Why Are People Not Trying To Breed Fish?
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EricTMah
Aquariums by Design
All the food to raise the fry is why. It's quite the adventure
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AdInfinitum
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- Thorndale, Ontario
Many reef fish are not sexually dimorphic...many are undifferentiated hermaphrodites until optimal conditions arise...many are mass spawners that require huge populations to trigger spawning events....
People are breeding lots of species where it is possible.....but the evolution of reef dwellers is much more complex than most FW species...thus the evolved colours and forms as well.
People are breeding lots of species where it is possible.....but the evolution of reef dwellers is much more complex than most FW species...thus the evolved colours and forms as well.
Still the fish that are "easier " to breed ? I am happy to hear of the Ontario clown breeders and the member here breeding Banggai cardinalfish..
Just curious why not many even attempt? It could not be that more labour intensive than growing corals?
In fresh there was two groups one fish and the other plant people. Both propagate their respective discipline
Just curious why not many even attempt? It could not be that more labour intensive than growing corals?
In fresh there was two groups one fish and the other plant people. Both propagate their respective discipline
There is a lot more work behind it then appears. There is a lot of space, time, money needed. If you finally have a batch live long enough to sell, you then have to sell them as well as have a place for them while you sell them. All the while your fish continue to breed all for just a few dollars a piece. It is a huge undertaking, which is why it is done by a select few regularly whom have the facilities and orders to move product. One of the easiest ones to breed is clown fish. But again, you have to have the demand to justify the cost and labor. Many have tried in Ontario, few continue it. @yveterinarian did seahorses and recently got out of breeding them. Maybe she can provide some incite in regards to her ventures as they would be similar set ups and labor.
Nick James
Active Member
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- Jan 11, 2016
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- Niagara
... and besides, who wants all that fish mojo funking up their water?
You nailed it Torx...I'm in no way a "breeder", rather I just happened to have selected two random fish that have decided they are more than happy in their environment to reproduce. When this happens there's really only 2 choices; let the fry become food for the rest of the tank inhabitants or get sucked into the pumps or, try to protect the fry and raise them. The first isnt really an option for me with these beautiful fish so I have learned how I can offer the best chance of survivial. As a result, I have rearranged my dt, purchased additional equipment, have to commit to another strict routine of feeding, then trying to ween them onto frozen, stressing when one isnt eating, stressing when one is being picked on, and so on...it has changed from a hobby to more like, well...work.
My experience has been amazing and I've learned a ton. Would I do this proactively? No. As Torx mentioned, there seems to be little "market" to even try to recoup costs invested to keep these little guys alive so I can completly understand why breeding fish is not more prevalent.
Janice
Member
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- Oct 15, 2016
- Location
- Mississauga
Hi Kevin. The two Banggai babies we got from you this week are so adorable my son started talking about getting into breeding-but I definitely don't need any more work. I am curious about the entire feeding of the babies from the time of birth. Can you elaborate.
Anyone else who wants a Bangui should consider buying one or more from Kevin. I am excited about watching them to see how fast they grow-given how small they are at 4 months.
Anyone else who wants a Bangui should consider buying one or more from Kevin. I am excited about watching them to see how fast they grow-given how small they are at 4 months.
It's a lot of work and can be very costly and time consuming.
I've been in the aquarium hobby for over 30 years and was manager of Big Al's in Kitchener for 17 years. I remember back in the day we got a lot of our fish from local breeders. I had a guy who bred fancy guppies and other livebearers for us and over 50% of our African Cichlids came from local breeders.
When I opened my own retail store 5 years ago I hardly got any fish from local breeders. Sure, there are still lots of basement breeders out there that sell on forums etc. to other hobbyists but it's just so cheap to buy fish from the farms in the Far East now that basement breeders just can't compete and make any money. Unless your doing it on a large scale which most aren't up for and can't afford.
Marines are even trickier as they are harder to breed and cost more to raise up to selling size. I've known many breeders of different marine fish over the years and they've all told me that at the end of the day it barely pays for itself.
Luckily, more and more commercial fish farms are breeding marine fish and new species are being bred all the time which is a great sign for the future of this hobby!
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I've been in the aquarium hobby for over 30 years and was manager of Big Al's in Kitchener for 17 years. I remember back in the day we got a lot of our fish from local breeders. I had a guy who bred fancy guppies and other livebearers for us and over 50% of our African Cichlids came from local breeders.
When I opened my own retail store 5 years ago I hardly got any fish from local breeders. Sure, there are still lots of basement breeders out there that sell on forums etc. to other hobbyists but it's just so cheap to buy fish from the farms in the Far East now that basement breeders just can't compete and make any money. Unless your doing it on a large scale which most aren't up for and can't afford.
Marines are even trickier as they are harder to breed and cost more to raise up to selling size. I've known many breeders of different marine fish over the years and they've all told me that at the end of the day it barely pays for itself.
Luckily, more and more commercial fish farms are breeding marine fish and new species are being bred all the time which is a great sign for the future of this hobby!
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I didn't think of it as a business but more of an extension to the hobby. I guess everything is about money and time today.
Freshwater basement breeders don't breed fish for money but for accomplishment. I've saw some unbelievable fish rooms in the past that would blow your mind at the expense, time, money. More rows of tanks than most fish stores. One guy that has several thousands of gallons that house fish 4' or bigger he has a guy in a raft to change the lights over the tanks! I've been there!
To some it's the challenge.
Freshwater basement breeders don't breed fish for money but for accomplishment. I've saw some unbelievable fish rooms in the past that would blow your mind at the expense, time, money. More rows of tanks than most fish stores. One guy that has several thousands of gallons that house fish 4' or bigger he has a guy in a raft to change the lights over the tanks! I've been there!
To some it's the challenge.