OK so here's a stupid question

[muppet]

But with a true interest behind it:

Why doesn't *everybody* raise clownfish?

Now, I don't mean that everybody should go out and hatch a ton of fish and saturate the market leading to homeless clownfish dying by the thousands or anything crazy like that. I guess what I'm asking is: is breeding clownfish something you can only pursue as a hobby, or can it be a commercially viable sideline to my full time job?

It seems as though raising clowns has become a science in the past 10 years or so, from the reading I've been doing. There seems to be a rather formulaic approach established that more or less guarantees good results providing that certain conditions are met (some easier than others, granted).

There seems to be a demand. I see a few threads on various forums from time to time where someone manages to raise fry and the PMs start flying by the second or third reply looking to purchase offspring.

Am I way off base here? I'd like to try and raise clowns for the challenge and the sake of hobby, but I also don't want to generate dozens or hundreds of homeless fish. Can I be reasonably assured that there will be enough hobbyists to absorb my output if I'm successful?

 

[jgannon]

Did a bit of research on this myself on the MOFIB forum and from what I read it's tough for a lot of the breeders to break even, let alone make a decent profit. There are a handful of successful (by that I mean profitable) breeders on the board but most of them say they do it for the love of the fish, not the money.

 

[hmello@bermexin]

IMO no you cannot be reasonably assured of anything regarding the selling of your stock. You may be able to find a local fish store that would be willing to take them on with some monetary sharing with them if you cannot sell them outright on the market. Just depends on the saturation of things in your area I guess.

 

[ctenophors rule]

Lots of people are thinking like you, unfortunately for you, but great for the wild clownfish!

I know of 5 people (besides me) breeding clowns within 70 miles of my location, ecluding ORA.

Hobbiest sort of assisted in breaking the mold on clowns, and the commercial institutions monopolized. this is how marine ornamental aquaculture works. If you want to be profitable, you need to be one of the first to supply aquacultured. If you breed some centropyge, I will personaly assure you to be turning a profit

beyound that, enjoy, clowns are good to start, eventualy their larvae make great food for...other ventures:beer:

 

[Arc Katana]

The biggest factor in breeding clowns (as others have said) is breaking even. Sure your local store may take 5-6 (or even 10-20) a month, but when you're making anywhere from 4-7$ per inch long fish... When you factor in upkeep, feeding, electricity,tanks,salt etc. it is about a break even prospect if you're lucky. Else its fairly typical to be in the negative. If you're doing it for fun or as a hobby, then by all means, go for it!

Just don't expect to be cashing those 10,000 checks anytime soon

The old adage "To make a million dollars in this hobby is to start with two million and quit when you're down to one" is pretty valid.

 

[doylef4i]

The old adage "To make a million dollars in this hobby is to start with two million and quit when you're down to one" is pretty valid.

Thats so true.:lol2:

 

[reefstew]

I'm a fish breeder in Phoeniz,Az. & sold over 3500 fish last year & I'm constantly reminded by my wife on how much more money we make with my home repair business. I went to S. Ca. last year hopeing to get some of the large wholesalers to buy my fish. No luck. Unless you can find a buyer than don't do it for the money.