Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Then in all reality your fish in Perth are at a reasonable price ahhh may the merry go round go round

Any overwintered fish will cost you $3+ ... they've been fed/nurtured for the better part of 6-9 months... and are basically either left overs from last summers spawn... or hold-overs for early stocking... in limited numbers..

New season spawn wont happen until end of this month (at the earliest)... depending on temperature and/or rainfall... and first fingerlings may not be available until Xmas/early January...

Yes, interesting how things turn full circle. And for those who keep insisting that there's a fish shortage in WA, I'd like to point out that it's not a shortage, it's just a shortage of fish that you are willing to pay the asking price for.... Yes, there's a huge shortage of fish that cost $1 each.

It's all supply and demand, at the moment when supply is limited you will expect to pay higher prices. Ten years ago when I was buying fish they were $6-$8 for 50mm fish from aquarium shops, because there just weren't suppliers of medium quantities of fish, there was no demand.

As demand increases supply is increasing according, yes, it may cost a little more in these early days but it's getting better and better all the time, golden ponds has fish available, ok, they aren't as cheap as in the eastern states, but last year we bought 500g barra for our systems at the shop for around $16-18 a kg, that's not bad... And I can have troutman deliver trout to my door for just over $1 each in season....

Hey you are all pioneers in creating a small scale fingerling industry in W.A., yeah ok, it's gunna take time, it has to be viable for suppliers to do it. And yeah, early on, when the demand isn't so great they will cost more.

Yep, and a couple of years ago... most hatcheries wouldn't be bothered servicing orders less than 500... or at best several hundred...

Now they'll do so even for smaller orders... but there's also costs involved in processing/packing/delivering small orders...

That's why several members organized combined bulk orders last year.... to keep costs down for members... but the logistics involved in setting up to transport numbers and/or hold them over... then deliver them... aren't cheap... and are time consuming...

The best thing everyone can do is support those who endeavour to supply... and time will hopefully see numbers and availability increase each year...

Sadly, increasing power and water costs will probably see prices rise by 25-50% over the next year anyway... indeed they'll probably be reflected in pricing for new season stock.

Agreed there club together and get a large order add your costs and pass them on then every body wins
on another note i thought the idea of the forum was to pass on knowledge of where to get stuff at the best price
I shore would not like to pay say $3.50 for fish when i can get them in the next town for $1.00

Yeah thinking I should have got more silvers.....

Hi guys.

Well I am now in the middle, karratha, so if you do make it to town OBO I will quite happily by you a beer and pick your brain.......

Chris

When I'm up there Fodder I'll drop you a line.

I agree with you Joel, Mr Nagle from gidgi says he is going to increase his fingerling production slowly over the next few seasons. However he thinks that AP is a fad.

Ha, we will show him. Us and the thousands of others that are growing their own fish and veges out the back, eh!

building pyramids was a fad a while back too ...

Please do OBO!

I will PM you my mobile number. I would love to pick you brain!

Curtin Uni have just opened a new hatchery and research labs. Don't know how far they've got but according to the website

"The Curtin Aquatic Research Laboratories (CARL) comprises several facilities based at Technology Park in Bentley, Perth, that support the undergraduate, postgraduate and aquatic research programmes within the Department of Applied Biosciences. The backbone of the facility consists of three main re-circulation systems - seawater, freshwater and inland saline water.

A 70-tonne mesocosm tank with viewing windows will be monitored by underwater cameras linked to the world wide web for undergraduate training and research monitoring. Manipulation of specialised lighting will enable researchers to imitate the length of day and night to match any location in the world.

The various aquatic systems the Laboratories are controlled by a central computer system, specially designed for the facility. Staff and students 'log in' and report their activities such as what animals have been fed, which experiments have been monitored, etc. A special virtual controller is being developed to allow routine activities to be performed and monitored remotely. Students on a roster system perform weekly scuba cleaning of the mesocosm windows.

The facility also contains post-graduate research laboratories, ecotoxicology and teaching laboratories and a fully functional marine and freshwater fish hatchery. Quarantine, live feed and algae culture rooms are an important part of the centre. Aquatic science research conducted at the Centre includes: freshwater, marine and inland saline aquaculture; integrated aquaculture; aquatic ecology; aquatic resource management; ecotoxicology; and aquatic polyculture.

Aquatic animals that are planned for cultivation in the near future include: pink snapper, bream, lobster, marron, yabbies, leafy sea dragons, corals, aquarium fish, silver perch, Murray cod and marine prawns."

Gonna give them a call on monday and see just how far they've got with it and could possibly organise a tour if ppl are interested.
Hopefully i'll be studying there next year as well, so may be able to get the inside info for this time next year depending when i do the aquaculture unit.
I'll post my findings on monday or tuesday

Cheers
Jono

G'day Jono

Would definitely be interested in a tour if it comes together.

Cheers

I am also up for the tour if you can organise it...

A tour sounds great.