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Fry

Joined
26 Feb 2020
Messages
11
Location
Surrey
Hello everyone,

I was just wondering what everybody does with their fry.

I’d like to breed my discus but wouldn’t know how to move the fry on afterwards.

I’ve heard people say their LFS will take them but is this really the case? I’m sure they all have their own suppliers already and wouldn’t want to risk taking fish from someone breeding at home as a hobby.

Any suggestions or experiences?

Thanks
 
Check with local shops first (also what size they’d want the discus)
Make sure you have the necessary grow out tanks and time & commitment for the needed water changes, maintenance etc (quality juvenile fish require optimum water quality, and discus seem more prone to stunting than other fish - or perhaps, it’s just breeder inexperience)

If you already have a good relationship with a shop, they are more likely to be receptive
 
Depends on the shop I think - mine will give credit but there would also be a limit on how many they could take.
 
Hi all,
I was just wondering what everybody does with their fry. I’d like to breed my discus but wouldn’t know how to move the fry on afterwards.
I think you should be all right with Discus, you will always be able to sell them private sale.

You don't get much a fish in the LFS, I used to get £10 store credit for 15 Apistogramma cacatuoides, and they would be on sale shortly after for £15 a pair. Same with Corydoras pygmaeus, people will always take them, but LFS will give you less than £1 a fish.

I've had some issues with <"other Cichlids"> , and some prolific fish like (most) Livebearers, Convict Cichlids, Standard Bristlenose etc. you literally can't give away. Even if you breed an unusual fish, if there isn't much market for them locally, you can "flood the market".

Red coloured "unusual" fish, most Corydoras and L numbers tend to sell better. You don't get much money for Corydoras aeneus or C. panda.

cheers Darrel
 
Appreciate everyone’s thoughts on this.

Another fish I’d really like to breed is Tropheus, but I rarely see them in shops so I guess the demand for them is not high enough.

I’ll stick to discus for now then and see what happens.
 
Hi all,
breed is Tropheus
You could sell as many Tropheus as you could ever breed and for good money. You are back into all the problems with extreme male aggression, the requirement for a specialised diet and the ever real risk that you will upset community dynamics and lose the whole lot. You also need to maintain really high water quality, which is more difficult with plant eating fish (you need to keep the plants away from the fish).

It is bit like breeding Hypancistrus zebra (L46), it is possible, but I'd guess that 95% of people who've tried have never got any fry.

cheers Darrel
 
I’ve kept Tropheus with good results in the past, the spawned in the tank but I never took the fry out so nature often took its course.

I never see them in LFS so I presumed the demand isn’t there to breed them.
 
Independents will normally take fish if you build up a rapport with them. I would happily take fish from people I knew with the understanding that they were of an appropriate standard.
The easiest way to get your foot in the door is to offer them a few for free so they can see what they are like or say you won't take any credit until they have sold.

I bred marine fish, mainly seahorses, and they were a real pain to get rid of because few shops even stock seahorses. I moved them through a wholesaler in the end and didn't make much from them. So I'd only breed what is popular locally if you want to go the lfs route. With discus you should be fine as they will probably be snapped up by private buyers who want a hardy fish used to the local water conditions.
 
The problem with tropheus is often the price. Some are very expensive on their own, let alone a group, and this can put people off keeping them more than their special care ime. If your like me and like to keep things because you are interested in the animal, plus aren't looking to make a profit, then you can pass on the juviniles at what would be a cheap price pretty easily.
 
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