Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Was travelling along Albany Hwy (near Bedfordale) and saw a bright orange (or was it yellow??) sign saying Live Barra for Sale. Followed the signs in and found a place selling live barra for $15 each. Size approximately 25-30cm and maybe close to 500-600gms (according to the owner there).

Aparrently he buys fingerlings and grow them out to plate size for restaurants in Northbridge.

Unfortunately he does not sell barra any smaller than those sizes but it might work out well since barra growing season is pretty short in Perth.

Well thought I would share with people here... I think the price is reasonable...

Heya Ivan -

I was down at Golden Ponds this afternoon to grab some more trout and get me some SP.

They had medium size barra - I would say 250-300mm for $8 a head.

Further to that, they seem to have the monopoly on Freo TAFE barra, too. The helpful fella down there informed me they had bought some 50,000 fingerlings from Freo/Challenge TAFE - and need to sell them all!

I did notice a few of them had some white fungus-like stuff on their dorsal fins though. Maybe they are the self white-saucing varietal.

Your man in Bedfordale may be a good option if you're in a pinch!


BTx

BTx, I think last year some people who bought their barra from GP found out later that their barra had fungus... see below...

http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=6583&hilit=barra+fungus

Well I was going to get more barra from GP because like you said, they have a bit of monopoly but I don't really feel comfortable with the way the fishes are kept for sale there... Their setup is very close to a local fish shop.

The guy in Bedfordale (by the way I don't know him; just met him today) has a setup resembling an aquaculture setup... Not decided yet but when the time comes I will decide then...

I hear ya, mate - I hear ya!

As his sign suggests 'The barra are growing faster than we can accomodate'.

Maybe he can be persuaded into a bulk buy / group buy arrangement at a concessional price .

In defence of GP, I'm sure that their main tanks and hatchery in the large sheds are more aquaculture'esque, and that the shopfront just holds the fish in the interim whilst they await sale to eager AP enthusiasts! Well, I hope so!

$15 each at 500 grams ?

that's 30 bucks a kilo, add the cost of feeding them for however long and it doesnt look like that good a deal ..

... Am sitting in the foodcourt of Canningvale Markets, and the seafood place here has medium sized barra, well over 500g, for $13 a pop.

im lookin for 20ish barra if anyone is doing a group buy.
will the belfodale bloke do discounts for bulk?

Is that live or dead??

Call him and ask him... By the way, do bear in mind that these barras are already approx. 500gms, and the recommended stocking of 20-25 fishes per 500L of filtration is based on approx. 500gms.

So for 20 500gms barra growing out in summer, I believe you will need 1000L of filtration as you might expect to get them close to a kg.

Alive n kicking - or paddling - or finning - or whatever fish do!


BTx

Thats pretty cheap, good find BT.

... Cheapest still appears to be Golden Ponds - $8.

But they'll be needing salt for a tonic bath and white fin fungus elimination!

I think I would spend the difference in fuel driving to golden ponds though.

hi guys a few months have passed so where did you finally get your barra and are you happy with the result. I pulled 60 trout out of the ft today only 5 left ( but i'll get them tomorrow) and need to try barra this summer . Any ideas welcome.Thanks Drew.

Challenger Tafe only has 30mm fingerlings left... GP has yearlings but go ther Monday Tuesday so they are not to sick and survive the trip home