Why Fish Breeders are Destroying the Hobby

[@charlespaugh]

As things stand, the video was not negative. The video pointed out a real concern, and you addressed it in a professional manner. You also offered a solution: transact business with customers the way you’d want to be treated as a customer. Bravo!

[@KevinsCaninesAndAquatics]

Yes I agree but the title is very ambiguous and can be misconstrued.

[@araticum2]

Some other conditions, e.g. density, pH, and environmental background color, are also observed to alter sex ratio, which could be classified either as temperature-dependent sex determination or temperature-dependent sex differentiation, depending on the involved mechanisms

[@michellebarnhill5130]

These fish breeders are subpar humans.

[@kiraneko5582]

Yup indeed

[@cudaexotics]

I can sell my soul enough to screw people over. Plus the more people breed the more people they get into the hobby which eventually gets more customers.

[@paulhutchinson3404]

Amen to that brother! I have had this happen to me several times. I am 57 years old and just got back into the hobby a couple of years ago. No matter how old you are it is still heartbreaking when it happens. I sell fish but just to pay for my hobby, not that there is anything wrong with making a profit. But I will add 3-4 extra fish to make sure the buyer is happy (mix of males/females). I raise rare goodeids and want fellow hobbyists to love these fish as I do and keep a larger base and gene pool for them. This is one of the most important fish hobbyists videos that I have seen in a long time. P.S. I love your videos, enthusiasm and appreciation for this hobby. Thank you so much, Paul Hutchinson

[@Jen.K]

Same here, I just got back into the hobby after a 40 year break, retired now and trying to endure the frustrations which come with this hobby here in this country. It's worse now with the internet and seeing how great it is everywhere else. I'm having a hard time getting hold of what I'm interested in.

[@kevin1smid]

I breed shrimps for fun, nothing crazy rare but some really high grade rillis for example. I once sent someone 15 juvenilles (to small to sex) and when they ended up all female the person messaged me about it. Ended up shipping them 3 males for shipping cost only even though I normally ask for about 5 dollars per shrimp. I enjoy what I do and enjoy making my shrimps reach the highest standards I can, but if someone else wants to take the time and effort to properly line breed they are more than welcome to.

[@User_1dashzero]

These days it’s better to raise larger fish and then sell them. Like Koi, or arrowana’s etc

[@zeb33369]

@@Jen.K 💯

[@Lewisloui]

@@Jen.K Yeah and if you want to import them you need licences or someone who can import for you and it costs way more

[@kazdaspaz6544]

Great message Nick. You can tell when a breeder/wholesaler cares more about money when the animals quality and health aren't where they should be.

[@kernalbert4939]

You either retail, wholesale or breed. Pick a lane. I like Nick, but he's young and maybe you are, as well. What he is complaining about is exactly what makes a breeder special. The breeder did the work to acquire the fish and produce it. You want something? Pay for it. If it's not for sale. Accept it. Develop your relationships, build your partnerships, acquire your breeding stock and guarantee the breeder you got the stock from, that you will not undercut them and that you will still distribute their stock first before you distribute your duplicates.

[@kernalbert4939]

@@nightbike6007 He's clearly "new" to the industry because I've been breeding (and retailing) for longer than he's been alive and that's how it's always been. I'm glad he got my view. I want him to have millions of subs and I want him to earn major dollars from advertisements, so that he can follow all of his fishkeeping dreams. I want him to keep making content and I hope his passion for the hobby never fails and I hope his store remains successful. But the fact is if he offered a premium for a breeding group of fish, then he would likely receive a breeding group of fish.

[@GoodSamaritan1972]

​@kernalbert4939 : apparently he didn't...and that is not fair brother.

[@CK-solutions]

@@kernalbert4939 Sorry - the "breeder" did the work? I think you're short changing nature there bud. All breeders are doing is taking stock from nature and mimicking multiplication. If nature gave the same bubkis you're passing out, then you'd have nothing to get so precious about. No stock. Nadah. Nature plays the numbers game to win - not to make money from. Let's hope you and others like you, don't live to discover why nature has the better strategy. It's called, killing the golden goose. What you think is your work, is not actually yours to keep.

[@kernalbert4939]

@@GoodSamaritan1972 What's not fair? Something in my comments or the practice of selecting fish to distribute for resale? If the guy said he was selling pairs and he only sent male or female, then you have a legitimate gripe, but if you asked for 20 Rams and he sold you 20 Rams, then you got what you paid for.

[@twotornfins]

I love this message so much. As an amateur breeder, my reason for getting into it is poor supply in my area. I spent so long looking for bristlenose plecos, local stores were always sold out and charging ridiculous prices. When I finally overpaid for an adult male, I decided to overpay for an adult female too so that I can breed healthy plecos and sell them for reasonable prices to other hobbyists in my area. I'm getting ready to try with dwarf cichlids next. Let's make this hobby enjoyable for each other!

[@OVHabitats]

I have watched you grow up on this channel and at the risk of sounding condescending, I have to say I am so proud of the man you have become. This speaks to the values and character you learned from your folks. Cheers to you and cheers to them. As for the losers that you were referencing, I have been around this hobby since slate bottom, metal frame tanks, they don't last. You do you with love and pride. You won't make the most money in a week but you will earn a living doing what you love and you will be around long after these leaches are gone.

[@jeffrywithanachchi1811]

Heyy, I am 16 years old and have been breeding fish for abt 3 years now. And I wanna start a fish store to be different from the others. I've got big ideas and have started implementing them into daily work. I've just finished my O levels and have started on the road to being a marine biologist. I completely agree to what you're saying and I'm thankful for you adressing these topics and as a creator i believe that you really influence people globally. Again thank you for saying this and keep up the wonderful work!

[@Mr_C.Bacteria]

As an old person, I just wanna say it's cool to see a young person with plans and putting those plans into action,, all the best mate

[@rachaelashak-benson4047]

Go you!! Sounds like you are well on your way. Do whatever you can to keep that optimism & positive mindset. Everyone has bad/hard/discouraging days. Weeks+!!! ;) And those pesky naysayers. Lol Keep your eye on the prize (your dreams). MUCH luck to you, my friend! Keep following your passion, no matter what. And as the saying goes, “if you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life.” I’m pulling for you!! - Rachael :)

[@brunohanham3119]

What you breed?

[@royalspin]

It's really good to see that younger people are interested in this hobby and keeping it alive .Best if luck with your endeavors ✌️

[@nikitamila]

This has happened to me multiple times with GOODEIDS. They're critically endangered and it is essential to breed them in captivity if you keep them, and yet, I will be sold only females at my local online auction.

[@carlosvallejos5352]

Can’t buy them and find a male later?

[@nikitamila]

@@carlosvallejos5352 You underestimate how difficult these fish are to find. "Just find a male" is not possible in most cases.

[@lewisharris7353]

It wasn't a common practices years ago. Now selling only male seems to be too often the norm. In the US the big pet store chains started selling only males across all the live barriers. Then I started seeing that practices in many of the tropical fish stores too. I assume this is coming from the large scale breeders trying to limit the spread of fish from non commercial breeders. So it is all about the $ and your right. It hurts the hobby. I try to buy from local breeders if I can.

[@陳嘉宇-y4q]

In our area, big pet stores suck so much, as their fish always has something wrong with it, and can die within days Local pet shops or breeders are the better choice, especially after you visited them in person

[@Uhhhhh111]

this is so true, Im from the philippines 17 years old and I want to quit this hobby because of this kind of people which happened to me when i first started breeding. and also i recently bought fishes from a breeder and instead of a all female or male. he sent me fish w velvet disease which quickly spread through out the tank. It is also my fault that i didnt quarantine them but i did observe them all for only a day for diseases and behavior but due to me being unfamiliar w velvet disease i didnt notice it. and last week while i was away for college enrollment some ppl stole all my breeder at our backyard. me and my family were not home only grandma was home. she sleep early etc etc. so i dont blame her. some kids also ruined my aquascape while i was away, I am tired and i am slowly selling all my fish very cheap. i spend lots of my time and my money. i am currently battling w the disease and i think my fishes are getting better tho lots died. i enjoyed the journey tho but i think ill stop for now. ill continue my hobby once done w college and have a job lol

[@superaquatics]

It turns out its not only in Australia. All over the world breeders seem to have picked up that trick. They do it either to prevent the buyer from breeding them & maintain a monopoly or to then sell the more colorful males later at a premium price. I went to a local fish shop to buy some equipment and decided to buy some guppies & guess what all the guppies in their tank were females. Not a single male. I therefore bought the females and chose the ones that looked pregnant and luckily two out of six of them did give me a good number of fry. I will however, still need to get some males at some point from another source in order to breed them and avoid genetic defects due to inbreeding.

[@monicaharmonica7152]

I can totally relate to this video and I’m in the USA. I got back into this hobby for therapeutic reasons. It’s also a ton easier now that there is internet, online forums, fish swaps, etc. But since I’m back to being a hobbiest, I’ve encountered these types of people and it really pushes you away from things you enjoy. However, then there are people like you, incredibly encouraging and just being a wonderful soul. Thanks to you and your videos I have successfully had a corydora spawn and was able to sell some! It totally made my day that I got to share my fish, that I helped create and raise, into the community. I was so excited that I told my dog who promptly knocked my phone into the water dish. It was comical. Anyway, I’m thankful for people like you that produce these great and honest videos and you share your enthusiasm with the world ❤

[@_DROM_]

I'd say, "name the people or businesses that did that", but you know what... you are making us aware of it and that's good enough. Thanks, man

[@umagetty5565]

Yes if these people want to sell only males or only females, Have the baslls to tell people!! Don't be a swindler!! Great job Nick!

[@TheMattTrakker]

I disagree. You're not really helping anyone avoid having the same thing happen to them if you don't actually advise people.

[@_DROM_]

@@TheMattTrakker but he did it. He just didn't say the businesses' names. He said issues like that happens, told people to pay attention, etc. To just say what businesses do it won't help anyone, if people don't know how to protect themselves. Thanks to this video, I know this happens. I'll pay attention to anyone selling, not just the 2-3 businesses that scr3w3d him over

[@ededecker6511]

I work in a pet shop in Ireland and I found a new love for breeding fish, when I found a little guppy in a tank. I wanted to do it correctly so I didn’t take a female from the same batch as they might have been related and I hate the concept of inbreeding. We started only getting in males and I have checked our orders and we SPECIFICALLY order in both females and males. We used to have loads of people come in and want to breed them but now we just don’t receive the female guppies. It’s been a good few months since this has started now.

[@angelaworkman2419]

I agree - my hobby is only based around guppies - but it happens even for them! I have no intention on selling on any scale it’s only ever going to be hobby but my local fish chain stores only sell males. I found a female last week amongst some male dumbos and thought I’d won the lottery. How bad is it when you can’t even get female guppies. I believe they are the gateway fish for kids in this hobby - being how pretty, easy and cheap they are - so yes totally agree with you! Because of this I gave my last batch to my local independent fish shop for free!

[@hiyasweets]

100% agree with you.

[@voluntaryismistheanswer]

And every female I buy online is sickly and perishes, I have not had good luck with 'gatekeeper' guppies- when I spend 50 bucks on a trio of guppies, please send healthy ones, not ones that are wasting, etc?

[@toriamousseau]

there's one store in my city (a capital city) and they're the only ones that sell females!! tequila sunrise as well:) I'm so happy I found that store

[@SansVertigo]

I'm under the impression that pet stores do it that way because some people want flashy display fish sometimes and don't want to have endless guppies breeding in their tanks. It seems like that with every pet store I've seen. I always only see trios direct from breeders.

[@GrumpetteJV]

Over here (Netherlands, you need to have show guppies to be able to sell them, if they're mutt guppies, you can hardly get rid of them for free, and more often than not you end up having to put them to sleep. This is the main reason I don't keep males and females together, and why I probably won't buy new guppies again, as I don't want to put any to sleep. In stores you get mostly males, but also females, only not as many. I hate buying from stores though, I see too many fish that look ill or have their fins damaged. What a shame, I would happily give people, who know how to care for them, my female guppies for free! That way I would be able to have a bigger colony, they are such cute fish.

[@survivalofthefishiest]

I've gotten lucky, am not a "professional" by any stretch. I offer all of them out in pairs, and sell in lots for trade to local stores. You got me interested in rams. With the right environment, they do the work, and I reap the rewards :) Thank you for what you do. Don't get discouraged. There are still some of us who are honest out here........

[@RVA_Aus]

I agree, especially with how it is with Zebra plecos in Australia, the breeders that are selling only males are trying to keep the value of their breeders high and it’s unethical. Bunch of lemons.

[@ericb4492]

I did not know you coukd sex them that young. With Bushynose it took about six months to be able to sex them minimum.

[@SteveHinrichs]

I got into the hobby a few years back because it literally saved my life due to a big life event. I know exactly what you are saying. I have gotten so mad about people only selling one sex. I love breading fish and shrimp. I have never sold a single fish or shrimp. I give everything away for the sheer enjoyment of giving others joy of the hobby. I could have made hundreds of dollars of what I have given away. I have a very fertile pair of long fin bristle nose plecos. I have given away hundreds of them. What also makes me mad is when I post free fish. People say they want them all because they have a bunch of tanks. After a couple of times. I was told these people were getting them free from me and selling them off to others. There has been people selling what I gave away for free. I now limit 3 to 4 fish per person because of these type of people. Thanks for the video.

[@JJGills]

Fish keeping can be a life saver. I got into it the same way. My world was crazy but my fish tanks were calm

[@TheFantasyBookWriter]

Beautiful shrimp in your profile I am scared but looking to move into shrimp as well (I've never kept any besides Amano) but I have a tank set up but have been so nervous because I hear a LOT of people say they die and they're expensive to start.

[@SteveHinrichs]

@@TheFantasyBookWriter Start with Neocaridinas. They are very simple. Just learn as much as you can about water parameters. Once you get that down. Not very hard at all. I have caridinas which is what is in my picture. They are a lot more sensitive. Takes a little bit more. But, once you have the water down. They are as easy as guppies.

[@TheFantasyBookWriter]

@SteveHinrichs Thanks for the response and thanks for the info I will start with the ones you recommended 😊

[@Pray4Mojo1]

It's bad to give anything away. For starters, you're stopping others from making money to support their hobby. Second, they're probably feeding your fish to their predators. Your heart is in a good place, but you're taking sales away from hobbyists and setting up your fish for disaster.

[@kens3dandaquatics]

This is an excellent point. I have had major issues trying to get local guppies (pairs) of many different types or purposely being sent the incorrect female to dirty the genetics. It is sad and unfortunate but seems to span half way around the world here in Michigan US. I feel you friend

[@jefftucker9225]

luckily my lfs has their guppy divided in to 2 tanks side my side, one if all males and the other is females, they charge an extra dollar for the females but I'm ok with that

[@MrGrombie]

As a guy who has half of his fish room for native fish, and the other half was me by me sending messages to the reputable sellers to make sure I get some males and females. Seems like you're not doing your research, and/or not buying from reputable sellers. And instead look for the cheaper deals for the fish in particular. I've spent thousands on ordering fish and never had this issue. And whenever I've head fish DOA, I got replacements with a simple message. And the only time I came close to this problem you mentioned, was when I bought my shrimp and didn't get many good looking males. They sent me 10 prime grade males they specifically picked out for me. That said, I did have to spam 1 star reviews and call them out on deleting the review on their site. But it got me my shrimp and a reputation with the dealer as a guy not to mess with.

[@johnxporter]

I can agree with you, as someone who doesn't have much money it annoys me when there's a really pretty fish that I need to saved up for to breed just for my enjoyment and im given a sick fish on purpose or just males. Otherwise I do enjoy your videos and I watch them to learn how to breed certain fish and you were definitely one of the first channels I started watching when I wanted to learn how to breed zebra danios!

[@codywhite8358]

Ive been having a problem finding male plecos

[@mariosangenis5604]

For me, a great part of this hobby is about community. It is awesome to see so many people willing to share there experience, plants, shrimps, fish to foster fishkeeping. Unfortunately, there are selfish people too that simply don't care about others at all.

[@mrwhiskers1471]

Buy breeding pairs if you want to breed all this kid did was cry and complain about what he did not buy…🤣

[@johnhardisty4819]

Ive been reading the comments for over an hour and only got part way through. This is a good thing lots of good needed debate about a topic that affects us all and your video has done that. Well done indeed.

[@MrDannyol12]

Totally agree with everything in this video. I think a big one for me is sellers writing ‘uncounted 2 pair 10 day spawn’ ‘its not my fault if the eggs melt’ sneakily written at the bottom of killifish egg listings where you’re literally getting a bag of peat. Seems to be happening a lot. Don’t know if it’s just a UK thing but it’s so frustrating to take that gamble. Even more frustrating when you see it listed on fish that clearly spawn better in a mop anyway.

[@susanpitt4742]

Nick, your passion for these fish shines through. I keep frogs, not fish, but I love to watch your videos. I also collect coins, have done so for 20 years. The current prevailing attitude seems to be that if you can screw someone else out of a lot of money, then fine. It is NOT fine. Naked greed is slipping into ordinary people's lives everywhere we turn. Nasty. Please hold onto your passion. The next generation of fish keepers, and the fish themselves, need you.

[@davidmountford7036]

I now own a pet shop but for me breeding was always about giving back to the hobby (I used to get rare wild/F1pairs/groups and breed them and sell on to other breeders. Another problem I have found is hybridisation. A lot of people especially with Malawi's just let anything breed together and try to pass them off as one of the original species. I have an OCD when it comes to fish and I try to keep them pure. Great video.

[@daysoffish]

Watched to the end and was rewarded with your childhood photo. Such a beaming smile!! Fishkeeping truly is one of your passions.

[@BobbyMammoth]

Great message and great video. I completely agree. Thank you for your candor and courage. Continue to call it out and push back.

[@Bulldog6699]

Spot on Nick. Big stores have upped the prices on so much of their stock that you are starting to see it online as well. A peacock cichlid 3cm should not cost $40 each, but you see that at shops. Like other big stores some costs have gone up and you do need to react accordingly but for someone who knows what fish cost 10-20 years ago, it's nearly robbery for some fish. Sustainable and affordable too. Rare stuff will have a higher price like your plecos, but stuff like community fish shouldn't be near $20 a fish. Makes it hard for kids to buy anything more than guppies or neons.

[@huldu]

I noticed this too but figured it was inflation etc. I remember paying less than *half* for most fish where I live.

[@spfcasual3786]

You're one of the 2-3 people who really got me into fish keeping and you mindset is exactly why I love it so much. I don't sub to many fish youtubers because I think they're too much into the money side but you were an instant sub because your love for fish really came across.

[@Kyle-sz2xq]

Personally, I'm a school kid, and I'm in Jr High. We're there is not a lot of opertunity to do things you love. So I took it fish, keeping it entranced me and kept me engaged. So I grow plants. I get plants from the fish store and then propagate and sell them so I can buy fish to grow breed and sell. But if I didn't love this hobby, then I would not be doing this. All in all, I agree with this video and think it needs to spread to more people.

[@declanbowles661]

Well said my man I'm from Ireland 🇮🇪 and the same is happening here it's sad to see...love what u do stay strong and keep doing what u love

[@gbeeshrimp]

Couldn't agree more. We set up GBee Shrimp to grow the hobby and share our findings and information. For us, it is not only a small business but primarily about the hobby. The UK shrimp scene of old was very cloak and dagger, and we want to destroy that mentality and create a community of shared knowledge. Yes we need to make a profit but as long as we can cover costs and not lose money, that will be enough. Those that are obviously all about the money stand out like a sore thumb. What you said was not negative, just the truth. Let's build etiquette in our hobbies and support small businesses as they are the backbone of our hobby communities.

[@chrishammer4749]

Yes! Lawrence Kansas has a shop wirh the only variety to be found for 100 miles and they gate keep anything that could be bred. They're insufferable in many other ways too but this is the one area I can't get past

[@LittleLordFancyLad]

Yeah, this happens in Canada too, and it's both disgusting and frustrating because were never going to create a vibrant, genetically diverse, captive bred population, with all these gatekeepers. I get it, they want to keep them rare to justify high prices, but it's still unethical and ultimately damaging to the hobby and the species.

[@SAJM11]

Oh ya they love to do this over hear

[@toriamousseau]

I spent over $120 on caridina shrimp here, and had this happen😂😅 I just wanted a colony... not a bunch of males that can't breed

[@DaMcGamer]

Your enthusiasm and love of fish is what keeps me watching. Sadly people can be greedy, stupid or naive. IDK the details of your transactions that went south, but I do know you have to clarify everything with people, especially the sketchy types! I breed horses and everything clearly spelled out regarding the transaction (I actually write a contract so we both are clear!). But I know when I've bought other things I do clarify if I plan to breed or not, as it's expensive and disappointing to not get what you perceived you were getting. I know if I was selling fish and people were buying a bunch or didn't specify, I'd ask what they wanted them for? It's a simple question that can avoid misunderstandings. Word of mouth is gold. Some people don't realize it.

[@Jen.K]

Sounds like you are one of the ethical types. Problem is in this hobby, like with everything else, some people are obsessed with money, power and control, and will do what they need to do to hold onto it, and don't care how their behavior effect anyone else.

[@jof.7577]

I actually just ran into that here in the States, where the breeder has a beautiful strain of guppies, but will only sell the males. I thought it was strange, but the shop keeper told me that the breeder is very gate keepy about his fish. Good onya for bringing this up, because yeah, it's bull and discouraging for people who are new and want to get into the hobby

[@hookedonfishing2095]

why? go to the local fish store and take your pick. You want something nice, you have to pay up just like with anything else.

[@Xiol02]

​@@hookedonfishing2095how could he when they dont sell females? Even here, i wanted to try breeding tiger guppies, because i found 2 really good looking ones, but the store doesnt sell females, how could i even get females that are nice and pure, when its being gatekept

[@NateK-MN]

A very manly addressing of the problem, way to go! And without exposing people, this was very well done in genuine love.

[@TheMattTrakker]

Why is it good to do it without exposing people?

[@sharlotteadams3367]

As a breeder in the US, I give options. All males, all females or Pairs/Trios. However mistakes do happen and I try very hard not to take it personally, especially if I just ordered a group of fish and didn’t specify that I was looking for a breeding group. My suggestion for anyone looking to breed a certain fish is to shop around and specifically look for a breeding group.

[@kernalbert4939]

You said it.

[@moo12395]

I fully agree im.from the UK and it happens over here I was gutted now I buy from a breeder in person instead of posting the fish now your video wasn't negative its a wake up call to people well done keep it up 🎉

[@danealexander9816]

Very well said man. But also, it’s awesome to see how much you love doing what you do. A lot of people can learn more from you. Keep doing what you do.

[@junrycalvo]

Similar to happened here in the Philippines & other parts of Asia. Shops are selling this beautiful Albino Paradise Fish but they only sell males & I asked the shop owners they have the same answers "the supplier didn't send females & they refuse to sell it also". Which is kinda bummer.

[@ejkeen3290]

Hands down the best fish related video I've watched in AGES! *clap* There is nothing negative here; it's all perspective. I don't think there's many that will disagree with you, because sadly, a lot of us can most likely relate. Thank you - SO MUCH - for being in it for the right reasons, looking out for the newbies, and for having a voice on this issue where most of us cannot.

[@George1789]

Such a needed discussion!!! As you said especially younger kids or even just someone going through a rough patch wanting to give breeding their fish a go, it’s so disappointing that breeders just don’t care. They want money and nothing else matters to them. At the end of the day fish keeping is a hobby for everyone, it shouldn’t matter how much money you have or can make, it’s about having fun and a community. Don’t get me wrong, people making money isn’t an issue when it’s done in good faith, fish breeding contributes to third world countries economy more than people realise. Plus Who wouldn’t want an easier time paying bills or finally being able to get that super cool fish for your tank.

[@j.b.abraham4175]

Speaking up about something you're passionate about and seeing others within the hobby just being greedy isn't negative, in my opinion. I thought it was very well said, very diplomatic and courteous. Besides, if nobody speaks up, the behavior will just continue, so good for you for sharing your feelings about what you experience, and looking out for others.

[@sarah_Adam5]

Awesome video, when we buy our breeding stock we do a tonne of research on the breeder. Whether that be their Facebook page, Instagram, KZbin or just asking certain questions to find out if we trust them. If we have a bad feeling about someone we wont buy from them. Think of it like shopping for an insurance policy you would want value for money, quality, trust and customer service.

[@2-trueman918]

Your sticking up for ALL of us, good on you👍👍

[@toriamousseau]

This video is not negative, just pointing out a problem that's important! It's heartbreaking to experience this time and time again. Thank you for raising awareness about the issues we encounter in the hobby.

[@mrwhiskers1471]

He should have bought breeding pairs he’s a idiot we all sell only male or female or unsexed fish

[@brianhobbs772]

Well said!! I’m glad you’re bringing attention to this issue I got all males and spent over 300 bucks for some fish I ordered online, when someone buys 8 of one species they expect at least one pair

[@Richard-zm6pt]

Good job. I noticed many years ago in the pet shops that they were carrying only male guppies and mixing varieties. If they had females, they would be mixed in their own tank, but it would be almost impossible to know which females to pair with which males. Just yesterday, I decided to look at Endlers for sale online, and many breeders were offering six-packs of males, no females. When they offered a mixture of sexes, they were always also mixtures of varieties. None of the desirable pure strains of carefully bred color varieties were available as a mix of male and female. So, for a very long time, I have been aware of and frustrated by this proprietary practice. Your perspective matches mine perfectly. Fortunately, there are breeders and retailers with more generous spirits who want to perpetuate the hobby through sharing and encouraging young people to take it up. Thank you for this thoughtful video.

[@Jeannie.B]

I agree. Transparency in the listing is essential. If the breeder intends to ship only males it must be disclosed prior to the sale.

[@berenicehickey9755]

I've had this with cherry barbs and very expensive rice fish here in Asia.

[@MrSlmarvin]

Totally agree, thank you for saying it I’ve had the same issue. I breed fish just to see if I can do it and if I can sell them I only sell what I would want to receive

[@lizxu322]

I have a small Betta fish business and if I fish gets to their new place sick or dying I immediately send 2 healthy fish in its place free of charge,and ask the buyer to choose out of my available fish. For me profit comes second to integrity. You can always get new fish but you can easily run out of customers once bad word spreads. Had no idea there's breeders holding back certain sexes of fish to create an artificial demand. That's messed up. I do however concede it's always norm to hold back quality breeding pairs just enough to reply stock, but not to be hoarded improperly. People out there trying to turn the fish trade into the diamond trade smh

[@whitneykrakeel105]

Thank you for this. This is something I’ve been saying since I started in the hobby! I have started breeding and when I realized my acaras laid eggs I made a promise that I wouldn’t be that type of breeder! It’s not fair to anyone!

[@joud360]

I'm a hobbyist and sold 30 apistogramma gold fire reds to a local aquarium a few days ago. I picked out 15 males and 15 females.

[@jacques13x]

No reason to be sorry Nick. You did the right thing. By word of mouth is the best way to spread the message about these selfish people. They in no way represent this hobby. 🐟🐠🐡

[@duanetruscott3796]

I agree! when I go shopping and the seller says M or F only I skip them. But there is a saying here in the states buyer beware. So we both have learned to ask before we buy are we going to get a mix of M/F's. It is unfortunate that we have to ask but let it be known that you don't do that at your business. Tell people, teach them to ask, LEAD by example. Always looking forward.

[@orlandoribeiro8335]

Great to see someone speak up and say it how it's meant to be said. Sadly this is also happening in the bird side of things too, all about the money no longer about the hobby. Unfortunately everyone this days only thinks of greed and have lost there morals and sooner or latter will loss the respect of other breeders may it be fish / birds / dogs/ cats or any animal. To keep pets is to love them and also see others enjoy the same thing you did. Im a strong believer in treat others the way you would want them to treat you. Great video sometimes the truth needs to be said and in all hobbies there is always a dark side not just the good side.

[@dinukvithanage6884]

Totally understand. As a fish keeper I wanted to have some guppies and get them bred. I couldn’t understand the complexity of this. Which I gave up.

[@worldset4331]

you said what needed to be said, the idea of only doing it for money isn't good and I agree we should do it for enjoyment and not gatekeep everything amazing about this hobby.

[@jesselox3470]

That photo of little you is everything! The things we do for fish

[@gravediggeraquatics3512]

I totally agree. I breed and sell rare Mbunas, Endler's, angels and other africans to my local swaps and I always make sure I have a good mix of males and females in the bags. I'm not really in it for the money just to clear some of my overhead and pass fish off to other hobbyists who are interested in keeping or passing them along as well for a good price. And to me that is a huge part of what the hobby needs.

[@bluebird4614]

I agree, I enjoy breeding rare fishes and selling them for affordable price to my local community so they can be readily available. For eg - BSP angels are hyper rare here where I live, so I've been waiting for them to reach the breeding age so I can supply then in my LFC

[@gabrielmarques6656]

It happens a lot here in Brazil too, it's so hard to get female Apistogramma, killifish... Sometimes we can get pairs, but in general, only males... It's really frustrating.

[@lots33ml]

You're right. One of the main reasons is greed they don't want any competition to sell their fish. Also, this jacks up the cost of fish for everyone. I've been keeping fish for over 45 years and paid nominal money for certain fish that are now priced insanely which most of the fish keepers can't afford to buy anymore which in the end will destroy the hobby they claim to love. I think they don't love keeping fish they love money, nothing more. Sickening

[@Tugela60]

No, the reason is they are keeping the females for *drum roll* breeding, because that is how they produce income. Males, they don't need so many, so the excess are the ones sold to fish stores. Any kind of rare desirable species is going to be in this boat. If someone is a breeder and they don't have much breeding stock they would be stupid to sell their females since that reduces their potential to generate more fish. This is not rocket science.

[@archonthaaproducer]

it's like this on the saltwater side too. I don't understand how a coral that is now more common than ever is 3x the price compared to what it was just 8 years ago. It's actually insane. And then these same people have the nerve to go onto forums and whine about how the hobby is dying. It wouldn't be dying if they weren't charging an arm and a leg for a simple coral.

[@Tugela60]

@@archonthaaproducer Because it is illegal to collect wild coral?

[@archonthaaproducer]

@@Tugela60 the coral I’m talking about have been aquacultured for years yet they are still being affected by this

[@Tugela60]

@archonthaaproducer Because supply is limited while demand grows. It will only be cheap when collected from the wild, and that is totally illegal.

[@NiX_aKi]

It's also good to ask sex ratio from the breeder before the purchase. Sometimes we tend to be shy about asking, but it's our right as customers to ascertain what we are getting.

[@danieledwards4398]

It’s not just that. Removing eggs and artificially hatching cichlid eggs has totally bred out the parental instinct in fish like Angels! Finding a pair that will look after the young these days is almost impossible

[@jybrokenhearted]

Nah, sometimes it takes a few broods for the pair to learn. I had a pair of angels that took 6 times to get them to be very dedicated parents. The male used to attack me.

[@anonablous]

you can also teach a stubborn pair, or at least save the eggs until hatch, (at which point infanticide is less likely ;) ), by 'sleeving' with a plastic tube or mickeymouse a glass 'blocker'/shield that allows eye contact but no mouth contact ;). usually takes just a few spawnings for the old instincts to then kick in, as also mentioned below.. er... above, by jybrokenhearted :)

[@Fisheshub]

Hello there from fishes hub I agree with you on this context this should be done openly and both males and females should be available to both hobbiest and sellers that will encourage the hobby and make it more fruitful ..

[@Teabone3]

This is happening me to a lot whenever I purchase fish, I found out there are all females or all males. Its kind of like GMO food where you buy fruits or veggies but they dont produce seeds you can use to continue to grow them on your own. I enjoy growing plants... as much as I enjoy breeding fish.

[@fishmanlord9007]

This channel has inspired me so much in breeding and selling fish even though I haven't done much of the selling part I'll always make sure this doesn't happen to the few who do buy from me, and I hope more breeders out there do the same and give their customers the best quality fish and experience possible.

[@spettop6591]

Thank you for making this video. We need to start have more conversations about this.

[@Ichthys_Aquatics]

I have seen the same thing happen in the saltwater hobby with coral. It used to be that hobbyist would share coral with each other or trade, maybe you might take some money if the person didn't have anything, but a lot of the time the more experienced reefers would give coral to a newbie just to help them out. I still do that today because to me I want to promote the hobby. There are groups that are actively trying to shut our hobbies down. We need to stand together and share more than ever to ensure that this hobby stays strong and not divided.

[@RummyRide]

Have you heard of a baby whale fish? My LFS said I can keep it in a 10 or 20 gallon and there’s very mixed information about them online. If so I’d love to watch a review or even a care guide. Thank you.

[@Azfishkeeping]

I have not had that experience. Here in Arizona the hobby is very welcoming and sharing. People regularly share coral frags and fish of various kinds that they may be breeding. It's a shame you have had that negative experience.

[@TwinkleStar987]

You are so right. It’s lovely to set up conditions to provide a home to our fish friends. Then being able to hit the parameters to get and keep babies. It’s magic. So sad that others aren’t into spreading the joy of this fascinating hobby.

[@araticum2]

Some other conditions, e.g. density, pH, and environmental background color, are also observed to alter sex ratio, which could be classified either as temperature-dependent sex determination or temperature-dependent sex differentiation, depending on the involved mechanisms

[@AquaJoyClub]

That stinks about the gatekeeping. I hope through time the standards and attitudes can change when it comes to breeding in the hobby. Thanks for sharing your thoughts - it's an important conversation that needs to happen so that we can keep the spirit of fish keeping alive!

[@australianbiotopes4563]

Great video Nick! unfortunately every hobby is the same you will find as you get older, I have to say it is refreshing being around you, I just wish I was 20 or 30 years younger as just watching you with your fish wares me out, you have a true passion for the hobby, I actually remember you coming over the other day and asking me why I bother with my tank of sword-tails and it is exactly for this reason, I have loved them since I was a kid and had fun catching them so I have a soft spot for them, as I've gotten older I've seen a lot of this type of thing in various hobbies, this is one of the reasons you will never really see me into the really high end stuff, I have in the past but I found I can have just as much fun with the low end stuff and you don't have to deal with people in the most part that are money hungry, this hobby should be enjoyed by all and as you said you have to think of your self as what you were like when you where younger and how excited you would get buying or catching that cheap fish and how happy it made you, a great video in my opinion, something for people to reflect on, Thanks for posting 🙂

[@relaxationtube4441]

A lot of breeders do that in India as well. Initially female betta fish were never sold at stores, Even female guppies from good strains were never sold together. This has been around forever now

[@kurt942003]

Man, I agree with this 💯💯💯! Scarlet and Tiger Badis are the latest fish that I’ve struggled to find females. And it’s 100% because breeders don’t want to sell them because they’re afraid they’ll lose money if hobbyists start breeding. I tell everyone, most of us are not making tons of money in our basements doing this and we’re DEFINITELY not putting large places out of business. It’s for fun! I can also speak to the “money ruins things” statement. I’m a wildlife biologist. My expertise is in the identification and biogeography of native fishes, herps, and small mammals of the eastern US. I used to LOVE this stuff, and still do, but doing it as a job where money is the main focus to survive just takes a ton of the joy from it. Good message man! Also, love your content and your story. Very inspiring.

[@Sabriel3632]

I love scarlet badis and I was really disappointed to not find any females. I wasn’t planning on breeding for profit, I’m in this hobby to enjoy and observe nature. As Nick said, you can’t always get the full range of behavior without both sexes. Hopefully this changes!

[@neo-filthyfrank1347]

I don't know about that. If you "like" something but don't like doing it as work that's probably because you don't like it enough. Sort of like how everyone would "like" math if they only had to learn it for 5 minutes a week via pop-sci videos. Point being it's simply a function of the actual level of detail and time input, with things about format, structure, etc. not really being relevant to your emotional state.

[@LRBaquatics]

Yeah they hardcore gate keep the badis

[@shaneclarke6044]

If you google dario pairs you can find pairs for sale online

[@NigiVlogs]

Happened to me tons of times, bought A. australe killy, got all males. Bought all 10 CPD from local store, one female. Asked one breeder for 10 Palmeri tetras, got 13, out of that 2 females.

[@shawnxexotic]

Very well said. This applies to breeders of other exotic animals as well.

[@pomak6511]

You're a good kid, son. Don't let this world ever change you and keep doing what you love. We all see the shine in your eyes and heart about this hobby and its people like you that have kept this hobby alive for so many people in the world.

[@pomak6511]

Oh, and I'm all the way in Chicago...so you are touching people globally.

[@goofyboutmickey]

Well said! I have had it happen more than I would like to think about. I have gone so far as to speak to the seller and ask if I can recieve a certain number of males and females. They agree and send a bag full of males. I have even talked to the owner of my local fish store and he even has a hard time to get males and females in species like guppies. Keep up the great videos!

[@garypeacock6698]

This is the same situation in Canada. Thanks for the video. You are 100% correct and I am glad you spoke up.

[@NYGOLD]

I kind of agree, once you start selling fish at any level it's a business. When I sell to a LFS or a hobbyist that's all well and good, BUT when I sell to another breeder I have to really pay attention. I have one species of fish in my fish room that's my bread and butter, that fish alone pays for my fish room. If I sell any of those fish to another local breeder I could lose my little cash cow. Now I wouldn't screw the other breeder, I just wouldn't sell them lose fish.

[@xSmurfituPx]

There's been so many times I've gone to purchase fish and decided not to because they would only sell one sex. I'm not a professional breeder but I want to have a nice colony. That's why I love it! Gatekeeps are totally taking away from the hobby.

[@johnhardisty4819]

I am new to breeding and have had this happen to me a few times I always let the seller know I want both sexes for breeding. If I only get males I let them know I won't buy again. Unfortunately my local pet shop often only have a single sex for each species. I've also let them know I will only buy pairs. It's hard I would only buy from you if I could. Living in rural NSW I have few options available to me. I finally found another local breeder willing to "share". I am so thankful for that. We are planning a buying trip up to see you in August. Need to save some more pennies first but. I can't wait I'll be getting my first apisto's.

[@andrewkelford128]

First of all, Nick, I want to thank for one of the best fish keeping channels there is. I live in Thailand and the problem of only male fish being for sale is rife. I find it so frustrating as I love breeding all my fish. Keep up the good work Nick.

[@SliceradioAu]

Hey mate! I’ve been in fish breeding, retail and wholesale for over 40 years in Australia, and this issue has been a problem the whole time. First, the wholesalers will happily send you all female this or that without letting you know, and then you’ll pick up a “breeding colony” of six females, two males from another hobbyist only to find you’ve got a bunch of subdominant males. It’s a bummer and costs money. Fish clubs are where you’ll meet the best breeders. If you can pick up the fish yourself? You’re way ahead!

[@tommesob5099]

We have the same issue here in Switzerland. Breeders only sell males these days. i tried to get some specific plecos and they always say "sorry mate i only sell mates, i wanna keep my area of breeding so i can keep prices where they are"...

[@gwrulzmylife]

If your transaction is for "fish" then the seller has no obligation to send males/females. If your transaction is for "mixed sex fish", then you should get (close) to an equal amount of males/females.

[@TheFishMug]

OMG - I commented below while the video was still going - I now just saw you in the dress!!! LOL - AWESOME... I wore a dress once... It was a Monday when I told my daughter that if she could ride her bike without training wheels by Friday, I'd wear a dress. I wore that dress on Monday evening!!!!! Also - I just did your PP quarantine/detox thing you did in another video, tonight. So far, so good. About to do the Prazi... I might actually wait until tomorrow on that, actually, to give the fishies a chance to chill out... Thanks for all you do!

[@j.solano]

Thanks for the video, and for sharing a very sincere perspective. It's obvious you really care deeply about the hobby, it's unfortunate though that there are people in it simply out of greed. Keep up the great work though, and thanks for the inspiration!

[@fj1482]

It's sad and it seems to be the community in general. Just last night I was on the phone with another breeder. He told me the one local mom and pop fish store went into his friends store and saw his busniess cards and threw them all away and then confronted the store owner on why he had someone elses fish cards in his store. Anytime you get a group of people together your going to have a few bad eggs. I have to admit it seems to be getting worse. At least that is what it looks like from my end. Love your video's. Keep up the good work.

[@jc13781]

Great video. It’s ok to rant once in a while and I think your critiques are fair. While we don’t deal with these problems too much in the US, I have experienced this type of behavior in other hobbies.

[@erint5373]

Fantastic message, completely agree! I think we need to put the conservation back into the hobby, and part of that is not just source ethicacy but also creating a good community for newbies to come in and learn from all the experience of the seasoned fishkeepers-so we can all do what's best for our hobby and the fish.

[@medakametal]

I agree 100% with your views as a breeder of Medaka Japanese Ricefish

[@ThisWorldOfPranj]

I got recently into this hobby and I checked around lot of local fish stores for fish. It just breaks my heart seeing fish in such bad conditions, cramped quarters, bad filtration.

[@Jacksprat265]

Unfortunately guarding the line happens in other areas like dogs. I thought becoming a registered breeder would help? But no! It made it harder to get a good breeding pair. I feel your pain

[@RickysFarmAndHatchery]

I was told in the fish trade business there are 2 sales. 1 is you sell males to 1 store and females to the other store until you start seeing a major slowdown. So then #2 or second step would be now you can sell small portions with both. I think it is better to sell them like chickens. You have males, females and straight run. Each has a different price set.

[@amazonaquatics]

Happened to me with a group of L306 here in the USA. I ended up paying triple price for a couple females to make my colony! Love your channel keep up the amazing work you do!