Marketable species
- Thread starter Noof
- Start date
mwp
In Memoriam
So, I had to come back and contribute a little more to this thread. Tonight I got to visit Joe Lichtenbert at RPI here in IL. Floored..it's a stunning basement operation. FWIW, RPI probably produces 3X the revenue at 1/3 the cost per sq. foot when compared to what we used to produce at The Cichlid Factory.
If there's ONE thing I can take away from RPI is that his setup 100% bolsters what everyone has said about Ocellaris. I believe Joe had maybe 20+ pairs going, which is probably more broodstock than ALL the other varients (Cinnamons, Tomatoes, GS Maroons, Bicinctus, Black OCs, Clarkii, Black Sebae, Black Clarkii, Black Saddleback) combined!
The shocker to me was that Joe did not have ANY perculas of ANY type in the broodstock systems. He's been at this a WHILE, so it has to make you think!
FWIW,
Matt
If there's ONE thing I can take away from RPI is that his setup 100% bolsters what everyone has said about Ocellaris. I believe Joe had maybe 20+ pairs going, which is probably more broodstock than ALL the other varients (Cinnamons, Tomatoes, GS Maroons, Bicinctus, Black OCs, Clarkii, Black Sebae, Black Clarkii, Black Saddleback) combined!
The shocker to me was that Joe did not have ANY perculas of ANY type in the broodstock systems. He's been at this a WHILE, so it has to make you think!
FWIW,
Matt
Fishboy42
Premium Member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8508510#post8508510 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by David M
So here is something that cracks me up, I make my rounds today with ocellaris and tomato clowns. Obviously breeding marine tropicals is easy, almost every store I go to asks "what else you got?"
Yes! I get that too...can't they just focus on our accomplishments for a while before asking for MORE! And when I say I'll have X available in 4 months-- the next week.."do you have X ready yet"...
Yes, true...you especially
I didn't actually notice that JL/RPI was percula-less, although that is interesting. I did find it interesting though that the vast majority of the fish in growout were orange ocellaris; only a small percentage of "everything else."
Matt
mwp
In Memoriam
Actually, besides my mandarin efforts (which is what sparked an intrepid 3rd party to make the connection between us, thanks) I've been talking with JL about the perculas and as usual, his experiences with rearing them was that they take long to color up and bar up and have a higher percentage of misbars when compared to the other clownfish species. I know JL has worked with percs in the past, but from what I gathered he's moved on (i.e. the Bicintus pairs were beyond spectacular...lyretails on clownfish, now there's something you don't see often).
Another intriguing figure for me was HOW FEW misbars I saw...VERY FEW. I'd guestimate on the order of 1% or less. JL was VERY up front and from what I can gather, he follows what is now considered pretty standard protocols for larval rearing when it comes to clownfish. I think the difference is that he's probably become so "atunned" to their needs and "status" at all stages that he may make adjustments without even thinking about it. He's 100% mastered grow out at a small scale..sure there's problems with every type of aquaculture endevor, but again, I was completely AWESTRUCK. One of those Garth and Wayne "we're not worthy" momemts.
The OTHER "kicker" was his grow out, which he amply describes in his article. I looked at a tank of Ocellaris that are about the same size as my first percula batch juvies are (now around the mid 40's post hatch)...similar sized OC's in JL's system were 21 days old. Proves I have a LOT to learn yet!
I should really, really stress that if you ever find out that Joe is coming to speak in your area, that's a talk you should not miss if you're into any type of marine breeding or even just considering it - he, like so many others, isn't just interested in clownfish. His goby setup, currently not in operation, is the hallmark of a tinkerer / innovator / DIY guru that most of us hobbyist breeders shoot for. I think the broodstock for 50+ pairs would've fit in an area half the size of my desk. Like I said, floored. While it's not what he had built, I'm starting to wonder about those toolboxes with the sliding drawers, you know for nails and such...hmmm...goby condos....that's where you breed your flaming prawns!
Joe is making his living on Ocellaris and currently only sells locally, which means if you're somewhere other than Chicago, you very realistically could do the same. The only way I"d have a "shot" at making a living doing this in local Chicago would be to make sure I don't culture ANYTHING Joe is working with....he has it nailed down.
If I didn't say it here before, I feel more than honored that Joe shared his time and setup with me. I owe him a great thanks (and maybe a donation of a GBG pair if I get this current batch to term)!
Matt
Last edited:
"If I didn't say it here before, I feel more than honored that Joe shared his time and setup with me. I owe him a great thanks (and maybe a donation of a GBG pair if I get this current batch to term)!"
Here, here! JL has been very kind and generous to me too. He's a treasure.
K
Here, here! JL has been very kind and generous to me too. He's a treasure.
K
ediaz
Active member
Well Anderson thats a surprise you could not figure that one out coming from the city with the finest mulher(hope I spelled right)
David if you make it to IMAC this year theres steak for you, and Kathy if she wants to trail.
I think for Mathew I'll bring him a dotty spawnig pair, I bet he can raise them.
For Matt I think hes gonna have deer all the way till July.
If we could get Joe and his good friend Bill to write a book we all be saved!
Ed
David if you make it to IMAC this year theres steak for you, and Kathy if she wants to trail.
I think for Mathew I'll bring him a dotty spawnig pair, I bet he can raise them.
For Matt I think hes gonna have deer all the way till July.
If we could get Joe and his good friend Bill to write a book we all be saved!
Ed
Fishboy42
Premium Member
That's just what you need Matt, MORE breeding fish (and breeding logs!) We don't want you to get distracted from the mandarins 
Very true, although their schedules are soo busy as it is, I'd be happy just to say hello to Joe L. again at the next IMAC (I hope to make it, it'd be nice to see some of the FBF gang there too!).
Matt
We don't want you to get distracted from the mandarins Very true, although their schedules are soo busy as it is, I'd be happy just to say hello to Joe L. again at the next IMAC (I hope to make it, it'd be nice to see some of the FBF gang there too!).
Matt
Similar threads
