CatladyDane

Why breed? (Unless you're in the fish store business or have lots of room.) I am extremely hesitant to put any fish together if they might breed. I've already been told by more than one person that I could sell the babies back to the store, but I really have a hard time believing that. Stores already have vendors, and if they buy (or even receive at no charge) the fry from anyone who walks in, they don't know what problems they may be getting (defects, diseases, etc.) If every kid with a peanut butter jar full of baby guppies for sale at few pennies each descended on a store they'd have more fish than they could keep or sell - and every kid would be breeding for profit! It seems that one shouldn't breed fish without knowing they'll have decent homes any more than he should breed kittens, puppies, or any other species. There are too many unwanted critters in the world already. Just wanted to share an opinion. Thanks for listening.

susitna-flower

I see your point, and feel you have some good points.

People should be responsible for their choices in fish keeping. If they DO plan to breed, they should keep good stock, not cross breed, keep a healthy tank, and find out ahead of time if there is an outlet.

I keep mollies, and platties that I breed, but keep each color in a different tank. One platty in particular breeds and produces nice quality babies. It was called a Rainbow platty. The blue Micky Mouse haven't done very well, and where I started off with 9 and they did have a few babies, I only have one left....it MIGHT have been weak stock....

The molly fry in my 125 gallon tank end up feeding my Black Ghost Knife. If I want to replenish that stock, I have to keep the fry in a smaller tank to raise them, and have actually sold some of them to the LFS.

I have heard however HORROR stories of tanks with hundreds of angels because the owner didn't deal with his breeding fish.

Most fish if kept in the recommended state will have several females to a male, OR a breeding pair....it cuts down on bad fish behavior , and adds to the beautiful color displays that people enjoy.....But in a community tank most fry don't survive.

Martinismommy

As a breeder of purebred Champion dogs, I have to agree with all that has been posted above.....I think if anyone plans on breeding their fish they need to be well prepared and know the genetics of the fish...Unfortunatally, this is NOT the case in MOST cases...In dogs we have genetic testing which can help eliminate problems....Do they have this available in fish?

Dino

Most of what we breed here in the fishhouse is either highly developed man made strains, such as Moscow guppies or endangered species, such as our 6-7 species of swordtail.

Saddly, there is a fish breeder not far from here, who does with angelfish exactly what sustina flower describes.

Martinismommy

And as you probably know Dino, They do the same in Dogs..... Puppy Mills...Or over breeding fish, to me it is the same thing....Every creature deserves quality of life....

1gamma45

I am with you as well. I was not fully aware the guppies I got could and would produce as much as they can. But I also have the time tanks and outlets to off load any I may get.


I happen to have a lot of friends that have some very nice tanks that would love some fancy guppies and I plan on keeping all my new fems away from males unless I control the breeding. My plan is to keep my current guppy fem that is pregers away from the male too so she runs out of sprem and I can breed her when i want.


But look at it this way it may be a way for some people to get into a pet store buisness.

Allie

We breed African cichlids b/c the ones you get from the pet store are terrible quality. Most people prefer to buy fish from people in the hobby than a fish store which only care about how much money they make. Most fish bred at home are healthier than the ones bred in mass quantity for pet stores. Most people who breed certain fish make sure that the fish are conditioned for breeding. I don't think fish mills/lfs care about the quality of food the fish are getting. What you feed your fish makes all the difference in the world.

sirdarksol

One reason to breed is to avoid putting any more fish through commercial breeding/shipping than is necessary. I have a molly tank that I'm trying to get to the point that it has a self-sustaining population. Extras will go to local pet stores (yes, they have their suppliers, but can get better deals from local breeders).
This way, I will know that my mollies are coming from a well-kept tank, not a molly-mill.

Butterfly

I like breeding the ones that are a challenge(huh Dino ). Figuring out what makes them happy, because if their not happy they WON't breed. I like being able to provide quality fish to other hobbyist. I keep ledgers on the fish I breed so I know what genetics are going into a certain spawning. I love my pretty tanks but the whole aspect of raising and keeping fish interest me.
Carol

lilsoccakid

i sw ophera had an episode about puppy mills, and i couldnt care to watch, it was so cruel.

im working to breed my GBR's. i have the greatest little mom and pop pet store that sells fish only to more experienced people. (the newbies go across the street to petsmart, to save a buck or two). they get most of their fish from local breeders, and even helped me with my GBR's, and offered to buy any of my fry

COBettaCouple

I would agree, we had platy fry due to buying an unknown pregnant female but otherwise what fry we've had are planned and our fry are cared for properly, even if it means daily tank cleaning and water changes.