Midposted for clarity:

On Fri, 27 Feb 2004 08:43:59 -0600, Chris Spierings
wrote:
snip
Every shop I spoke with said they are too sensitive to try to stock.
When I google I see mixed comments on the success of keeping these fish.


The only store that will carry them around where I live is a small
mom-pop and both daughters, shop. They will only buy these fish after
the spring warm-up. The owner, a woman that has been in business for
30 years, says that the fish do NOT ship at all well in the winter
time, even with heat packs. However, after the spring warm up, where
the average temp is above 50, she will order them in and they seem to
come in healthy each time.

Of course, she wouldn't tell me where she orders them from, but she
does state that she only buys her fish from people that she has done
business with for over 15 years. (several sources). She stated that
cardinals are generally wild caught, and are captured in South
America, where the seasons are oposite of ours here in North America,
the point being that in the winter up north it is summer down there
and the temperature difference is too much of a shock.

She will NOT ship out from her store though.

As things stand now my tank, a heavily planted 90 gallon has the PH
running at about 7.0-7.2 depending on the time of day. THis is using
tap water and CO2 injection. If I can find a recommended source for the
Cardinals I think I may start working my PH down a bit more by using RO
water with the TAP.

The cardinals, if you can find them, will handle your water just as it
is, but would probably do a little better if the ph was between
6.6-7.0 and it would be easier on you to maintain 7.0

I all my searching, I have been unable to find a 'breeder' for these
fish. Which is strange considering they are such a beautiful fish.
However, since Neons are "almost' the same, and can be sucessfully
bred, they are all you find at the bigger chains.

You might wat to check out "The Aquarium Center"
http://www.aquariumcenter.com/
be sure to contact them via email. They WILL ship to you and they
WILL order cardinals for you if you order enough of them at once. (at
least they have for me in the past, before they went online) Note:
they usually do NOT list fish on their website or plants either for
that matter, but they will special ship whatever you want. They pack
the fish well, in pure oxygen and water, inside thick insulated boxes
with heat or cold packs as needed.

hth