Vegetarian Aquaponics

[inzane]

Heres an idea for all those veggies out there who like keeping fish and growing 'organic' food, but dont want to eat the fish. I was veggie for 10yrs so know how you feel.

I was unsure if I wanted to kill and eat my fish, but I knew aquaponics was for me as I wanted to grow veg. I started my first system with the aim of growing food and improving the water quality for my ornamental fish...while i decided whether I wanted to produce flesh. I was considering the commercial aspects of AP and selling fish locally...what a joke! [I] can buy can buy 2 rainbow trout for £2....no way is that right! Not going to make money of fish flesh, but possible of the herbs...

I thought how can I buy 2 rainbow trout for less than it costs me to buy 2 neon tetras? Then it hit me, youd make far more money raising ornimental fish than you ever could out of food fish. A single neon tetra retails at £1...it weighs about half a gram! Thats a lot of fish in a 2500ltr tank! In australia your a bit limited as far as exotic fish goes, but some of your natives sell well in Europe, ie blue eyed rainbows go for £3 each here... Just a though! Ayone wants to raise 'em and ship 'em to me I'll sell them lol!!!!

[Hamish]

That is really interesting. I am also a vegetarian and dont intend to eat the fish I grow - the way I see it the fish are my little fertiliser makers.

The thing I love about AP is how easy it is - no watering, fertilising, weeding - just sit back and watch everything grow!

I may sell the fish I grow once I get some land to set up a more substantial system. I see it as an oportunity to sell to locals in the country that may not have such good access to fresh fish.

I think there are laws here in Australia about selling dead fish unless you have health dept approved killing facility - can anyone confirm this? If that is the case then I will have to sell them alive - perhaps in a chilled ice bath so they go to sleep...

But yes I agree - as a cash crop perhaps ornimentals are the way to go. I think many of the ornimentals breed pretty well too.

There has been a lot of people into keeping African Chiclids here in Australia - I use to keep them - and they are easy to keep so perhaps that is an option.

[Jonathan Dyer]

Inzane that’s why I grow Koi and goldfish some fish in my tank are worth now over $50 each. And hey if I wanted to eat them I could but I have a few prize winning potential fish just have to wait a few years to put on more weight and then could be worth thousands of AU dollars if I have a winning fish so not so interested in eating a thousand dollar fish.

[GaryD]

Hi Jonathon,


....that’s why I grow Koi and goldfish some fish in my tank....

I now understand how you can claim to have never lost a fish. Koi (carp) and goldfish are pretty tolerant of poor water quality compared to species like Barramundi and Murray Cod.

Gary

[Murray]

Exactly right, my brother has (had) a number of goldfish in a very large glass bowl. Stand collapsed, bowl smashed. It took more than 10 minutes to get a dish, fill with TOWN water, retrieved gold fish from under cupboards etc. All survived well. You need to hit them with a stick to kill goldfish.

[Jonathan Dyer]

Same principles apply to all fish. If tank hygiene is left to run poor your fish will die. My tank is well maintained with everything under my control it would be no different if I was growing Murray Cod. At a stocking rate of 100-150Kg/KL much more control and ‘better’ tank hygiene is necessary, it can be done and it is being done with success on commercial species. Same rules apply.

[Hamish]

I managed to kill 3 gold fish - but have not yet lost a jade perch - I blame it on the pet shop guy - he really didnt do a good job of catching the 'feeder' fish - scales missing and all.

[echidna]

Inzane that’s why I grow Koi and goldfish some fish in my tank are worth now over $50 each. And hey if I wanted to eat them I could but I have a few prize winning potential fish just have to wait a few years to put on more weight and then could be worth thousands of AU dollars if I have a winning fish so not so interested in eating a thousand dollar fish.

It should be noted that Koi are prohibited in most states with only WA permitting them generally, and NSW with restrictions. Nice fish but not worth a $150,000 fine.

[GaryD]

Hi,


Same principles apply to all fish. If tank hygiene is left to run poor your fish will die.

No argument about your basic proposition......but carp and goldfish will be the last fish species to die.

I like the idea of growing pet fish......much better money per kg than fish for food

Gary

[Hamish]

Hi,

I like the idea of growing pet fish......much better money per kg than fish for food

Gary

That is sad but true at the moment - but I have the feeling it wont be that way for long. Food prices are going to go through the roof as the fuel crisis hits and peak oil takes hold. People wont be worried about ornamental fish anymore - they will just want to get food to avoid starvation!

[inzane]

People wont be worried about ornamental fish anymore - they will just want to get food to avoid starvation!

I think you may underestimate some peoples love of their fish. I'll eat my neighbours before I get rid of my fish! Most people cant tell the difference between donkey and pork salami.... But the best bit about it is if you are clever you can do both. Both the TigerShovelNose Cats and the Uaru that I am planning to start with can reach high prices on the ornimental market but also produce high quality fish fillets. They are far too expensive to buy as fingerlings which means you need to get a hold of the breeding cycle, but that will pay off handsomely if you manage it! In the long run I'd like to do peacock bass...they sell to fisheries as game fish, food fillets are ace and good examples in the ornamental market go for 100's! They need space and skill though, but beautiful fish!

The price of food fish is WAY too cheap. You now something is seriously wrong when you can buy three alaskan pollock for 3 pounds!!!!

[inzane]

Heres a pic of a peacock bass, and for who wanted to try the africans some demasonis! Africans would be a good idea to try as most breed readily, are eaten in africa and get good prices... Frontosa would be AMAZING. Big fish, Social so LIKE to be in big groups, like it dark as they are from deep in the lake and would look AMAZING and sell well...need to breed feeder fish for them but thats not too much hastle.

[Murray]

Fish fillets of almost anything is not cheap down under.
Getting a species that can be bred by the home grower is pretty difficult here. Australian native species are only able to be bred using very sophisticated methods that are out of reach for the home grower.
I guess that is why Talipia are a favourite for tank culture around the world. Evidently very easy to breed.

[Hamish]

Africans are easy to breed aparently - wonder what would grow big enough to eat?