Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I was thinking last night what I might start my tank off on, an I think its gonna be Koi. I read everything I could find here but didnt really tell em what I needed to know so much.
What do people think.

Has anyone tried it or is doing so now?.

What issues have you found Kio run into.

I believe valuable Koi you get need to be graded or something so to see if its worth keep feeding them for next year etc... But there seems to be 20 different opinions from 10 people on the subject.

I would say its worth it. I am starting my system this way (or at least trying to lol) any feed costs are covered by plant harvests so basically the koi sales would be pure profit.

Thats what I thought too. But more reading I do, the harder it is to make money off Koi... or els everyone would do it:)...

Everyone has heard the story, "a mate of mine knows a guy who breeds koi and sells them for thousands of dollars each."

Koi breeders and keepers have been around for a long time and they have very active communities in each state, it's not a money maker for novices. Even big ones aren't really worth that much, we got given a few at the shop because people just wanted to get rid of them.

yher I have read enough now to see it just isnt worth the workload

Huh Locally at least, koi sell in pet shops for $10 when small and $400 when fully grown... If one could get even $1/4 of the pet shop price it would be a profit no?

not really, its random chance on how good they grow. They Japanese breeders grad the Kio each year. They sell the crappy ones to pet shops after first year . Second year they get rid of more of the original batch to pet shops... an then whats left in 3rd year they take out all but the best an use them for fish food. Apparently its VERY difficult to breed one of those 2000$ fish.

$400 fish wouldn't be much different.

I'm looking at possibly having to get rid of mine due to looking at having to do FIFO. From what I have seen so far price wise the food they have used would far outweigh any profit.

Unless you grade them as mentioned you end up with quite a range of sizes.

That pic looks a bit like the road(track) from the turn off South of Duram up to Dirk Hartog ....