Only Selling Males

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felix453

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
May 17, 2011
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new york
Hey guys,about a year ago I started up a fish room where I breed fancy guppies ( Yeah I know, so hardcore:grinno:). I finally have a large group of males that are ready to be sold to a few LFS. I was talking to the owner and he was surprised that I was only interested in selling the males. I was telling him that this way someone couldn't just pick up a pair of the fish I've spent a lot of money on, start breeding them, and become a rival in a small market without doing a lot of work. I also figured that this way Id have more females and eventually I'd be increasing "production" exponentially. It just got me to wondering if anyone else does this or if it's kind of dicky on my end. Thanks
-Jack
 
I think it's a great idea and I agree with your reasoning for it. Are you the only one with this strained of guppy?
 
They're Black Moscow Guppies and you could probably order them online, atleast that's where I got mine. They're a pretty nice strain with large tails they support well. I've also been selecting for deeper bodies to help them support large tails. You just want to make sure you're buying from a breeder with good reviews and pictures of the actual fish for sale. Ive bought numerous times from Lotsoffish on aquabid and have yet to be dissapointed
 
I don't know anything about guppies but if they are not rare I don't think it matters of you sell the males. Most people buying guppies at the store don't care if it's a black Moscow or not. Like I said I don't know anything about guppies but if you think you have something special keep the females.
 
I was just looking at pictures of them. They are a cool looking fish.
 
I have a rare plant business, and something I have learned over the years is - yes, maybe we have a rare product, but they do us no good, if they are not selling. Money in the bank is better than 50 of something that are just taking up space and resources.
I can understand if this strain was brand new, but if the store can't buy yours because of a technicality, they will just buy them elsewhere - and the one who will lose out, is you.
Also - as you must know - the process of breeding, culling, getting quality offspring, etc etc, is a very involved and lengthy process - so your selling females would not affect the market, really.
 
It's nothing new. Selling only males has been a trade standard for fancy livebearers for several decades. In fact, many new strains have been developed through breeding the males of a 'male-only' batch to females of other color strains.
 
The owner still seems interested but he definitely seemed a little put-off because of it. It's kind of funny because I feel that there are some pretty serious fish keepers/breeders and also the everyday fish keepers living in my area of LI but most of the guppies that come in are pretty cruddy so I could definitely see another hobbyist pick up a pair and start his own "line". I guess Im looking at this as a way to have a little bit of a monopoly and that by continually keeping the females overtime it'll be like a pyramid effect. Jeez do I sound like Bernie Madoff:evil_lol:
 
The thing you are missing is - since it's not new, somebody else can get females elsewhere (or a pair, for that matter.) If somebody sees your males in the store, and gets "the idea" of doing it, too, they can just order some from somebody else and do exactly what you are afraid they will do.

Create something new and awesome, THEN have your monopoly :)
 
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