Auctions

SDTFS auctions are a great way to buy and sell interesting plants, fish, and equipment. You can sell pretty much anything fish-related. We have mini-auctions every month and large auctions twice a year. Our time in the room is limited, so please have a look at these directions to help us streamline the auction process. If you’ve done this before, here is the Seller Item Listing for the April and November shows.

How to buy fish at the SDTFS Auction

  • Arrive at 6:00pm to obtain your bidder plate between 6:00pm and 6:30pm. Closeout for bidder plates occur immediately at 6:30pm, no exceptions.
  • Get yourself a plate with a bidder number when you arrive. If you are already an SDTFS member, you have a number assigned, and we will look it up. Non-members need to join, and get a number for the evening.
  • Raise and hold your plate up to bid on items you want. Be sure the auctioneer sees you!
  • A runner will bring your items you win with a slip to initial.
  • Check that you got the correct item, check the price, and initial the slip. This is your opportunity to resolve any confusion, so please make sure everything is correct, and that your livestock is in good condition. All items are purchased in As-Is conditions. There are no refunds or guarantees — we are an auction, not a store.
  • You pay when the auction is over. This means you may want to bring styrofoam boxes or coolers to put your fish in after you receive them.
  • Pay by personal check or cash. We do not accept credit cards.
  • Show your receipt at the door, go home, and enjoy your new fish, plants, and equipment.

How to sell at the SDTFS Auction

  • You must be a dues-paid SDTFS member to sell. Sellers receive 75%, the club 25%. You can join the club before the auction begins.
  • Registration opens at 6:00 pm for all auctions. We sell items in the order in which they are registered.
  • You MUST be registered before 6:30 pm.
  • Label your bags clearly. Each bag must have your item number, and the type of plant or fish. You may add additional information if necessary. Please do not bring sick, damaged, or illegal fish or plants.
  • Fill out the Seller Item Listing BEFORE you arrive. This form is only required for the April and November auctions.
  • Number all your bags of fish and other items for sale with your member number, followed by a dash and the item number, starting with 1. For example, if your member number is 105, your item numbers are 105-1, 105-2, 105-3, and so forth.
  • No more than 3 bags of the same type of item. You may, however, choose to sell multiple items of the same thing as a lot. For instance, if you bring in 25 bags of Anubias, you can sell them as 5 lots of 5 bags of Anubias.
  • If you forgot your member number, arrive early, so we can look it up for you, and you can then finish labeling your bags and filling out the seller form.
  • Hand in your seller form at the registration table. You will be directed to a spot on one of the auction tables.
  • Set your items up neatly in numeric order, so the runners can find them quickly.
  • The auction closes at exactly 9:00 pm. Any unsold items left on the auction block must either be taken home by the seller or donated to the raffle table.
  • Purchase any items you would like.
  • At the end of the auction, collect your 75% share of the auction price in cash. Your purchases will be deducted from your sales balance.

Fish bagging tips
Bagging your fish and plants will really help your items sell.

• Please double-bag all fish. Secure the bags by knotting them or by using a rubberband. Bags will be available for sale if needed at $1 for 2 bags and 2 rubberbands.
DO NOT use zip-lock bags or any other type of bag for fish or plants. They will more than likely leak.
• Fish should be bagged with about 2/3 air. Your fish needs adequate oxygen, while it is sealed into a bag, and air carries much more oxygen than water.
• Do NOT blow into a fish bag to inflate it. Air from your lungs has less oxygen and more carbon dioxide.
• Bag plants damp in well-inflated bags with no excess water. The inflated bag protects the plant. Water sloshing around in a bag can damage delicate leaves and stems.
• Please do NOT put chemicals, like methylene blue or bag buddies, in your bags. It is completely unnecessary for only a few hours, and fish bagged in blue water do not sell as well, because it’s hard for buyers to see the fish.
• Really big fish like koi, oscars, or plecos do better in a bucket or loosely-sealed styrofoam container, so they have appropriate levels of oxygen.