Question for the breeders

[Mariah]

Hi all,
I am NOT planning on breeding but I do have some questions. What do you guys do with all the fry? Ive heard they can have like 400 +! Do you sell them all and in the mean time how and where do you keep them all?
Thanks

 

[John_Nicholson]

Only some of the fish will grow up to be good quality fish. The rest will normally be culled.

-john

 

[SRC]

Somehow, I don't see that last sentence going over very well.

Most of the breeders (here for example) give them away..like Wuv and Yeevie..instead of just killing them. But some feed them to their carnivorous fish (like flowerhorns and oscars) and some just cull them away and flush them.

Pretty much a judgemnt call...although people just culling them usually insn't generally accepted around here very well.

 

[Seahorse]

@John & SRC

Well, I don't hear very often about breeders having THAT many that make it. And yes I am sure plenty cull the deformed ones, at the very least But that is their choice.

Maybe around a 100 make it give or take?, unless it is a gigantic spawn to begin with.

 

[tacofrano]

awahhh if noone wants there frys ill have them!

 

[MAM]

Most of the breeders (here for example) give them away..like Wuv and Yeevie..instead of just killing them. But some feed them to their carnivorous fish (like flowerhorns and oscars) and some just cull them away and flush them.

Pretty much a judgemnt call...although people just culling them usually insn't generally accepted around here very well.

Its really not that uncommon amongst breeders of any fish to cull. If they breed for business/show, then that's where they need to concentrate their efforts and resouces, so rather than trying to raise up fry that can't be bred or shown, they cull early on. It sounds harsh, but its part of that line of work and something all breeders have to make a decision on at some point. Those who breed on a smaller scale, like many of the folks here, are able to keep those less-than-perfect specimens around, and adopt them out, which is great. Its just not possible for all breeders to do.


As for Mariah's question, most breeders are prepared for large numbers of fry when they begin. Initally the fry will go into larger grow out tanks. Once they are ready to be separated, they'll be individually "jarred" (which could literally mean they're moved into jars, or just into small individual tanks, or a barracks type setup, all depends on the breeders set up). From there, they may show the best fish, sell or give away many of the fish, and keep some for further breeding.

 

[John_Nicholson]

My 11 year old daughter is the one that is really into the bettas. Since she started raising the delta/halfmoon types she has raised 5 spawns. 2 were small. one had about 100 but the other 2 are over 250 fish each. I would guess that she raises about 95% of the fish that become freeswimming. We live a few miles from the nearest town. It only has about 1500 people in it. Can't keep them all. If I had only known what would happen when she said "Dad, I was talking to Mom and she said you use to raise bettas back in highschool. Is is hard to do?" And I was dumb enough to say no its a snap.........I swear she will one day take over my fishroom......

-john

 

[bettaboi]

yes i have had 1 succesful spawn and i had to cull some but i didnt like it one bit but its part of nature so in my next few spawns (4 weeks begins MG HM breeding season )

 

[Seahorse]

That's very cute! A great fishkeeper already, wow

And I don't think anyone should be afraid to mention culling. Hopefully nobody is so naive or immature here that they freak out at the mention of it. It probably does happen more often than not, and that is part of breeding. You can't ALWAYS find homes for all of them, including the ones who turn out very so so

Maybe when you first start breeding you are very gung ho and determined, but I think when you get into it heavily and have many spawns going at once, it is a natural progression

 

[yeeviabetta]

How to culling because they all looks good. LOL Just put them in a 75 gallon tank and they live happily forever. Mostly females. LOL Oh yeah, I give out freebies too and they all still good looking too.
Actually not many can hit to 400 like veiltail. LOL

 

[Karah's_Mommy]

We need more breeders out there like Yeevia.

 

[Seahorse]

I agree

 

[bettaboi]

just curious yeevia how much food do you go through feeding all those lil mouths
so many fishie yeevia has