Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Murray river rainbow fish are a small hardy native fish, they are relatively easy to breed and sell for about 15 bucks each in aquarium shops, they could be a good option for a salable fish but not a great driver of an AP system but maybe you could have them in a separate tank to your perch or trout or whatever and you could do both, rainbows also grow out to a salable size faster than goldfish I think, might have to double check that though.

Ive run rainbows in my ponds for about 7 years now, they breed easily in a natural environment - like goldfish - and seem to have about a year growout period.
I have never had them simply in a bare tank, but like my goldfish im using in my AP now, i have a a feeling they wont breed in such a sterile environment.

Rainbows can be bought from about the $8 mark in aquariums, so would likely only pay $1 each or so wholesale.

I wish I could get them for $8, where in vic are you? I'll buy a few of your rainbows.
Cheers Ben

How come they allow goldfish but not Koi? I have a goldfish called Dodgy that I always felt had a little bit of Koi in it.

Maybe because the koi grow so big they create more of a problem

Somebody introduced Carp into the murray river, and over the years they've overwhelmed it. Turning it into a muddy mess, and making a few natives extinct. It was supposed to have had beautiful clear water before the carp, now you can't see more than a few feet under the water.

Koi are carp, and after a few generations, I don't think they'll be too different from the wild carp, and add a bit of genetic diversity to the existing fish.

I guess it's easier to have a blanket rule, rather than say yes or no to different people. A dam stocked with koi could potentially overflow into a river, and the river could overflow into a bigger river....

im around the dandenong area basically.

If you ever find yourself in geelong or ballarat areas let me know please

I was hunting for a good place to buy 50-100 fancy goldfish. I found an aquaculture place that breeds just goldfish. But it's $5 per fish. Seems a little pricey for goldfish.

I'll continue to hunt.

Given how much i see Tandanus selling for in aquariums, and how much fingerlings can be purchased for in season, i suspect I am going to pick up some of those to fatten up for a bit.

I was thinking the same thing. I figured goldfish would be cheaper.

How much are the catfish going for in aquariums?

Ive seen 5cm for $25 and 10cm for $60