Thinking about starting to sell fish.

**bob saget** · 01-22-2010, 03:38 AM

My platy population is pretty astronomical >150 altogether, and I was thinking about starting to sell them. Are there any kind of basics I should be aware of? I am assuming it's a bit more complicated than selling an ipod :p Any special equipment I need to make sure the platies survive their ride home?

**xximanoobxx** · 01-22-2010, 03:40 AM

google shipping aquarium fish... also, look at aquaria central's article about shipping fish

**Marty** · 01-22-2010, 03:43 AM

Do you have any buyers?
Around here at least the main chains won't purchase from local breeders as they bulk buy from Asia. LFS will buy in but are most likely to buy from local breeders. You need to go in there and see their stock and speak to the dept head or owner and see what sells and see if they are prepared to buy.

for example, my LFS will take brightly colored, unusual pattern fish (i,e platy's with a strong mickey mouse color, not faded, or vibrant guppies)
You may need to take a few fish as a sample and show them pictures of your breeding setup.
You may need to show them your brooding log. That way they know there is no inbreeding and chance of short life or diseases. You need to keep your mating pair logged and track their offsprings and make sure they don't interbreed.

That was the advice I was given, hope this helps.

**jcarr71** · 01-22-2010, 04:40 AM

Platies aren't exactly worth much. I mean even if you get a LFS to buy them in bulk, if you get a dollar for each then you got away with robbery. Most LFS sell them for under three dollars. There isn't exactly a huge online platy demand either.

**Aeonflame** · 01-22-2010, 09:41 AM

If you want to make money selling fish, and I mean real money, you need to find a species that is popular and relatively easy to breed with a high turnover. As long as you can set up the infrastructure and get a regular supply going, you will have dedicated buyers. After that it's easier to branch off with other species.

**Scrup** · 01-22-2010, 02:48 PM

Agreed. Most livebearers will not go for much, if anything. Selling them on craigslist for $1 each MIGHT get you some sales, but nothing huge. Aquabid is a good place to sell fish as well, but winter may be a bad time for shipping.

**annageckos** · 01-22-2010, 03:00 PM

Platies and most livebearers are very hard to get rid of. Most stores won't take them. If you want to get into breeding them I would find the nicest, brightest most colorful ones you can find and breed them. Run of the mill platies will be hard to even give away. Good luck. For shipping you will need heat packs and ice packs depending of time of year, bags, styro or other insulation and boxes. I would ship over night or 2nd day.