Looking into breeding for profit.

[Twisted]

I have the basics as far as basic tank set up, feeding, etc...

But are there any books that you guys can suggest for me that not only cover the basics, but perhaps covers some of the problems that may occur in this industry?

And if anyone is willing to, reply, or send me a PM, I am curious as to what you are breeding, and what kind of profit you are making off it.
I don't need specifics, just rough ideas. It would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Fishboy42]

Definitely study this book to help answer some of your questions:

Conditioning, Spawning and Rearing of Fish With Emphasis on Marine Clownfish (by Frank Hoff)

It is helpful not only from the biology standpoint, but from a business perspective as well.

-Matt

 

[Twisted]

That sounds like a great book. Especially since the first mating pair I am looking at are clowns since they seem to have the most success. Just torn between the mating pair of onyx clowns, maroon gold banded clowns, or blue striped clowns.

 

[Kmiec123]

Check the sticky at the top of this post...great info there...Read, read, read. Good luck with turning a profit : keep the questions coming.

 

[Twisted]

well, I am also doing soft corals, LPS, and eventually SPS. I am having pretty good sucess with the softies. Keeping LPS alive easily, just not much growth. So I will have multiple items I will be selling, just need the quantity. but will have resale too for drygoods.

Not expecting a lot of profit, in fact none for a few years, but eventually need to show some...right?

 

[MimicTang]

All those types of clowns arent teh easiest to start with either.

 

[Twisted]

yeah, but clowns are one of the most successfully bred in captivity from what I have read.
I never seem to start out easy, but I never jump in to the hardest areas either...I like it somewhere in the middle I guess.

 

[Rovert]

Twisted, I have not direct firsthand experience, but know of a person who also tried to run a marine livestock business selling SPS, and he found out it was a financial disaster, more or less.

I don't mean to discourage you, but it's important for you to remember that you reside in a state with some of, if not the, highest energy costs in the nation. That means that to successfully grow SPS, LPS or even breed fish will cost you more than a competitor who does not have those same high costs for electricity. By extension it means that if the market is only prepared to pay a certain amount for the item you're selling, you'll be forced to a smaller profit than someone in, say, Louisiana, who has very low energy costs.

I though it was worth mentioning to encourage you to consider carefully what your possible profit might be. Have you factored yet the number and type of tanks, and electrical demand to run them (pumps, lighting requirements, etc) relative to livestock yield per tank?

Again, I don't want to discourage you, but it's something you should VERY carefully take a look at.

Best wishes,
RK

 

[Twisted]

I haven't completely evaluated it, more of gusstimated it, and I should have slightly less profit then the same set up in a low cost state. But I am talking a small internet/local cliental. Which means low over head because of a lack of over head.
More or less my set up will run like a "Dot.com" business where all the dry goods are concerned, then the softies and LPS will be ran under T5s or PCs, as well the fish.
The SPS will be the only high lighting needes, and it is my smallest section because it will mainly house high end exotic type stuff.

At this point I am more into it as a way to support my hobby, which I am sure I can do, with some added bonuses. But I think with some slight reconfiguring of my idea, I can actually cut a small profit of $20k or more in about 3 to 4 years, which added to my current home based income of $70k puts me in a pretty happy spot.

Unless I am wrong and it falls through, then I write off my hobby on my taxes, and call it good!
I appreciatethe concern, and pointing out things like that is great, because if I hadn't considered something that someone else has, then it gives me a good insight, or gives me time to rework it to fit in.

Thanks!