist; driftwood mandatory |
| Osphronemus goramy | Giant Gourami | 5 × 2 ft (150 gallons / 568 L) | Intermediate | Territorial; can be destructive to décor and plants |
| Arapaima gigas | Arapaima | 8 × 4 ft (500+ gallons / 1900+ L) | Expert | Air-breather; surface access non-negotiable |
Auction fish are often wild-caught or from soft-water environments (blackwater or acidic systems). UK tap water—typically 200–300 ppm hardness and pH 7.2–7.8—can trigger osmotic stress. If your intended species requires:
Auction fish often arrive after 24–48 hours of transport stress and are more vulnerable to ammonia spikes. Your filtration must be:
Read the species’ care guide before you place a bid. Don’t rely on folklore or forum posts. At MTF, every care guide is written by keepers who have held the species. Key research points:
Browse our care guides: Wolf Fish guide | Bichir guide | Stingray guide
MTF auctions are shipped via next-day specialist live-fish courier. Your fish arrives in an insulated box, double-bagged with oxygen, water, and heat packs (winter) or ice packs (summer). Here’s what to expect:
Once the fish is confirmed alive and viable, begin acclimation:
Every fish leaving our facility has been held for a minimum quarantine period and health-checked. We observe for:
This doesn’t mean the fish is 100% disease-free—no guarantee can—but it means the animal is stable and ready for transit.
The fish has experienced three major environmental changes (exporter → MTF → your tank). Its immune system is compromised. Feed sparingly or not at all for the first 3–5 days. Watch for:
Once the fish begins feeding, offer small amounts every other day. Examples:
Weekly (days 1–14): – Ammonia: 0 ppm (if >0.5 ppm, do a 30% water change and reduce feeding). – Nitrite: 0 ppm (if >0.2 ppm, as above). – Nitrate: <20 ppm (if >40 ppm, increase water-change frequency to 50% weekly). – pH: within species tolerance (confirm in care guide).
Fortnightly (weeks 3–4): – Reduce testing to twice weekly unless parameters drift.
If ammonia or nitrite spikes, the fish’s stress response is overwhelming your biological filter. Perform a 40–50% water change immediately and reduce feeding to alternate days. Do not add chemicals or biological additives; they are ineffective and waste money.
Never use bare hands. Predatory fish bite reflexively when feeding. Use feeding tongs or a turkey baster to deliver food. Keep hands outside the tank while the fish eats. This is especially critical for:
If your fish displays any of the following after day 5, consult a specialist:
Do not self-treat with medication unless you are certain of the diagnosis. Many antibiotics and antiparasitics are harmful to specific fish groups. When in doubt, perform a large water change (50%), ensure mechanical and biological filtration is working, and observe closely.
Auction buying demands planning—but the reward is access to animals you cannot find in UK retail. A wild-caught Datnoid, a show-grade juvenile Arapaima, or a colour-variant Bichir adds value to your fishkeeping passion. You’re not just buying a fish; you’re acquiring a specimen.
Every fish shipped by MTF is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee—your safety net. We hand-select, health-check, and tranship directly from Southeast Asia. We’re fishkeepers first, retailers second.
Bid with confidence. Prepare your tank. Enjoy your specimen.
Ready to bid? Browse our current auctions. Questions about a specific species? Check our care guides or FAQs.
MTF’s Live Arrival Guarantee covers every fish. Photograph the fish in its sealed bag (unopened) immediately upon delivery. If unresponsive or visibly dead, email photos within 2 hours and we will provide a refund or replacement. Do not open the bag or attempt acclimation if the fish is DOA.
Maximum 30 minutes after opening the box. Float the sealed bag in your tank for 15 minutes to equalise temperature, then begin the 1-hour drip acclimation process (gradually mixing tank water into the bag). Acclimate gently to prevent osmotic shock.
No. Leave the fish undisturbed and fasted for 3–5 days post-arrival. It has experienced three major environmental changes (exporter, MTF facility, your tank) and its immune system is stressed. Monitor breathing and colour; resume feeding only once the fish is visibly alert and stable.
This depends on the species. Check its care guide: blackwater fish need pH 5.5–6.5 and <50 ppm hardness; most predators tolerate pH 6.8–7.2 and 100–150 ppm hardness. Test your tank water for 2 weeks before the fish arrives. Ammonia must be 0 ppm, nitrite 0 ppm, and nitrate <20 ppm.
Start feeding every other day from day 8 onwards. Predatory fish (Wolf Fish, Datnoid) eat 2–3 times per week; herbivores and omnivores (Plecos, Bichirs) eat daily. Offer small portions—overfed captive predators become obese. Watch for leftover food; remove it after 2 hours.
Only if the species’ care guide explicitly permits tank mates. Many auction species are solitary or highly predatory (Wolf Fish, large Plecos, Gar). Even ‘compatible’ species may conflict due to territorial aggression or size differences. When in doubt, keep the auction fish alone and observe its temperament over 2–3 weeks.
