Would anybody rent me one of there females?

stripeythingy · Post by **stripeythingy** » Sat Oct 07, 2006 10:50 pm

My zebs are only toddlers about 2 years old, this is just an idea but would anybody in the West Midlands area consider renting one of there female zebs for £20 a month. Obviously this is when my Zebs are 3+.

Before they agree to rent there female they would be more than welcome to inspect my aquarium and do water tests e.t.c if they were not happy with conditions they could decline, you never know you might even get a fry as a tip.

Post by **John** » Sun Oct 08, 2006 7:08 am

Looking for a zeb escort for your male

Serious, did you consider it might take 2 years to get a spawn even if you have several males and females?
Better buy your own (young) female, otherwise you might ending up spending a lot of money and no fry to show.

n00dl3 · Post by **n00dl3** » Sun Oct 08, 2006 4:50 pm

stripe,

it is a good idea and thought. But it could takes you awhile to get a spawn, if you could get someone to rent you a female. Therefore, you'll potentially lose more money and headache than just buy a female of your own. Female zebra are very prized because of their potential to spawn for the owner.

I could see people are willing to rent out rent a male as a STUD but not female.

I think you'll have a better luck with investing into 2 young juveniles and hope you'll get at least one or both female out of them. Or if you don't want to go that way, just try to buy a female from someone.

good luck

stripeythingy · Post by **stripeythingy** » Sun Oct 08, 2006 9:21 pm

Unfortunately mature confirmed females are very hard to come by, even if you do have your own mature female they still might not spawn. If you rent a female you could give them a go for say 5 months, no joy rent another one you never know.

On the financial side of things if you do get a spawn you would probably recoup your outlay and more.

This method would distribute the gene pool aswell.

stripeythingy · Post by **stripeythingy** » Sun Oct 08, 2006 9:33 pm

John wrote:Looking for a zeb escort for your male

Serious, did you consider it might take 2 years to get a spawn even if you have several males and females?
Better buy your own (young) female, otherwise you might ending up spending a lot of money and no fry to show.

Would not rent 1 female for 2 years, give max 5 months no joy try new female.Also hard to find females.

I think this is a serious way to breed these fish, financial benefits it is hard to find £200+ in one go, £5 a week not so bad.

Benefits for the person renting nice income stream for unwanted female,possibility of fry at cheap price.

A certain degree of trust would be needed, but the renter could demand deposit of the market value of the fish returnable when the fish is returned. Any thoughts anybody willing to participate in a trial.

ExoticStripes · Post by **ExoticStripes** » Sun Oct 08, 2006 10:09 pm

What would happen if the female died while you where renting it?

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Sun Oct 08, 2006 10:53 pm

stripeythingy wrote:nice income stream for unwanted female

I don't think you're gonna find someone with an "unwanted female". At least, not an unwanted female Zebra pleco.

Lifted193 · Post by **Lifted193** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 12:40 am

Like ExoticStripes posted what would happen if the female was harmed or died?

eklikewhoa · Post by **eklikewhoa** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 5:34 pm

i think it would be much easier finding a person selling juvis then trying to find adults moreless finding someone to rent you a good producing female.

too many problems can occur with the situation.

madmoroccan · Post by **madmoroccan** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 5:55 pm

I have to say that this is a very clever idea.

The benefits are equal to the negatives.

But what sticks out is the ability to source a real female and somebody who is willing to rent in your area. Both unlikely.

One other negative is how can you be so sure that you will get a spawn?

And if you're willing to pay a deposit to the value of the fish then why not just buy a female?

Seems a bit long winded IMO.

Nice idea though.

Plastic Mac · Post by **Plastic Mac** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 8:42 pm

An interesting proposition, but one frought with potential problems.

Apart from anything else anyone else has said. What happens if all goes to plan and you do get a spawn?
Perhaps the owner then decides since she's now breeding he or she wants them back...and you've invested 2 years or more and only have one spawn before have to return her.
What if the owner decides you can still rent her but now wants £200 a month instead?

Imo, it would be much easier, for yourself, if you just bought as many as you're willing to invest into it...that way your pretty much guaranteed to have yourself a female in there somewhere.

Plastic Mac

McEve · Post by **McEve** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 8:49 pm

I was about to lend a couple of females a year back or so (there is a thread about it somewhere in the archives) but chickened out, just for the reason mentioned. How do you stay friends if the fish die?

stripeythingy · Post by **stripeythingy** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 9:02 pm

madmoroccan wrote:I have to say that this is a very clever idea.

The benefits are equal to the negatives.

But what sticks out is the ability to source a real female and somebody who is willing to rent in your area. Both unlikely.

One other negative is how can you be so sure that you will get a spawn?
And if you're willing to pay a deposit to the value of the fish then why not just buy a female? Seems a bit long winded IMO.

Nice idea though.

I think the ability to source a female is more likely than you think,especially if the owners are getting impatient with no spawns.

You cannot be sure you will get a spawn from a mature Zeb purchased from your LFS.

If you purchase a mature female zeb and you get no spawns after a couple of years, you would either persevere with this fish or sell it and purchase another female. Which is just as long winded.

McEve · Post by **McEve** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 10:30 pm

And... important to remember. In a group with an established hierarchy there will be some fish that wont participate in the breeding activity.

But take away a fish or ttwo, and things will change. So the rent-a-lady is a good idea, and could work very well, but I think it wil generate some anomysity (is that the right word?) as well if things go wrong.

Make sure to have a written agreement of all possible cases before you venture out on a deal like this would be my advice..

eklikewhoa · Post by **eklikewhoa** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 10:52 pm

animosity