fish_hobbyist Posted March 4, 2012 Report Share Posted March 4, 2012 I'm thinking of trying to start a business in gympie breeding fighters. Of course this wont happen over night but was wondering how the market is for half-moons in particular. Am i wasteing my time or can i make a liveing doing what i love? Of course im dedicated to at least try but thought i'd get an opinion from someone already breeding and selling fish... thank-you, Phil P.s- I know where i want my stock from and it is jodi from Fishchick Aquatics, Awesome stock and hasnt disappointed me in the past Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mthom211 Posted March 4, 2012 Report Share Posted March 4, 2012 There isn't enough of a market in Australian really to live of just breeding them. You can't compete with the betta farms in Asia so wholesaling would be difficult. Not to mention they are difficult to breed in winter. JMO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fish_hobbyist Posted March 4, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 4, 2012 thanks, i appreciate the input. I was thinking that seems nearly everyone has to either import show quality bettas or pay anywhere from 35-75 dollars for a fish from jodi (dont get me wrong i dont mind paying for the quality she holds), but if there were another option within the area wouldnt people at least try it? I have to clarify there is only 1 pet shop in gympie and thier fighter stock is very limited and talks of selling out in a few years anyway. Breeding in winter it helps to have a temperature regulated room lil bit pricey but worth it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mthom211 Posted March 5, 2012 Report Share Posted March 5, 2012 People will buy them but there just isn't that much demand, most people turn up their noses and say that can buy one for $5 at the lfs. Have you checked out Ausaqua? There are a fair few breeding bettas there you could make some pocket money breeding the, especially if you have good variety and quality but there isn't much if a demand for show quality bettas in Australia which sucks because if they ever implement batch testing we would loose most strains. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fish_hobbyist Posted March 5, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 5, 2012 Ah k thankyou for your opinion I'm still gonna set it up anyway cuz as i said it what i love doin I agree it does suck there not too much demand for show quality betta, but thier jus not well enough known i guess. Most ppl still think a veil-tail is a real fighter lol. i'm happy jus makin pocket change off it i was hoping i could combine love for fish with a need for work but it never works that way for anyone lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mthom211 Posted March 6, 2012 Report Share Posted March 6, 2012 Post up some pictures of what you breed Marbles, salamanders and dragons seem to have to most demand right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrisbaneBettas Posted March 8, 2012 Report Share Posted March 8, 2012 I find breeding and selling bettas a good sideline to make a little pocket money, but the market is limited and would be near to impossible to make a full time living from it. I am a member and secretary of Betta Australis and we are trying to re-establish a show circuit for bettas which will hopefully raise a little more interest in show quality bettas. We as local breeders need to band together and share our bloodlines and try and match the quality of the fish being imported to give buyers a local alternative as well as a bit of friendly competition at upcoming shows. It would be nice to see some locally bred bettas winning awards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2littlerevheads Posted March 8, 2012 Report Share Posted March 8, 2012 as matt and jarrod said it great pocket money, i breed thes little guys as well and have found it hard to sell my fry as everyone telling me im selling them for to dear as like matt said u can buy them from a lfs for $5. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goldenswimmers Posted March 8, 2012 Report Share Posted March 8, 2012 agree with whats been said...very hard to compete with the massive farms overseas and you also have to have a network of regular buyers....you might sell a hundred...200 even... but that alone isnt going to give you a steady wage on a yearly basis...this is why most pet stores or breeders who make a living off breeding have a variety of products/fish(to support themselves while others aren't selling)...and a steady flow of customers requires a "scene" to participate in and to attract new customers....so shows,clubs etc all go a long way to establishing this "network"....I breed goldfish...and it kills me the work you put in for such a minor gain...you feel like never selling a fish...but I enjoy knowing that fish I have bred/raised have the potential to make someone happy and furthermore as Jarrod said with the bettas...I personally would love to see a locally bred goldfish win some show awards rather than an imported fish grabbed by a shop 2 weeks before Ekka..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrisbaneBettas Posted March 9, 2012 Report Share Posted March 9, 2012 Jennie, that's the problem when you breed veiltails, crowntails, or as you have done, combtails. You are competing with the guys who sell at the markets for next to nothing and the fact that a lot of people see bettas as cheap disposable fish that don't last more than a month. The problem with the fancier show types is trying to educate the public that these are not the cheap $5 fish they can get at the markets. This is why clubs like Betta Australis (and others) are important. As goldenswimmers has said, a "scene" needs to be established to create interest and demand. That is what we intend to contribute to with the re-establishment of the club and holding shows. These are good opportunities to introduce and re-educate people regarding bettas, how to keep them and how many different types are available. How many people out there know about the beauty of a lot of the wild types? There is a lot of false information out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fish_hobbyist Posted March 9, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 9, 2012 Yer its a shame, really was interested in tryin to go big with it.. but if there no market hobbyist it is... i will be setting up anyway in the coming months.. still in the planning stages for my fish room tho. gotta get it as efficient as possible i have noticed a small increase in interest in fighter tho, who knows in a few yrs to come there may even be a big enough market for em.. if only ppl knew what they were missin out on with a "show quality" betta Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goldenswimmers Posted March 9, 2012 Report Share Posted March 9, 2012 All you can do mate is promote the fish and try to raise as many "beautiful" healthy examples of such fish.....and I reckon good contacts and relationships are a major part....like any successful business.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fish_hobbyist Posted March 9, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 9, 2012 haha yup thats pretty much the plan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
courtz Posted July 6, 2012 Report Share Posted July 6, 2012 hi there, Im looking for a breeder who has some good quality fighters. I recently moved to QLD from NZ and can't seem to find good fighters anywhere. All the petshops I've been to, although really cheap, have really bad fish in horrible living conditions. I don't mind paying more a quality fish, so if you, or any breeder you know (in the general Gold Coast - Brisbane area) are looking for a buyer please let me know. I don't have a preference for any type, particularly as right now as its for family who know nothing about bettas and we're trying to teach them about the fish. On a side note, having just had a quick glance at the previous thread, if you're looking to sell fish on the open market and educate buyers to the difference in quality, it may help utilising basic SEO tactics to get yourselves seen on google (generally the first port of call for seekers - just because its taken me days to find a useful forum like this with breeders and has been really frustrating!) Hope to hear from you guys soon. Cheers, Courtney Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pk333 Posted July 7, 2012 Report Share Posted July 7, 2012 Hey Courtney, The one quality Betta LFS in Brisbane is a non-forum sponsor, so check your PM's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southfish Posted July 7, 2012 Report Share Posted July 7, 2012 I do German bred dumbo, superdelta and crowns if that is something you might be interested in. I also do 1st generation aussie which are a bit cheaper. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pk333 Posted July 7, 2012 Report Share Posted July 7, 2012 Very interested in seeing the German stock you have southfish. Could you post up some photos of them. I have only seen quality Thai and Indonesian Bettas. I'm also interested how you came by them, as I've never heard of or seen them for sale, not on AquaBid or in a LFS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southfish Posted July 9, 2012 Report Share Posted July 9, 2012 My work gets them in, they range in price from $25 - $65ea. All our select betta are german bred. Although most end up coming home with me. If your interested pm and ill give you store location if you want to come have a look. Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
