Funding the hobby through breeding
Re: Funding the hobby through breeding
I think it's a pretty cool idea, but you shouldn't expect to break even, let alone make a profit.
Re: Funding the hobby through breeding
I've got a tank full of babies, and let me tell you, it's no easy ride. Knowing your market is key, but even then, don't expect to rake in the cash. I'm not saying it's not worth it, but be prepared for a lot of work and potentially not much profit to show for it.
Re: Funding the hobby through breeding
Considering your goal of stocking a 75g tank with a variety of African cichlids, you might want to think about starting with a breeding group of peacocks. Buy a group of the same type and color form - maybe 8 females and 2 males. Give them plenty of space in the big tank and let them do their thing. Once the babies are around 1-2 inches, you can start selling them off to make room for the next batch.
To keep things simple, it's probably best to keep the tank pretty much to the peacocks. Maybe add a few Synodontis catfish to help with cleanup - they might even breed and give you some extra babies to sell. If you want to add some other fish, big livebearers like mollies or swordtails could work, but make sure to treat them for any parasites before adding them to the tank.
You could also try adding a single species of rainbowfish to the mix. Just be sure to give them some space and add a clump of Java Moss to the tank. Each week, you can remove the Java Moss and transfer it to a separate hatching/rearing tank to grow out the baby rainbows. This way, you'll have a steady supply of young fish to sell and can make a bit of extra income on the side.
To keep things simple, it's probably best to keep the tank pretty much to the peacocks. Maybe add a few Synodontis catfish to help with cleanup - they might even breed and give you some extra babies to sell. If you want to add some other fish, big livebearers like mollies or swordtails could work, but make sure to treat them for any parasites before adding them to the tank.
You could also try adding a single species of rainbowfish to the mix. Just be sure to give them some space and add a clump of Java Moss to the tank. Each week, you can remove the Java Moss and transfer it to a separate hatching/rearing tank to grow out the baby rainbows. This way, you'll have a steady supply of young fish to sell and can make a bit of extra income on the side.