I have a local fish business going on in VA. Just started couple months ago. Learning through trial and error what most people want. Just curious so I can better stock my tanks, what fish would you want or did you want the most at some point in your hobby. Whether you have it now or not, could you state what fish(es) you like best.
What fish do you desire?
- Thread starter boxerfish
- Start date
I don't ship. I'm not looking to do business here, just get ideas. Also, I'm mostly interested in SA/CA cichlids, thats why I only posted in this forum.
It does not really matter what type of fish because most people are clueless about the fish so just get colorful good looking fish that will appeal to people. Also Oscars are a big hit so get the most colorful ones like the albino tiger Oscars.
Where is your shop located in Richmond? In the city or the outskirts? Im in MD not too too far away from Richmond and I will be going through there on my way to South Carolina in a few days, i'd be interested in coming in and seeing what you have in stock
Here's the thing. I am trying to avoid fish that are sold in say Petsmart. I want to offer unique fish that aren't always so common. For example, I've sold and stocked rotkeil sevs, red dot sevs, heckelii, red festae, etc. The heckelii didn't sell well but the festae seem to be popular with most request for females. Just trying to gauge what interesting cichlids most true hobbyist want.
Depending upon how many tanks you want to dedicate to them I would look at something like this
3 different cryptoheros like marbled cons, HRP, cutteri. You could do any different 3, just continue to mix it up with your orders to try to get different types everytime
oscars
Green terrors
EBJD's
Severums
Chocolate cichlid
Geophagus Altifrons
Geophagus orangehead
Geophagus brasiliensis
Satanoperca leucosticta
2 different parachromis. Just keep mixing it up so you don't always have the same thing like the cryptoheros
2 different Herichthys at all times. Mix it up just like the others
2 different Vieja's at all time. Mix it up just like the others
1-2 different amphilophus at all times. Mix it up like the others.
I think this list would give you a great starting point and you would have a better group of CA/SA fish them pretty much all local fish stores. From this list you will be able to tell what sells and what doesn't pretty quickly and can mark them off the list if they don't work. I would buy them in smallish groups until you know you can sell them. If you keep your list mixed with the different groups you will keep people coming back. And of course throw in some rare ones every now and them like pikes, festea, less common fish, etc.
Good luck
3 different cryptoheros like marbled cons, HRP, cutteri. You could do any different 3, just continue to mix it up with your orders to try to get different types everytime
oscars
Green terrors
EBJD's
Severums
Chocolate cichlid
Geophagus Altifrons
Geophagus orangehead
Geophagus brasiliensis
Satanoperca leucosticta
2 different parachromis. Just keep mixing it up so you don't always have the same thing like the cryptoheros
2 different Herichthys at all times. Mix it up just like the others
2 different Vieja's at all time. Mix it up just like the others
1-2 different amphilophus at all times. Mix it up like the others.
I think this list would give you a great starting point and you would have a better group of CA/SA fish them pretty much all local fish stores. From this list you will be able to tell what sells and what doesn't pretty quickly and can mark them off the list if they don't work. I would buy them in smallish groups until you know you can sell them. If you keep your list mixed with the different groups you will keep people coming back. And of course throw in some rare ones every now and them like pikes, festea, less common fish, etc.
Good luck
jgentry;3247088; said:
^^ he covered it!!
but you should try clown loaches and some nice plecos people always want to buy them around here!!
Yes, clown loaches, BN plecos, silver dollars, larger barbs are all good things to have if you sell larger cichlids.
Thanks jgentry,
I've been bugging my wholesaler to get tapajos and chocolate cichlids but they haven't yet. I also been hesitant of getting EBJD because I didn't want to lose money on them but i probably will make good money on them too. I also just ordered a few Synsipilums. I have about 55 tanks but only about half are up and running. I'm a one man crew with occassional help but I've been getting good business so far. Most of my sales are from repeat or referred customers.
Kcoast. I didn't mention it but I don't have a physical store. I operate out of my basement and don't do persoanl visits. I don't think i want to do a petstore, I will probably upgrade to a warehouse sometime next year and concentrate on breeding more and selling online and to stores. My website is very basic but its www.skoolzoffish.com I am currently working on a better site but my time is very limited now a days.
Thanks for the help and please keep the desired fish list going.
I've been bugging my wholesaler to get tapajos and chocolate cichlids but they haven't yet. I also been hesitant of getting EBJD because I didn't want to lose money on them but i probably will make good money on them too. I also just ordered a few Synsipilums. I have about 55 tanks but only about half are up and running. I'm a one man crew with occassional help but I've been getting good business so far. Most of my sales are from repeat or referred customers.
Kcoast. I didn't mention it but I don't have a physical store. I operate out of my basement and don't do persoanl visits. I don't think i want to do a petstore, I will probably upgrade to a warehouse sometime next year and concentrate on breeding more and selling online and to stores. My website is very basic but its www.skoolzoffish.com I am currently working on a better site but my time is very limited now a days.
Thanks for the help and please keep the desired fish list going.