What are you going to do with all the fish? Will you raise fish destined to be food, pets, or simply pond ornaments? Do you intend to take the backyard approach and build a custom fishing hole for you and your friends, or are you looking to build a business empire based on the for-profit production of the finest fish on the global market?
Once you’re leaning towards a certain type of fish, contact hatcheries that raise that type to see about the viability of going through with stocking your hatchery. Recognize that the costs associated with raising different types of fish will vary widely, for all sorts of reasons – including the amount of management different species require and the cost of the food they eat. Also consider the climate in which you will be operating your hatchery. Certain fish need certain temperature water to live in. If possible, you may want to avoid costs associated with heating or cooling water, which can be substantial.
Tilapia need to be raised in water as close as possible to 84 degrees Fahrenheit (29 degrees Celsius). They will survive in water from 64-90 F (18-32 C), but will die if the water drops to 50 degrees. While there are many different types of tilapia, Bava, Blue, and Nile tilapia are the most appropriate for backyard and commercial hatcheries.
Recommended water temperatures for raising catfish vary based on the season and age of the fish. A such, catfish are commonly raised in outdoor ponds. Specifically, channel catfish fingerlings need to be stocked when water temperatures are between 65-68 degrees Fahrenheit (18-20 C). As catfish, they will grow more quickly in water between 83-86 degrees Fahrenheit (28-30 C).
Raising bass may require extra holding tanks, as different sized individuals need to be stored separately. Bass prefer water as close as possible to 80 degrees Fahrenheit (27 degrees Celsius), but can survive in water ranging from 65-85 F (18-29 C).
Trout and salmon can be raised together, providing some variety in your production. Keep water in which you’re raising trout and salmon between 55 and 60 F (13-16 C). If you’re only raising trout, water can be a bit warmer, but monitor oxygen levels more closely. Rainbow and brook trout are particularly popular, as are coho and Atlantic salmon.
Depending on the type, size, and location of your hatchery, the paperwork will vary – but count on there being a lot of it. If planning to operate a production hatchery, you’ll need to get a business license as well. Then there’s the whole other side of the law – and a whole new stack of paperwork.
Angelfish, for instance, can easily be raised on equipment that you can get altogether in a ready-to-use set. For different types of fish, you’ll need different types of specific filters, tanks, and water-treating equipment, and fish food. For small aquariums, however, most of these will be available at specialty pet stores. Choose a breed of fish – such as angelfish – that are already commonly sold in pet stores, so you know you’ll have demand for the glittery critters as soon as they’re ready to find a home of their own.
Work at a running hatchery that’s as similar as possible to the sort of hatchery you envision opening. Consult online resources and print publications, many of which are specific to certain styles of hatcheries or to raising certain types of fish. Take courses on fishery operations at a university or trade school. This is a good idea early on, as the broad, supplemental knowledge provided by a classroom course will help you make decisions about the type of hatchery you’d like to start.
Include a clear and specific feasibility report in your business plan. This should include thorough calculations of your initial expenses, operating costs, and anticipated profits for the first few years of business. Know that the anticipated costs of starting a hatchery depends entirely on the type of hatchery you wish to start. Though small backyard setup may cost as little as a few hundred dollars, a production facility will require thousands of dollars of investment in equipment alone.
Ensure that there is sufficient demand in the market to meet the level of sales you need to be successful financially. Consider whether a hatchery is the best possible use of the specific real estate and capital you intend to use. Reflect honestly on whether you personally have the time and financial security to start a new business.
Unforeseen costs can greatly hinder a new company, and the best way to prevent them is by knowing you’ve thought of everything.
In a large scale production you’ll need a tractor, ample storage space, and maybe even trucks. Have you accounted for all the piping that will connect tanks and ponds and water equipment? What about oxygen meters and other testing supplies?
Develop a plan for a backup water source if your current source drops below an allowable quality threshold. Assess and address the risk for contamination by pesticides, metal, or anything else at the location in mind. Develop and maintain contacts for advice and information, even before you need it - particularly in terms of fish health.
Municipal water is often okay to fill an artificial pond, though pumping water from a natural body of water near your home may be preferable. Make sure that you are not violating any laws or regulations by manipulating any natural bodies of water or watersheds by checking with your local fish, wildlife and environmental regulatory agencies. In areas where ponds may freeze, you can pump and cycle water through an artificial heater to keep the pond warm and liquid-enough for fish to survive in. Cold climates, however, will substantially increase the cost of operation and the risk involved in running your hatchery.
Take extreme care not to overcrowd the pond, as water quality and fish health can rapidly deteriorate in an overcrowded body of water.
Determine the types of plants to include in your pond based on the type of fish you plan to raise, as well the types of plants that grow naturally in ponds in your area.
Be careful not to over-feed your fish, as this may contribute to illnesses, more bacteria in the water, and decreased water quality overall. To determine whether your fish are in need of more food, observe their behavior when you add food to the water. If the fish go into a frenzy and eat all the food extremely quickly, start to feed them slightly more regularly.
Make sure the water you have access to is suitable for raising fish before deciding to start a hatchery in a natural body of water. Stock the cage with fingerlings and simply feed them until they are large enough to harvest. For a small cage culture, expect to pay for only cage materials, fingerlings, and food – which may cost as little as $100 altogether.
Be aware of additional regulations involved with diverting and benefiting from the use of natural resources. Contact local conservation authorities to discuss your plans. This is the method used to help many government-run conservation efforts. However, this method is harder to set up than many other options, is often not allowed, and is not as commercially viable as other options.
Municipal water supplies are usually fine to fill tanks, though the water will likely need to be treated. Know that aquaponics systems come with far larger start-ups costs, a greater need for supplies and equipment, and a greater knowledge of commercial fish farming.
Pumps are also often necessary to cycle water from holding tanks to recycling pools or equipment that can clean the water and remove impurities. The more fish you’re trying to raise, especially in an indoor hatchery, the more water cleaning and aeration equipment you’ll need.
For larger scale hatcheries, you’ll need reels and other equipment that can be used to drag large nets. You’ll likely need a tractor and hoists to handle nets full of fish. As fish are graded, they will need to be moved to different holding tanks. You can also use counting equipment to keep track of your crop.
