Asian Farmed Zebras
Posted: Fri Oct 01, 2010 3:42 pm
After hearing rumors about massive breeding projects in Asia that would flood the market with cheap zebras, I finally got what I consider a reliable report on this. A breeder and fish store owner I know from another site recently went to his wholesaler to see zebras which had been bred in Asia (Indonesia I believe). Here is what I was told:
1. They are working with 100 pairs.
2. They are using hormones to induce breeding.
3. The fish for sale by the wholesaler were about 1.25 inches.
3. The price per fish was $175 from the wholesaler.
I have since seen a few posts on various sites saying lfs were taking orders for zebras or had them for sale. This all leads me to believe that the above is likely true. I have been selling fish that size and larger for a number of years for a much lower price. Most of the other hobby breeders I know would say the same thing regarding the size and price of their fry.
Because one can readily find wc illegal fish at 2-3 inches for $150 or domestically bred smaller fish for less, I would maintain what I have said for several years now since the Asian stories first surfaced. It is not possible to breed and sell zebras commercially and to do so cheaply and without having to use hormones which, imo, makes a fish an undesirable one to get.
1. They are working with 100 pairs.
2. They are using hormones to induce breeding.
3. The fish for sale by the wholesaler were about 1.25 inches.
3. The price per fish was $175 from the wholesaler.
I have since seen a few posts on various sites saying lfs were taking orders for zebras or had them for sale. This all leads me to believe that the above is likely true. I have been selling fish that size and larger for a number of years for a much lower price. Most of the other hobby breeders I know would say the same thing regarding the size and price of their fry.
Because one can readily find wc illegal fish at 2-3 inches for $150 or domestically bred smaller fish for less, I would maintain what I have said for several years now since the Asian stories first surfaced. It is not possible to breed and sell zebras commercially and to do so cheaply and without having to use hormones which, imo, makes a fish an undesirable one to get.