| At some point in your life you have probably had a | | | | can be purchased from local aquarium supply stores. |
| fish tank in your home. Kids all over the world start | | | | However, you may research the internet to see if |
| out with guppies and goldfish in round bowls on their | | | | you can buy in bulk to save money on the things |
| dressers. For some people, this has lead to a fish | | | | you will use the most - salts, conditioners, nets and |
| breeding business in the tropical fish market. | | | | the like. You will also find there is a wealth of |
| Even looking at the recent slew of children's movies | | | | information available on species, their natural |
| that are based underwater, you can see how the | | | | conditions, captive raising of fish, and much more. |
| popularity of tropical fish is increasing. Many tropical | | | | You will need to educate yourself often to produce |
| fish breeders have seen a rise in sales over the last | | | | good quality and beautiful fish for successful breeding. |
| two years alone. This has led the entire industry, | | | | Once you have begun producing your fish, you will |
| from aquarium makers to salt providers, in increased | | | | need to get them to your market. Transporting |
| sales and profits as well. | | | | tropical fish takes skill and timing. If you are shipping |
| Raising tropical fish requires a little know how and | | | | fish, which is becoming more and more common, |
| some specialized equipment. Typically, tropical fish will | | | | make sure that you are shipping them overnight, to |
| require more room than your average guppy, so a | | | | an address that will have a person present to accept |
| large area for tank set up will be needed. Depending | | | | the package at delivery. Always make sure that your |
| on how many species you would like to raise will | | | | customer acknowledges this shipping arrangement in |
| determine the number and size of the tanks you | | | | advance and is aware of your returns and allowances |
| need to operate. | | | | policies. |
| Also consider the number of offspring you are likely | | | | Packaging your fish can be tricky as well. There are |
| to get from each species. Some species can have | | | | several methods of packaging live fish for transport |
| hundreds of offspring at one time. A percentage of | | | | that are efficient and should ensure live delivery. |
| these offspring will probably have to be culled, or | | | | Depending on the size and oxygen requirements of |
| destroyed, because their quality will not be up to | | | | the species involved will depend on the type of |
| your standards for your tropical fish breeding | | | | packaging you will need. |
| business. The small and weak should be culled so as | | | | Most commonly, fish are double bagged, one bag tied |
| not to cause problems in the entire tank environment. | | | | at the opening and turned upside down into another |
| Breeding and raising fish to a marketable maturity will | | | | bag that is also then tied. This prevents corners from |
| require time and patience. Do your homework on | | | | closing in on the fish and also provides extra piece of |
| growth rates and reproductive rates of each species | | | | mind against leakage. Packing materials will need to be |
| you plan to breed. You will also need to know the | | | | tight, but not crushing, to keep the bagged fish |
| compatibility of different species if you plan to work | | | | upright. A good suggestion to frequent buyers of |
| with more than one in your breeding business. | | | | your fish is to offer a discount to them if they return |
| Salts, water, and water testing equipment are also a | | | | your packing materials, as the extra padding and such |
| must and should be top of the line. Water quality will | | | | can get expensive. |
| play not only a crucial role in the survival of your fish, | | | | Tropical fish can be startlingly beautiful and |
| but also in the success of your operation as a whole | | | | pleasurable to watch. It is no wonder that tropical |
| in your fish breeding. Tropical fish can be very | | | | fish breeding is both profitable and rewarding. |
| delicate. Your education will save you time and again | | | | Preparing well for this tropical fish breeding business |
| if you learn as much about each species that you are | | | | will help you succeed. If you educate yourself at |
| breeding as possible. For example, copper will kill just | | | | every turn on breeding, water conditions, raising and |
| about any tropical fish, so you will need to know how | | | | culling your fish, you are sure to make a great splash |
| to set up water conditions for your fish accordingly. | | | | on the tropical fish industry. |
| Basic supplies such as food and water conditioners | | | | |