Breeding For $$$

[Scott MacAdam]

I've got a 30gal long, breeder tank sitting empty in my back room. I'm thinking of setting it up as a breeding tank to make some money on. I just accidentally had a batch of hybrid African cichlids and if they turn out nice I could sell them but I'm thinking of something a bit more expensive, or more sought after.

What would you guys do?

Thanks,

Scott

 

[the_lock_man]

The more sought after, and therefore more expensive, fish tend to be the hardest to breed. If a fish is easy to breed, lots of people do it, and therefore the laws of Supply & Demand dictate that the price drops.

 

[Scott MacAdam]

Yeah, I know what you mean. I've bred fish before and I've been keeping fish since I was a young teen so I'm actually looking for a new challenge.

I considered imperal zebra plecos or blue phantoms but I'm thinking the demand won't be there. Expensive fish but few buyers or a more common fish that I can sell LOTS of.

Follow me here?

 

[Rynofasho]

Ya, better off selling lower priced fish that are in high demand.

 

[Squidward]

Maybe some Plecs?
Or one of the rarer Cichlids?

You not going to make much selling on Guppies etc.

 

[fluttermoth]

I'd just like to warn you, that unless you own a Cruft's best in show winner (and even then, probably not) you're not going to be rich breeding anything.

I know people who breed; dogs, horses, fish, cats, rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs and birds, and in all honesty, the best you're going to do is cover your costs and make a bit of pocket money.

It is virtually impossible to make a living from breeding; the costs of feed/care etc is just too high, and you'll be lucky if you make any profit at all.

Just a heads up FWIW!

 

[minnnt]

I would look into some cory's. Maybe Sterbai or Adolfi's, something like that. These are fetching good money in the shops, so you would make a fair whack if you sold them for a decent price. But like fluttermoth said, you're never going to make ALOT of money, probably just enough to cover costs and a bit of pocket money for buying more/different stock etc.

 

[fluttermoth]

Yeah, Corydoras are always popluar and the less common ones, like Adolfoi (I paid £50 for my 6 ) would be a good choice.

 

[Scott MacAdam]

Not trying to make a living at it. Just something fun to do to supplimentally fund my fish habits.

 

[fluttermoth]

The more unusual corydoras, plecs or dwarf cichlids always seem to sell well.

 

[KkAaNnEe]

+1 to the above, they all have decent fanbases, which means you wont have to give them away..

 

[Scott MacAdam]

Ok, I'm liking plecos and dwarf cichlids. Never been a huge fan of corries.

What is likely to yield the highest return financially?

Or maybe someone has some other ideas....?

 

[KkAaNnEe]

I think dwarf cichlids would IMO, people tend to only have one pleco, where as a pair or trio of apistos or GBRs are normally sold

 

[minnnt]

If you can breed electric blue rams then you will be onto a winner! lol.

Cory's would return a decent amount... Sterbai's are fetching £11 in some lfs. You could go with bog standard BN Plecs, £1 a peice and they are capable of having loads of young so that could possibly yield £100 a spawn in theory. Also look at starlight BN's, L181 and L182 i believe. One is worth more than the other, but unsure which it is. £2-3 each for them with a similar amount of fry produced i think.

 

[Scott MacAdam]

Small tank for that big of a production of fry. Lol. I can't imagine having a 30gal with 100 fry. Lol.

That being said, I wouldn't have the time to find homes for 100 plecos anyway.

I could do a ram tank. What do blue rams sell for these days? I've never kept them. I'd assume I'll buy a lot of them and wait for them to pair off and sell the others...