Wanting To Breed A Species Of Fish

[Neal]

Well, i'm wanting to breed a species of fish that I can sell through a website, and I only have two tanks, a 20Gallon long community tank, and a 15Gallon long high-tech planted tank. I'm thinking of growing the fry in the 15Gallon, and when they are sexually mature, seperate them within the two tanks. I'm looking for the following good points:
- Must be inexpensive.
- Fairly hardy fish.
- Fairly easy to breed.
- Must be pretty.
- Must get on with parents (once grown up).
- Must not be territorial.
- Must be suitable for community fish.

Does anyone have any ideas on a fish to breed? I've thought about betta splendens, but once they grow older I can't put all the males together, and I'd need a seperate breeding tank (unless I move the inhabitants of the 15G to the 20G temporarely(sp)). All advice/criticism/comments are appreciated!
Thanks alot,

Neal

 

[jayjay]

Well don't do betta's for a start. With your wants from this fish you will never be able to sell them, probably just give them away when you have to many. Also will have to be a livebearer really, as everything easy to spawn scatters there eggs then eats them or protect their eggs which you said you don't want anthing territoral. Main options - guppies, swordtails and plaites.

 

[voo]

i dont think you'll be able to sell many guppies, platties or swordtails, they're too common and you wont get much money from them. Plus if you are breeding them i think you might get overrun with them quite quickly with just 2 tanks.

I dont know much about them but what about killifish? I see people selling eggs on ebay a lot and they make quite a bit of money...

I think if you're wanting to sell them on a website (ebay?) you'll need a species that isnt so common as guppies... something that isnt easily available in most fish shops

 

[jayjay]

Well I did say all the common species are hard to sell. Killifish are shy fish that I would only keep in a species tnak although they can be ok in quiet community tanks.

 

[Neal]

I could breed the killis in the planted tank, but with killifish i'd rather sell the fish than the eggs so... Maybe I could breed pure endlers, but I'd like them to be pure if I did. It would be on my website, as I don't have an ebay account and i'd rather not sell them on ebay simply. The only problem with livebearers is you get overrun, and I don't really want a big buisness, as I know it won't get big. Just something that I can get a little bit of money from, i'd be having like 30 every month, and then i'd have to sell like 2 every day to keep space and things. It is a serious thought about it though.

Neal

 

[Dragonscales]

Peacock Gudgeons are always an option. They are colourful, not agressive, fairly easy to breed and suit a quiet community tank.

 

[Neal]

What type of fish are they? As in, cichlids, oddball or what? I'd have to do alot of research before getting them as all I know is there like caves and well that's it, I also thought they were brackish too?

Neal

Also, when I said territorial I meant things that will literaly kill anything that comes near it, I think kribs would be fine as I have nothing it would attack. Also, I could breed things in the 15G also, I don't have to use the 20, and i'd prefer not to, it's just two tanks gives you more options. And my female krib is already very peaceful!

 

[Dragonscales]

They are a type of goby. They are freshwater fish who like a neutral ph of around 7 on the slightly harder side. Breeding doesn't require caves to spawn as pvc pipes, etc are good substitutes. They will breed better in a seperate tank (as most fish will) but breeding can and will occur in a comunity tank on occassion. Provide pvc pipes a few inches long and condition with live foods and the chances of spawning are good.

 

[Neal]

I really don't like the site of PVC pipes, and the fact that these are both going to be show tanks of some sort, I think it will look an eyesore, I have 3 coconut caves, some bogwood and a poo load of slate! I can also get some roman collum caves from my brother and even though I like planted, I must say they look really nice. Especially if I attach riccia and things to them.

Neal

 

[voo]

Not really a fish, but what about apple snails?

 

[diademhill]

Bristlenose catfish? They will breed in a suitable commumity & the babies are usually easy to shift.

 

[Neal]

Already have 3 bristlenose, just waiting for two of them to mature a bit.

Neal

 

[flamingonhot]

Yeah, I would only really suggest albino bristlenose catfish, you don't know how well those are selling lately. It seems to be the latest "fish fad".

All in all, my opinion would be just to breed fish for the fun of it. Breeding fish in small numbers may prove more costly than anything. You need all the extra tanks, large amounts of food, they need a lot of care, need to be fed a few times a day, and that similar stuff. Unless you breed a very popular fish that can go for more than 2 dollars, you won't make anything.

Take guppies for example, the pair alone here costs about 4 bucks, then you get what, 10 good fish at least when they breed. Sell them at about 10 cents each, you'd have to sell 40 to make what you spent on the fish alone. Then there's cost of food, filters, the tank, etc. If you already have the stuff laying around it may be a little different.

Personally I'd skip it unless you'd just like to make a few measly dollars, or doing it just for the fun of it. That's just my opinion though.

I never really try breeding fish to sell, mostly I want to see one of my favorite fishes "legacy" continue or so what the babies would turn out to look like. Or just to try and breed a fish that's rarely bred in the home aquaria. Like needlenose fish, there's not a whole lot of info out on them, especially breeding the babies, so being needlenose crazy and trying to shed some light on the subject, I thought i'd take a bold move and at least "try" to breed them.

Oh well, hope that helps!

 

[Captain Retardo]

You should breed some corys that are not very common in stores!

 

[Neal]

I've decided on endlers now, I can get some pure bred endlers for a cheap price incl p&p. I've got everything planned out for the website, hopefully this will take off and keep your eye out for me advertising once everything is set up!

Neal