How to make money selling and breeding aquarium fish. Fish farming business plan Raising aquarium fish for sale

The article provides up-to-date information on the breeding and sale of popular and expensive aquarium fish, including advice on choosing aquariums, equipment, premises and the most valuable fish species from a business point of view.

business concept

In essence, the business of breeding aquarium fish is a simple and unpretentious task: we buy rare and expensive aquarium fish, first create conditions for them, get offspring in the future, and establish stable distribution channels.

The essence and prospects of the aquarium fish business are as follows:

Complete lack of competition from major manufacturers. Unlike Europe, in Russia and the CIS countries there are still neither such enterprises nor the corresponding equipment.
Low investment, the availability of aquariums, equipment and accessories, the ability to start a business from scratch.
A novice entrepreneur does not need to spend money on building or renting a room, since aquarium fish can be bred in an ordinary apartment.
Availability print and electronic literature allows anyone who does not have the appropriate education to engage in such a business.
Wide distribution channels, such as pet stores, bird markets and private aquarists, almost completely solve the problem of selling aquarium fish.
Opportunity to receive additional sources of income through the production of related products (algae, invertebrates, live food).
Huge perspectives business development, up to the opening of a pet store or a whole distribution network.

Selection of the most popular fish

The choice of the most sought-after fish is the most important moment in such a business. And here you should rely on several factors:

First, under the guise of a buyer, thoroughly analyze supply and demand in all pet stores in the city. Find out which fish are in the greatest demand and which are not, how much they cost, whether they breed in captivity, etc.
Secondly, in no case should you rely on well-known and easily bred fish species. First, these fish are cheap. Secondly, ordinary amateur aquarists will make the entrepreneur simply monstrous competition, since they will constantly saturate the market with cheap fry, which they often give away to pet stores for nothing.
Third - you can not start little-studied species of fish, as well as imported fish that live in the brackish coastal waters of India, Asia and Australia. Such fish are in high demand, perfectly acclimatize in artificial reservoirs, grow well, but they are completely incapable of producing offspring.

The list below contains the most optimal options for orders and types of aquarium fish that have a decent price, high demand and the ability to reproduce offspring.

Common name		Cost in rub.	ability to reproduce

	From age
Synodontis

Notopter

The main channels for the sale of aquarium fish

In the ways of selling aquarium fish, there are two main areas that work in close conjunction with each other.

Realization of fish directly private aquarists. This method works great regardless of production volumes. Indeed, over time, an entrepreneur acquires not only practical experience in breeding fish, but also authority among aquarists. As a result, the number of such customers will only grow.
Sale of fish pet stores or resellers. Naturally, the price in this case for fry and adults will be lower than the retail one, but such a sales market will be an excellent guideline that regulates general production aquarium fish.

Important: In the sale of fish, one should not focus on only one age group. And it is better to sell them in parts, namely: the main part - fry, the rest - teenagers, and what is not sold, grow up to reproductive age.

What equipment is required to start a business?

To answer this question, first you need to decide on the types of farmed fish, study the conditions for their maintenance and reproduction, and, based on the knowledge gained, select equipment.

At the initial stage of business development, you can purchase universal aquariums with a volume of 200-250 liters, the equipment offered for them, and already on the spot create the necessary conditions for each fish species.

List of universal equipment

equipment identification	Purpose of equipment	Cost in rub. for 1 piece	Required number of pcs.	total cost in rubles
Aquarium Biodesign Reef
Compressor Eheim Air Pump	Water aeration
Filter SOBO WP-1900F	Water filtration
Daylight lamp T8 Life-Glo II	aquarium lighting
Thermostat Sobo HG	Water heating
Trixie automatic feeder	Rational feeding of fish
thermometer sticker	Water temperature control

Requirements for the premises

Almost any type of freshwater fish can be bred in a city apartment, or more precisely, in a separate room, which must be brought into proper form in advance and a number of important conditions must be observed:

First- be sure to shade the room

The fact is that for some types of fish, bright daylight is either necessary or contraindicated, and there are also fish that can die from an excess of light. Therefore, it is better to regulate the desired degree of illumination for certain types of fish with the help of special aquarium lamps that imitate sunlight.

Second- locate aquariums as far as possible from central heating batteries, and if possible, turn them off altogether, replacing them with electrical appliances with microclimate control.

Central heating batteries are a completely unpredictable thing. Sharp and sometimes fatal jumps in air temperature in a room with aquariums lead to irreparable consequences. Therefore, replacing central heating with alternative room heating is fully justified.

Third- make sure the strength of the floor coverings and arrange aquariums only in a single-tier row.

In the aquarium fish business, it is customary to measure production volumes not by the number of aquariums and fish, but by the volume of water in these aquariums, where the bill goes to tons. And in the business model below, in order to receive stable income, you will need at least 2 tons of water. Naturally, all this entails significant loads on the floor coverings, which must withstand such weight without any problems. And one more thing: it is not recommended to install aquariums in two or three tiers. Firstly, it will be difficult to serve them and, secondly, if this whole thing inadvertently collapses, then you will have to not only calculate losses, but also pay impressive compensation to neighbors for apartment renovation.

Feasibility Studies for Starting an Aquarium Fish Farming Business

In order to have a clear and precise picture of further actions, it is necessary to build on a specific and, in a way, universal business model. For example, there are fully equipped 12 aquariums for 200-250 liters of water each, where 5 of them will be occupied by adult fish (6 females and 2 males each), and the remaining 7 aquariums will be used for spawning, growing and growing fry.

As a result, reducing everything to average indicators, from 30 fish per year you can get 3000 fry (100 fry per 1 female). Where the average cost of one sold fish will be equal to 200 rubles. (malek - 50-100 rubles, teenager 200-300 rubles, adult fish - 200-3000 rubles). Based on these figures, accurate calculations of capital investments, income and expenses can be made.

How much money is required to start a business?

Capital investment

Purchase of aquariums and equipment - 172,000 rubles.
Purchase of adult fish in a quantity of 40 pcs. - 40,000 rubles.
Feed for 3 months - 7 200 rubles.
Other expenses - 10,000 rubles.
Total - 229,200 rubles.

How much can you earn for breeding fish?

Revenue calculation:

250 fish per month for 200 rubles. each.

Total - 50 thousand rubles.

Monthly expenses:

Electricity - 2600 kW / month = 3900 rubles.
Feed - 2400 rubles.
Total - 6300 rubles.

Profit calculation:

Profit= 50,000 rubles. - 6 300 rubles. = 43,700 rubles.

Return on investment 6-8 months.

The aquarium fish business is a profitable business, but only if the owner of the enterprise chooses the “living creatures” that are in demand.

Organizing a point is not so difficult: first, the conditions necessary for the normal life of aquarium fish are created, then the pets themselves are purchased, the fry are grown to a commercial standard and sold.

This business has a number of features:

Nowadays in Russia there are no entrepreneurs engaged in fish breeding in large volumes.
The business does not require a huge initial capital investment. All necessary equipment is available to everyone.
There is no particular competition in our country.
This type of activity does not require a separate premises, the costs associated with the construction or rental of premises are excluded, fish can be bred at home.
The matter is available to everyone, you do not need to have a degree in order to competently select pets, specialized literature is freely available.
The sale of fish occurs in various ways: sale in pet stores, bird markets, fish farming for individuals.
In parallel with this business, you can also sell related products (algae, for example).
Over time, if things go well, you can.

What are the best fish to breed?

When buying, follow these tips:

Conduct an analysis of supply and demand in pet stores and markets in your area, view private advertisements for the purchase / sale of fish. Mark both the most popular varieties and those that are not found in local stores.
It is better to abandon the selection of well-known fish species. Yes, they are easier to breed, but almost impossible to sell, the same goldfish are available in every zoo corner.
Refuse and from little-studied pets.
It is undesirable to buy imported species (for example, those whose habitat is the coastal brackish waters of Australia, India, Asia), it is difficult, almost impossible to get offspring from them.

According to the owners this business, now it makes sense to breed the following species:

Barbus Denisoni has low reproductive ability, its cost is 500-1500 rubles.
The average ability is in Synodontis Petrikola, its cost is from 200 to 500 rubles.
A knife-reader can be sold for 800 rubles.
If you want to give preference to still popular varieties, then try to grow the same goldfish. A good option is a parrot cichlid.

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Breeding and marketing

Best to fix complex activities, which would consist of two main directions:

The first way is selling to private traders. The main thing in this business is to gain authority, the result will be almost instantaneous, word of mouth has never let anyone down.
The second way is the sale of fish to resellers and pet stores. The approach involves rearing the fry on a large scale and selling them at a low price.

We list the equipment that you will need (the most popular brands):

Aquarium "Biodesign Reef" is suitable for keeping fish that live in freshwater. The unit cost is about 9 thousand rubles. Ideally, purchase 9-12 pieces.
Nine to twelve Eheim Air Pump compressors, they are needed for aeration. The cost is 1500 rubles.
SOBO WP-1900F filter. The price is about a thousand rubles.
The T8 Life-Glo II lamp, which simulates daylight, costs about 500 rubles.
The Sobo HG thermostat, which heats water, will cost you 480 rubles.
Automatic feeder "Trixie". The cost is 1170 rubles.
Thermometer. Price - 50 rubles.

The choice of equipment is carried out taking into account the varieties of fish (each species requires its own care). At first, it will be enough to purchase universal aquariums, the volume of which is 200-250 liters, and the equipment attached to them; these details of the life of aquatic inhabitants can be adapted to the life of different fish.

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Premises and technical and economic indicators

It is desirable to breed freshwater fish in an apartment in a separate room, it should be dimmed, daylight should be artificial (it will be imitated by a pre-purchased lamp). Aquariums should be located away from the heating system, in extreme cases, turn off appliances while breeding fish. Another point - all floors in the room must be durable.

An important quantitative indicator in business is the tonnage of water in the aquarium; in order to generate income, it must be at least 2 tons (this is what a durable floor covering is necessary for). It is worth noting that aquariums are strictly forbidden to be placed in several tiers. If you bought 12 aquariums, then keep adults in five at a ratio of males to females of 2 to 6; at seven - fry.

Reading 7 min. Published on 10.02.2020

One of the promising and profitable options organizations own business breeding for the sale of aquarium fish. In this area, budding entrepreneurs will not encounter major competitors, will find significant unmet demand in terms of volume, and will face minimal initial investment. Moreover, in six months you can expect the first profit.

Features of organizing a business for breeding aquarium fish

Why do many entrepreneurs choose the path of an aquarium fish breeding business?

Its main advantage is the simplicity of organization, which boils down to:

Acquisition of rare and expensive specimens of fish.
Creation of conditions for their life and reproduction.
Realizations of the appeared offspring.

It is worth adding that these are not the only features that attract businessmen to this underdeveloped industry in Russia; It is also important to point out:

Absence of major competitors (neither in Russia nor in the CIS countries large enterprises for breeding aquarium fish no).
Relatively small capital investment (aquariums and other equipment can be purchased at wholesale prices, and only a few fish are needed at the initial stage).
An ordinary apartment can be used as a room.
A large number of distribution channels (private aquarium owners, pet stores, markets).

If the business turns out to be successful, then a small company can be gradually turned into a full-fledged one. trading network. The presence of information on the breeding of fish on the Internet is an opportunity to do this business even for those who do not have necessary knowledge entrepreneur.

Important point: Selling aquarium fish allows you to diversify your business and provide other types of services. For example, cleaning aquariums, selling algae and bait, etc.

Which aquarium fish is profitable to breed: types of fish and approximate prices

When buying the first batch of aquarium fish (for divorce), you should rely on several important rules, namely:

Conduct a demand analysis in the pet stores of the city : under the guise of a buyer, find out which of the fish are most in demand by buyers.
Do not try to get well-known, easy to care for and maintain, relatively inexpensive fish : this market segment is already oversaturated and will not bring proper profit.
You should also not be too original and buy extremely rare species of fish. - they may not find demand, not give offspring, or differ in difficult conditions of detention.

What kind of fish can be settled in their aquariums at first, experienced aquarists pay attention to several main types:

widely demanded in the market due to its bright color. They have a low ability to reproduce and can be sold at a price of 500 to 1200 rubles per piece.
Goldfish are in great demand, multiply at an active pace and are traded in a wide range of prices - from 200 to 3000 rubles per individual.
Synodontists with leopard spots on the body, they multiply at an average pace and are sold for 200-500 rubles, but at the same time they are very unpretentious in their care.
cichlids give rich offspring, have a pleasant color, which is highly appreciated by experienced aquarists and amateurs. You can sell such fish for an average of 350 rubles per copy.
notopter fish , a prominent representative of which is the Knife read, are sold at 600-900 rubles apiece.

What equipment is needed for breeding aquarium fish at home?

The purchase of equipment for breeding aquarium fish depends on what kind of fish the entrepreneur will breed (for certain types cooling or heating of water is required, etc.).

However, at the initial stage, you can limit yourself to the purchase of such devices and mechanisms that can create optimal conditions for the life of fish:

Aquariums with a capacity of 200-250 liters (for freshwater fish).
Compressors for pumping water.
Filters for water purification and its saturation with oxygen.
Daylight lamps.
Water temperature controllers.
Sticker thermometers.
Automatic fish feeders.

At the initial stage, from 8 to 12 pieces of each type of equipment will be required (in some stores it can be purchased as a kit, which will be cheaper).

What is the best place for breeding aquarium fish?

One of the main advantages of an aquarium fish breeding business is the ability to organize it even in a standard city apartment.

To do this, it will be enough to allocate only one room and equip it properly, namely:

Darken windows , since daylight is contraindicated for most aquarium fish. Aquarium lighting is provided by fluorescent lamps, the power of which can be adjusted.
Install aquariums away from radiators , and if possible, provide the room with electric heaters with microclimate control.
Arrange aquariums strictly in one tier , having previously checked the strength of the floor coverings (the total weight of 10-12 aquariums with equipment, water and fish will be about 2.5 tons).

How to properly maintain aquarium fish: conditions, nutrition and care

If the room in which it is planned to keep the fish is properly equipped, then the further maintenance of these pets does not require significant effort. In fact, it is enough just to feed the fish in a timely manner, clean the aquariums, and change the water.

How to arrange fish in aquariums? If an entrepreneur has purchased 10 aquariums, then it is most advisable to allocate 5 of them for adult fish and 5 for fry. In this case, it is recommended to place 2 males and 6-7 females of fish in one tank.

There are a number of fish care measures that are important for any aquarist to follow:

Once a week in each aquarium, at least 1/5 of the water should be changed.
Once a month global cleaning is carried out in aquariums: glass, stones and other aquarium design items are cleaned of fouling with the help of special brushes.
Once a month it is also necessary to clean the soil, for which it is driven through a special funnel.

Important point: It is not recommended to pour water into aquariums directly from the water supply - the chlorine content in it can adversely affect the health of many fish. It should be defended in a separate container for 2-3 days or enriched with special solutions that are sold in pet stores.

Fish should be fed 2-3 times a day. When using an automatic feeder, this problem does not arise for the owner of the aquarium.

Where to take aquarium fish for sale?

There are three main sales channels for aquarium fish, namely:

Important point: In all three cases, you can also offer algae and food for sale, as well as offer aquarium cleaning as an additional service.

How to write a business plan for breeding aquarium fish: calculation of costs and payback periods

As mentioned above, the profit from the sale of aquarium fish will begin to flow in about 6-8 months after the establishment of the business.

If we give a detailed breakdown of the costs of organizing a business, then it looks like this (based on 10 aquariums):

Purchase of equipment - 180,000 rubles.
Purchase of adult fish (30-40 pieces) - 50,000 rubles.
Purchase of food for fish - 5,000 rubles.
Other expenses (registration on a patent basis, purchase of decoration for an aquarium, water purification products, etc.) - 20,000 rubles.

In this scenario, the total costs will amount to 265,000 rubles. If 250 fish are hatched in aquariums in a month, then if each is sold for 300 rubles (average price), the entrepreneur will receive 250x300 \u003d 75,000 rubles.

Monthly operating costs will be about 15,000 rubles (4,000 - water and electricity, 5,000 - feed, 6,000 - other costs). As a result, the monthly profit will be at least 60,000 rubles.

The aquarium fish breeding business has a lot of advantages: it is easy to organize, it is created in a market with significant demand, it does not require significant costs, and it guarantees a significant profit. So far, the industry is not oversaturated with supply and acts as a springboard for start-up entrepreneurs.

The business of breeding aquarium fish consists in the sale of their rare species and related materials, that is, food, plants and necessary equipment. You can also offer customers maintenance and cleaning of their aquariums - home or office.

Benefits of this business idea

Little competition.
Minimum costs, which allows you to start a business from scratch.
Opportunity to breed fish at home.
Ease of implementation.
You don't need to have special education. There is a lot of literature on this topic, which is enough to study on your own.

How to choose the right aquarium fish?

Study supply and demand by visiting specialized stores.
Study photos, species names and breeding conditions for those fish that you are ready to breed at home.
It is almost impossible not to buy cheap and common fish, it is almost impossible to sell them, as people rent such fish even for free to get rid of them.
Do not buy fish about which there is little information.
Do not buy fish that are imported from India, Australia and Asia. They are not suitable for breeding, as they do not produce offspring.
For the aquarium business, fish such as cichlids, notopters, synodontis, barbs, and gold are suitable.

Breeding aquarium fish as a business

Like any business, a fish breeding business begins with the study of the necessary information. Having decided on the species, it is necessary to study everything related to its reproduction and care rules. Then buy equipment, namely:

aquariums with a volume of 200 - 250 liters;
compressors;
water filters;
fluorescent lamps;
thermostats for heating water;
automatic feeders.

To begin with, you can get by with one aquarium, and then increase the number.

The room in which the aquarium fish will live should be protected from sunlight, that is, shaded. They get the light they need from lamps.
Do not place aquariums near heating devices.
For safety reasons, arrange the aquariums in one row. A three or two-story structure can collapse, and it is also difficult to maintain it.

Aquariums are distributed in this way: if the entrepreneur has 12, then five aquariums for adult fish, for example, six females and two males in each. Seven aquariums for rearing fry.

Sale of aquarium fish

The first profit of the fish will be brought only after six months, if everything is done correctly, namely, teenagers began to produce offspring. Implementing fish is easy. There are three ways to sell aquarium fish. The first. Meet the fish lovers. Over time, their number in the list will grow, thanks to the work of word of mouth. Second. Pet Shop. Although the price of fish is small, it is stable and reliable. You can even conclude a contract for the supply. Third. Submit information online. Most of the time, this option works very well. It happens that a person is looking for exactly the fish that is not in the store, and turns to private ads for help. So you can earn regular customers, however, a little. When selling fish, both age groups must be considered. Sell both fry and teenagers. In addition to the main income, you can get additional revenue from the sale of live food, algae, and so on. A fish breeding business will bring a profit of about 44 thousand rubles a month if there are 12 aquariums and proper organization. The capital investment for starting your own business will be about 230 thousand rubles, which will pay off in six months.

Fish suppliers are ready to make special requirements for their maintenance, most often they are prescribed in the contract. Conventionally, the rules of trade in ornamental fish can be divided into two categories: official - established by law, as well as informal - they are observed by associations of representatives of the zoo business. The latter can be very different. If suppliers specify special conditions for keeping aquarium fish in the contract, you must comply with their requirements, otherwise you will have to pay a fine.

What legal acts to rely on during work

Trade in any pet must be based on regulations Civil Code, since, in accordance with its provisions, they are subject to general rules just like any other property. Accordingly, the following legislation applies to the aquarium fish trade:

Federal Law No. 381 - describing the basics of regulation trading activities. In particular, entrepreneurs need to familiarize themselves with article 2, paragraph 3, which describes the concept retail. Since the fish are used for domestic purposes, they can be sold individuals through retail outlets.
Government Decree No. 55 of 19.01.1998 establishes special rules for the sale of animals and aquarium fish. The tenth section is completely devoted to them. Its article 78 states that the seller is obliged to provide the buyer with the following information:
- license number for catching certain types of fish;
- information on permission to import exotic representatives into the country.

Article 79 states that it is necessary to keep animals and fish in accordance with their needs, to provide care. Be sure to give the buyer a sales receipt and confirmation of the health of the fish (this is stated in article 80).

In addition to proper content, it is necessary to train staff outlet. This obliges to make the law "On Protection of Consumer Rights". The buyer is obliged to obtain full information about the type of fish being purchased. He needs to provide information about the species of the future pet - the Russian and Latin name of the fish. The seller must be competent. He needs to recommend special literature to future aquarists, to report on some features of the fish, for example, about the possibility of their joint stay in the aquarium. It is also necessary to briefly talk about the content of the future pet.

The issuance of a sales receipt for the sale of ornamental fish means that the buyer has received information about:

species of fish;
features of keeping and breeding;
responsibility for the further well-being of the aquarium dweller;
health status of the fish.

It is best to add a brief explanation for buyers to the check, reminding them of the need to care for the fish, the procedure for challenging the transaction and the responsibility for further well-being. It is also worth adding a line according to which the buyer confirms with his signature that the seller fully consulted him and answered all questions. This will avoid claims in the future.

Trade rules regarding the return of goods

Due to gaps in the legislation regarding the return of aquarium fish, two mutually exclusive rules apply at once. On the one hand, they are included in the "List of goods of proper quality", which prohibits their return and exchange at the request of the buyer. At the same time, Article 18 of the Law "On the Protection of Consumer Rights" directly indicates the possibility of returning, exchanging or reducing the cost of goods if defects are found, if he did not report them to the seller.