Triggerjay
Well-Known Member
So, BigAl, I have hinted in the past that I was up to "something", and let the cat out of the bag the other day. But now its time to put my plan into action. The plan:
My plan is to create a fish breeding program, utilizing a large open area in my basement. Mainly focusing on Oscellaris clownfish, but with some other species in the mix.
I have learned through my research, that everyone wants "Nemo", and currently, this is the easiest fish to market, and get any kind of return on. Any money made from this adventure, if any, will be put back into the research, and devolopment of breeding marine fish in captivity. The oscallaris clownfish reaches a "sellable" size the fastest of all the clown species. At around 3 to four months of age, the fry will reach the 1" mark, which WILL be my minimum size standard for selling. I fell it is irresponsible to sell them at a smaller size, due to them being more delicate.
The broodstock system:
I plan to have 6 pairs of clownfish. 3 pair of them being regular oscallaris, which I currently have two pair, One pair of GSM's, which I also currently have, one pair of Picasso clowns, and one pair of black oscallaris. I also plan to try my hand at bangaii cardinals with at least two pair, in seperate tanks tied to the same broodstock system.
My broodstock will consist of two 30g breeder tanks (already on hand) with two black NON-transparent dividers installed in each tank, with an egg crate strip affixed to the top of the dividers to keep everyone in their partitions of the tanks. The system will have a sump, with a skimmer, and LR for filtration. I will also run carbon in this system. The broodstock tanks will have sand bottoms, with a clay pot, and single peice of live rock in each partition.
Lighting will be provided by two T-5 bulbs over each tank, set on a timer. The system will also have an ATO system.
The broodstock system is almost there as far as equipment, and shelving, I just need to assemble it. The broodstock I currently have is housed in my reef setup. One pair oscallaris in my 55g fuge, one pair oscallaris in my DT, and the GSM pair is in my daughters tank. These will all be moved into the new system once it is assembled and cycled.
Growout tanks:
I have three more 30g breeder tanks that will be used as growout tanks, and may or may not be tied into the broodstock system. I am still currently undecided.
Hatching and new fry tanks:
I plan to use 5g tanks for hatching and holding the fry through meta. I have read that it is easier to keep the rotifer density concentrated for the fry to hunt in a smaller tank.
Rotifer and Phyto cultures:
I plan to use 5g buckets (we all have some of these on hand) for my rotifer culture. I have yet to decide on the Phyto. there have been advancements in the quality of "instant phyto" such as the algae pastes, and concentrates. I may try to go this route. If it prooves to not be cost effective however, I will start a two-liter phyto plankton culture station.
So, this is the basic setup I plan to use. Currently, none of my pairs have spawned. There are some spawning triggers that many use including elevated temperatures, and saturation feeding. Since my broodstock is currently in my reef system, this is not an option at this time.
Marketing my babies:
I am lucky enough to have a friend that is a wholesale supplier to many of the LFS'es in our area. He has agreed to purchase as many baby clowns as I (or my fish rather) can produce.
Why?
Some of you may ask why I would even attempt this. There is not really any money in it, and a TON of my time will be consumed into this project if I am to be successful. I feel I have expanded my knowledge enough in the hobby to be successful at a breeding program. I have killed my share of marine life throughout my journey into this hobby, and I feel, that for every one clownfish I am able to put into someone elses tank, it will be one less taken from the ocean. Aquaculturing, and tank raised fish are the only sure future for our hobby. Some of you may know that Fiji and Tonga are already slated to quit exportation within the next couple years, and more will follow. I feel our hobby will end up like the pet bird market. Importation into the US was completly outlawed,.. Now, the only birds available to the hobbiest's are captive raised, which for the enviornment, is a great move,.. but for the hobbiest, will stop the availability of certain fish that have not been succesfully bred in captivity. The only chance we have, for a future in our hobby is aquaculture and captive raising of the animals we like to keep. So, this is my attempt to prepare for the future, so my children, and their children can enjoy the hobby as we do. Please feel free to add your comments and suggestions as my journey into breeding marine fish unfolds.
As I start putting this system together, I will try to remember to take photographs to go along with my progress updates in this thread.
Thanks for reading the DRY start to my plan!
Jason
My plan is to create a fish breeding program, utilizing a large open area in my basement. Mainly focusing on Oscellaris clownfish, but with some other species in the mix.
I have learned through my research, that everyone wants "Nemo", and currently, this is the easiest fish to market, and get any kind of return on. Any money made from this adventure, if any, will be put back into the research, and devolopment of breeding marine fish in captivity. The oscallaris clownfish reaches a "sellable" size the fastest of all the clown species. At around 3 to four months of age, the fry will reach the 1" mark, which WILL be my minimum size standard for selling. I fell it is irresponsible to sell them at a smaller size, due to them being more delicate.
The broodstock system:
I plan to have 6 pairs of clownfish. 3 pair of them being regular oscallaris, which I currently have two pair, One pair of GSM's, which I also currently have, one pair of Picasso clowns, and one pair of black oscallaris. I also plan to try my hand at bangaii cardinals with at least two pair, in seperate tanks tied to the same broodstock system.
My broodstock will consist of two 30g breeder tanks (already on hand) with two black NON-transparent dividers installed in each tank, with an egg crate strip affixed to the top of the dividers to keep everyone in their partitions of the tanks. The system will have a sump, with a skimmer, and LR for filtration. I will also run carbon in this system. The broodstock tanks will have sand bottoms, with a clay pot, and single peice of live rock in each partition.
Lighting will be provided by two T-5 bulbs over each tank, set on a timer. The system will also have an ATO system.
The broodstock system is almost there as far as equipment, and shelving, I just need to assemble it. The broodstock I currently have is housed in my reef setup. One pair oscallaris in my 55g fuge, one pair oscallaris in my DT, and the GSM pair is in my daughters tank. These will all be moved into the new system once it is assembled and cycled.
Growout tanks:
I have three more 30g breeder tanks that will be used as growout tanks, and may or may not be tied into the broodstock system. I am still currently undecided.
Hatching and new fry tanks:
I plan to use 5g tanks for hatching and holding the fry through meta. I have read that it is easier to keep the rotifer density concentrated for the fry to hunt in a smaller tank.
Rotifer and Phyto cultures:
I plan to use 5g buckets (we all have some of these on hand) for my rotifer culture. I have yet to decide on the Phyto. there have been advancements in the quality of "instant phyto" such as the algae pastes, and concentrates. I may try to go this route. If it prooves to not be cost effective however, I will start a two-liter phyto plankton culture station.
So, this is the basic setup I plan to use. Currently, none of my pairs have spawned. There are some spawning triggers that many use including elevated temperatures, and saturation feeding. Since my broodstock is currently in my reef system, this is not an option at this time.
Marketing my babies:
I am lucky enough to have a friend that is a wholesale supplier to many of the LFS'es in our area. He has agreed to purchase as many baby clowns as I (or my fish rather) can produce.
Why?
Some of you may ask why I would even attempt this. There is not really any money in it, and a TON of my time will be consumed into this project if I am to be successful. I feel I have expanded my knowledge enough in the hobby to be successful at a breeding program. I have killed my share of marine life throughout my journey into this hobby, and I feel, that for every one clownfish I am able to put into someone elses tank, it will be one less taken from the ocean. Aquaculturing, and tank raised fish are the only sure future for our hobby. Some of you may know that Fiji and Tonga are already slated to quit exportation within the next couple years, and more will follow. I feel our hobby will end up like the pet bird market. Importation into the US was completly outlawed,.. Now, the only birds available to the hobbiest's are captive raised, which for the enviornment, is a great move,.. but for the hobbiest, will stop the availability of certain fish that have not been succesfully bred in captivity. The only chance we have, for a future in our hobby is aquaculture and captive raising of the animals we like to keep. So, this is my attempt to prepare for the future, so my children, and their children can enjoy the hobby as we do. Please feel free to add your comments and suggestions as my journey into breeding marine fish unfolds.
As I start putting this system together, I will try to remember to take photographs to go along with my progress updates in this thread.
Thanks for reading the DRY start to my plan!
Jason
