What to Breed for Income?

[ercnan]

I bred them for fun a couple years ago.
First, I ran out of space.
Second, The LFS's ran out of space.
Third, What I got for the fish did not EVEN cover the cost to raise them to "sellable" size.
Fourth, Fun at first but quickly a big PITA.
Hamburgers are much easier to sell, even with mustard on 'em.

 

[Schweiz]

I've been a member for a while and just like to read.. This topic I found interesting so I figured I'd make my first post here.

I think its interesting that almost everyone is saying you can't make money. I don't breed fish for money, but I would think there has to be a way to breed for money.

Take Frontosa for example. The baby mobas go for $30 bucks a pop. Now I know they aren't east to breed but if you can do it, you can make some money right?


Is there anyone out there who is doing it? Or tried a particular species?

 

[cichlaguapote]

Anything doing with selling of fish is a very.. uh.. tricky market.. you're dealing with live product and one thing to cause you're live product to die will cost you huge, second the more that product becomes available the lower the price goes.

IF you were going to breed I would try and breed smaller stuff that lfs can take and not have to worry about a long shelf life. Stuff that's smaller bread and butter fish.

 

[bmxer4ever]

I've been a member for a while and just like to read.. This topic I found interesting so I figured I'd make my first post here.

I think its interesting that almost everyone is saying you can't make money. I don't breed fish for money, but I would think there has to be a way to breed for money.

Take Frontosa for example. The baby mobas go for $30 bucks a pop. Now I know they aren't east to breed but if you can do it, you can make some money right?


Is there anyone out there who is doing it? Or tried a particular species?

On the subject of making money, it's no surprise that most people have said it would be difficult.
You can look at it two ways;

Starting from scratch, if you have no tanks and no fish, then you are going to have to layout cash for a breeding tank - size depending on species requirement - with good filtration. (Plus lights, heaters, food,etc.etc.)Then you need to get your breeding stock. Depending on species, this can take a lot of time and /or money. Take angelfish for example. The best way to get a breeding pair (so I understand) is to raise a group from small and let them pair off naturally. This can take months or years.
Then you've got to condition that pair and wait for them to get into the swing of raising fry.
Then come the grow out tanks...... you could be looking at 4+ 20-30 gallon tanks plus all the ancillaries.
On top of that, you've got to put them all on stands....if you've got the space!
Then you've got to pay your electricity bills......

If you are already an established fishkeeper and have a few tanks already, then it's "just" a case of deciding what you want to breed and making the space to do it.

The first problem in both scenarios is that on such a small scale, you will probably NEVER recoup the cost of the original tank setups.
The second problem is actually finding buyers. If you can establish a good relationship with several LFS then you can find out what species they would be willing to buy, or which they would require, and establish a pricing structure.

To be honest, establishing buyers is the most important part of the whole process, and should be thought of and investigated before thinking of spending anything on a breeding setup.

Most people, myself included, would agree that small scale breeding projects CAN make money, the problem being that it's PROFIT that's important, and that's the hard part.

Pocket money to support your fishkeeping habit? Yes.
$1,000 a month business? No.

 

[Silversurfer]

It really all depends on market skills IMO.

For example, i can move 2" african peacocks for high bucks, red marble calico longfin plecos for high bucks.

Last auction of 10, 2" african peacock went for $276, 5 red marble longfins 1.5" $300.

Given i sent more then what is purchased, people have come to know it and spend the bigger bucks!

Leopoldi's seem to bring high end bucks. Any stingrays IMO would.

 

[bmxer4ever]

It really all depends on market skills IMO.

For example, i can move 2" african peacocks for high bucks, red marble calico longfin plecos for high bucks.

Last auction of 10, 2" african peacock went for $276, 5 red marble longfins 1.5" $300.

Given i sent more then what is purchased, people have come to know it and spend the bigger bucks!

Leopoldi's seem to bring high end bucks. Any stingrays IMO would.

Sounds like good money, what is your set up, how much did it cost you and how long have you been breeding fish..?

 

[bmxer4ever]

I've been a member for a while and just like to read.. This topic I found interesting so I figured I'd make my first post here.

I think its interesting that almost everyone is saying you can't make money. I don't breed fish for money, but I would think there has to be a way to breed for money.

Take Frontosa for example. The baby mobas go for $30 bucks a pop. Now I know they aren't east to breed but if you can do it, you can make some money right?


Is there anyone out there who is doing it? Or tried a particular species?

Welcome to MFK, by the way!

 

[Silversurfer]

Sounds like good money, what is your set up, how much did it cost you and how long have you been breeding fish..?

Just four tanks, on two stands. But my stock constantly changes to keep up with what's hot. If your wanting to have it as main income, your gonna need to drop a pretty penny down on a full setup of basement tanks and be able to supply stores with wide range of species, and move stuff online. I would guess 100 tanks, and be setup as a business with IRS and state IRS so can get cash from LFS instead of credit. Costed me $20 for mine, given i haven't done anything since i obtained the sellers permit. was mainly for future uses.

When i looked into ordering wholesale to bring in for hobbyiests and stores, most just require a seller's permit faxed to them. But handful required information on the business and preferably a website to back it up. or actual store.. ORA was like that i believe, out of florida, we were in midst of working a order for local reef club and they caught wind that we weren't a actual store and closed down our order.

 

[big train]

Flowerhorn is your best shot at making the bucks but i agree with the others it will not be likely to make the 1500$ a month best of luck tho.

 

[jlnguyen74]

There is no way anyone can make any profit by breeding fish in the US. The cost of electricity for your heaters and filter; the cost of water; the cost of tank, the cost to feed them... Those will make the cost of fish sale ridiculous high, which will turn wholesaler to import them in from other country, where people can just stop a river and breed fish without filter or heater, feed them with black worm getting free from sewer, and so the price is dirt cheap