So the guy the FH here came from has a friend that breeds them.

I ended up talking to him some, and we were talking about the rescue stuff and moneys and how summer was always kind of rough due to the larger volume of turtles.

Anyway, he offered, when his next batch of flowerhorn were ready in a week or two, to give me a handful of fry to grow out and sell. He breeds Blue something Pearl Scale Flowerhorn, and he was saying that they average $150ish per fish though he's had a few go for near $250.

I was thinking about taking 6 to start, and splitting them into two batches of three and starting them out in two 55s. I wouldn't get them until they were an inch and a halfish. They're the same type as the one I have here now, and this one has been fairly easy to take care of.

Anyway have any of you guys grew out and sold fish before? Pros? Cons? It sounds like a bit of a hassle, but even if I only got $100 a fish, that would be a pretty decent return I'd think.

I've done it just to do it but haven't ever grown out a fish for the money. How big do they have to be to be worth that amount?

The pros are watching a fish grow to adult size under your supervision and in your case the money seems nice too.

The cons are frequent water changes and frequent feeding but it sounds like it would be worth it.

Yea, I drew up plans for hatchling/small turtle shelving using those 55g concrete tubs, but to build it, and heat it and filter it and all that fun stuff is going to cost about what I would make on 6 fh.

He normally waits until they're 6 to 8 inches to sell them, but these are a smaller than average variant for fh.

Pros are as dawg said.

Cons are how to get rid of them? Are they going to fight and tear each other up? Do you have room to move them if they don't get along? A lot to consider with aggressive species. Growing out is not the problem so much as getting them to play nice till they get a good size. It is a lot of work but if you are up for the challenge go for it.

The room to move them if they don't get along is my one big concern after seeing what happened to this one here. While they're small I can divide out the tank with the eggcrate stuff, that's not going to work so well when they get bigger.

As for selling them he told me he'd give me a hand. Fh are also on the very short list of fish that Nemo's will buy to. There's always Aquabid as well, but I'd prefer not to go that route.

I thought of another con as well. Getting attached to them all and not wanting to sell them.

Ok what kind of FH is it? I've seen some FH's go for $200+

Pros: Cash, more money for fish rescue.

Cons: Not having a buyer and being stuck with the fish.

I need to get the specific name next time I talk to him. I remember Blue something pearl scale. It's that something part that I think will make all the difference.

Zenzu? or Zhen Zhu maybe?

Looking online I think that's it, and the pictures match up the one that's here. But I emailed him to get the exact variety.

I'll take some pictures of the one here, and post 'em.