Wanting To Start A Breeding Project

to start a breeding project, or not to start a breeding project?
I have gotten a huge fascination for honey gouramis, and they're supposedly very easy to breed. I have two females in my main tank, but plan to get one male to put in quarantine. after going to petco a few times (my lfs doesn't actively carry them, but I always check) i've noticed how different the males look. when they're getting ready to breed, they look stunning! the one I saw didn't have a jet black throat but it was obviously blackening. I so badly wanted to buy him, but I didn't have a quarantine at the time, or a sponge filter. so I resisted..
I recently bought a bin and placed in leftover fish stuff I didn't need. it's pretty darn ugly. doing a quick measure of the volume, it seems to be 6.2 gallons big.
the sponge filter I put in doesn't have BB on it. now, in my main tank, I have some leftover floss with BB on it, and I could tie it with a rubber band around the sponges. would that work?
i'm not sure the bin is ideal for breeding, due to its size. maybe to keep the fry in, but not so much to breed in? if I bred them in my main tank I would have to hope that some of the fry survive, as my other fish would most likely have them a nice snack. soo.. if that happens maybe I could buy a breeder box, and then later move the fry into the bin. (the params are exactly the same in both containers as they both come from my tap, and are set to the same temperature)
now, one of my biggest concerns is.. how to raise and feed fry. I want to try baby brine shrimp, but I am absolutely new to culturing them. I also want to use infusoria for the first stages. it seems relatively easy to culture. is there any kind of dry food I can use along with live food?
i'm also worried about what I would do with the fry. shipping is a last resort if my lfs won't take them.
would appreciate tips from labyrinth fish breeders, and breeders in general
(ps- won't be breeding him until he is done with quarantine, of course. it'll still be about 4 weeks from now)

 

Breed them in the main tank, put the fry in the bucket or breeder box, what else is is the tank?
I know for sure AquaticJ and bizaliz3 have/had a baby brine shrimp hatchery running so they can help you with that bit. Most likely they'll accept crushed flakes or pellets in 2-3 weeks
We can go over shipping if needed. Right now I don't think it's a huge deal

 

Breed them in the main tank, put the fry in the bucket or breeder box, what else is is the tank?
I know for sure AquaticJ and bizaliz3 have/had a baby brine shrimp hatchery running so they can help you with that bit. Most likely they'll accept crushed flakes or pellets in 2-3 weeks
We can go over shipping if needed. Right now I don't think it's a huge deal

as far as fish go I have guppies, ember tetras, and the female honeys. I don't know about the tetras, but the guppies and the honeys seem like they would eat the fry if they see them
while the male is guarding the eggs, do I let the nest stay there while he guards the eggs, and then put a net around the nest a day or two later, without the male? then ill have the fry in the net so I don't risk them getting eaten, and then proceed to move them to the bucket. does that make sense? lol
when I go to get the male at petco ill stop by my lfs to ask if they will take in any bred fish of mine when the time comes. if not I will have to ask you about shipping.

 

Yeah, those will probably eat some fry
I think it's best to leave the nest alone until they hatch, then catch as many as possible and put them in the bucket or breeder box
If they won't take them, shipping is more scary than it is difficult. Not much to worry about

 

Yeah, those will probably eat some fry
I think it's best to leave the nest alone until they hatch, then catch as many as possible and put them in the bucket or breeder box
If they won't take them, shipping is more scary than it is difficult. Not much to worry about

sounds like a plan. i'm just hoping I'll be able to see them well enough to fish them out, lol
shipping is pretty scary! my dad ordered some RCS and they came in all dead with a leaked bag.

 

100% a fluke
The dead arrival coverage that suppliers give, gives them a reason to send out healthy fish, otherwise you get another one for free which loses them money
The leaky bag is exactly why you should double bag them like they do at petco if their bag leaks

 

Hatching brine shrimp is easy when the time comes but you can get decapsulated brine shrimp eggs and feed them direct [no hatch]. They are not for hatching /won't.
For food between the infusoria and BBS you want golden pearls .
Those goldenpearls are like dust at 50 microns and good first food for small fry .
Breed ! Accept the challenge .It is the best part of fish keeping to me .The best fish come from hobbyist breeders.
When the time comes we can discuss shipping.I have shipped for years and average about 6 boxes a week . Talk to your LFS also to see if they would be interested once you get started.

 

Hatching brine shrimp is easy when the time comes but you can get decapsulated brine shrimp eggs and feed them direct [no hatch]. They are not for hatching /won't.
For food between the infusoria and BBS you want golden pearls .
Those goldenpearls are like dust at 50 microns and good first food for small fry .
Breed ! Accept the challenge .It is the best part of fish keeping to me .The best fish come from hobbyist breeders.
When the time comes we can discuss shipping.I have shipped for years and average about 6 boxes a week . Talk to your LFS also to see if they would be interested once you get started.

thanks! i've never heard of golden pearls for some reason. I might pick some up sometime. I'll also decide between hatching or buying the decapsulated eggs. it depends how much money I'll save, as both of them seem like good options.

 

Hatching will cost more as good eggs are about 5X the cost of those decaps and then you need salt .
Golden pearls are mostly only known by breeders .No store will carry any size .I have every size !
I hatch brine shrimp 3 times a day or better said 3 batches per day . I just re set them after every harvest and my eggs hatch in under 24 hours so are always good to go next day .
I buy my eggs from Brine Shrimp direct .

Besides mixing the salt hatching is pretty easy . All you need to have is an air pump and 2 liter plastic bottle and a couple pieces of rigid airline .

 

Hatching will cost more as good eggs are about 5X the cost of those decaps and then you need salt .
Golden pearls are mostly only known by breeders .No store will carry any size .I have every size !
I hatch brine shrimp 3 times a day or better said 3 batches per day . I just re set them after every harvest and my eggs hatch in under 24 hours so are always good to go next day .
I buy my eggs from Brine Shrimp direct .

Besides mixing the salt hatching is pretty easy . All you need to have is an air pump and 2 liter plastic bottle and a couple pieces of rigid airline .

ok, most likely I will try the decaps, especially if I can find them at my lfs. I know for sure they have eggs, but i'm not so sure about decapped eggs. if not, I'll look on ebay.
here's another issue: i'm still in school, so I cannot feed the fry 5 times a day, all throughout the day like suggested. because of this I may invest in an automatic feeder. with the decapped eggs, I think it would be much easier to put them in the automatic feeder with no worries.

 

I feed 2 times a day when busy [3/4 of the year ] morning before work and evening after .I spoil fry if I can on weekends .
Generally there are larger obstacles then that .
With a small sponge filter food for the fry is in the tank on the sponge or pieces of wood and plant.
The auto feeder is not needed IMO and is questionable with the decaps .
Don't talk your self out of breeding ,talk yourself into it .
Sometimes nature helps out a little .

 

I feed 2 times a day when busy [3/4 of the year ] morning before work and evening after .I spoil fry if I can on weekends .
Generally there are larger obstacles then that .
With a small sponge filter food for the fry is in the tank on the sponge or pieces of wood and plant.
The auto feeder is not needed IMO and is questionable with the decaps .
Don't talk your self out of breeding ,talk yourself into it .
Sometimes nature helps out a little .

ok, so I can get away with 2 times a day, that will do just fine with my schedule. 3 times a day is possible if needed.
in my tank I have plenty of biofilm and other things on almost everything in the tank, but I have to keep all the fry in a bin. i'm hoping that after a while ill get some stuff growing in the bin, but it will certainly not be as much as my tank.

 

you can put rocks in a jar, put the jar in the window, and let algae grow on the rocks if you want. Then put them in the bucket

 

you can put rocks in a jar, put the jar in the window, and let algae grow on the rocks if you want. Then put them in the bucket

good idea! I might do that while culturing infusoria.

 

If you are looking for a place to get rid of the babies once they get a bit older, I suggest finding a local fish club auction. At the auctions near me, I have seen Pairs selling for as high as $25/ pair.

 

If you are looking for a place to get rid of the babies once they get a bit older, I suggest finding a local fish club auction. At the auctions near me, I have seen Pairs selling for as high as $25/ pair.

I don't know of any fish clubs near me, but I do know some people that may want to take them.

 

Honey gouramis are extremely popular on here too. I see them recommended to someone at least once a day, so you can also try and sell them through fishlore

 

Honey gouramis are extremely popular on here too. I see them recommended to someone at least once a day, so you can also try and sell them through fishlore

if I can't sell them in real life, I'll have to see. unfortunately it might not be possible due to some unspoken circumstances