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

11 ай бұрын

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

@araticum2

11 ай бұрын

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

@PondScummer

11 ай бұрын

@@araticum2 ok but not with all fish, and certainly not enough to sway every individual in a group to be one sex...

@michellebarnhill5130

11 ай бұрын

These fish breeders are subpar humans.

@kiraneko5582

11 ай бұрын

Yup indeed

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

11 ай бұрын

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

11 ай бұрын

@@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

11 ай бұрын

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

@CK-solutions

11 ай бұрын

@@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

11 ай бұрын

@@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.

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

11 ай бұрын

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

11 ай бұрын

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-rka_zykx76

11 ай бұрын

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

@zeb33369

11 ай бұрын

@@Jen.K 💯

@Autst

11 ай бұрын

@@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

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!

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

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.

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.

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

10 ай бұрын

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

8 ай бұрын

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

Ай бұрын

What you breed?

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.

i know people who have cracked the code of breeding pea puffers en masse and refuse to share the knowledge, then get bored of breeding them and move on to other things and that information gets lost. We really need to share more as australian fisheries keep cracking down on things that we may never be able to get in again and the animal gets lost forever from selling culls, too much inbreeding etc

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

11 ай бұрын

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

11 ай бұрын

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

11 ай бұрын

@@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

11 ай бұрын

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

@Pray4Mojo1

2 ай бұрын

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.

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

11 ай бұрын

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

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

11 ай бұрын

100% agree with you.

@voluntaryismistheanswer

11 ай бұрын

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

11 ай бұрын

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

11 ай бұрын

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

10 ай бұрын

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.

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 ❤

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.

@user-lq4ct6dr5m

10 ай бұрын

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

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.

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

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

11 ай бұрын

You said it.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

Ай бұрын

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

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

6 ай бұрын

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

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.

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.

As a person, who was recently swindled on (I had to go to the police, the seller hasn't sent me ricefish, just kept saying they're going to be sent in a few days - this situation continued for over 3 months), I agree. I've bought few times from sellers, that buy themselves from a wholesaler, who do not know a bit about fish. Since I live far away from any fish store, the only option I have is to buy via internet. At first I thought that the only fish sellers were either hobbysts or pet shops. Now I know it's actually quite hard to find someone who's not a wholesale-buying dealer. As I sold my endlers through internet myself, I have encountered some buyers, who expressed exactly the same concerns. This branch is quite dirty, I must say.

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.

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

11 ай бұрын

Ive been having a problem finding male plecos

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.

In 2008 i spent $16 000 to buy out a fishroom in Adelaide. I received over 100 male adult L numbers and got 4 girls. Will never forget that feeling of being ripped off so badly.

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.

@jaylonmarikar6829

11 ай бұрын

Oh ya they love to do this over hear

@toriamousseau

11 ай бұрын

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

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........

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.

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. 🐟🐠🐡

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.

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

11 ай бұрын

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

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.

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

5 ай бұрын

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.

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

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 🙂

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

Finally, someone with a voice is standing up against these issues! I've been scammed and taken for many times, and it's disheartening and really ruins the experience of owning and trying to breed fish, especially as a kid. Lots and lots of money wasted on one sex and it's always the males. I get the whole keeping females to breed more fish, but most the time, depending on the type of fish, the female and male pair and won't usually go to other males and females to breed. Thanks Nick! Hopefully, those who need to see this video and comments see them and change the way they do business.

Keeping it real Nick, I am very new to this hobby and of all the youtube channels out there on fish keeping, i always come back to yours, your enthusiasm and expertise are second to none, well done mate, you deserve all the credit for being upstanding and wanting to maintain etiquette within fish keeping.

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.

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"...

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

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

11 ай бұрын

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.

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.

In reference to your plant analogy, it DOES happen. There are people who are selling single leaf cuttings for HUNDREDS of USD! I saw one that made me physically sick, a single leaf of a philodendron for $500!! Gate keeping is real and unfortunately happens in almost ANY hobby, plants, fish, etc.

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.

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

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!

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.

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.

KFS, thanks for your vids. I have watched a few of them and I believe that you are really a kind and interesting person who is enthusiastic about the fish hobby. Please keep up your work for us to see and hear, because this hobby teaches something important about the environment and biology.

The "only males" thing has happened to me so many times (even with easy to sex fish like Mollies!) that I stopped buying online. I even had someone in store tell me whiptail cats were schooling fish and you needed at least 6! The greed and gatekeeping is out of control, I only have 10 breeding tanks, I try to breed enough fish to pay for fish food and maybe some more upmarket fish. keep up the good work Nick.

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.

As the old adage says:..."do unto others as you would have done to you." I learned that in kindergarten. Good parenting thing. It speaks to ones own ethics, which if not taught to someone somehow, somewhere, it's usually not there.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

8 ай бұрын

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

5 ай бұрын

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

5 ай бұрын

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

@archonthaaproducer

5 ай бұрын

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

@Tugela60

5 ай бұрын

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

Bottom line is contribute to the hobby and keep things sustainable

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

6 ай бұрын

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

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.

I agree, as someone who has just recently entered the hobby, this thing that sellers do makes it harder to start, which may be the reason that they do it. I spent my life looking forward to being able to have a fish tank (I wasn't allowed to have one) where I could manage a mini ecosystem and watch fish grow because it is something that I find fascinating. When I finally got the opportunity, I was heavily disappointed. I still feel a little frustrated when I think back, and I feel like something should be done. Like you said in the beginning, there should be an etiquette.

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.

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 ..

Here in the USA. Usually fish are sold by pairs or trios. For example rams you can get 1 male 2 females. Or guppies same thing. Sometimes you pay a little more but it’s worth it because you know exactly what you get. So perhaps when buying ask for like 10 males and 10 females. That’s a way you can prevent being scammed.

Had this happen to me not too long ago. I arranged with a guy 3 hours away to bring me 20 endlers and when he arrived he only brought me males because he "didn't have enough females to sell them."

Awesome video, when we buy our breeding stock we do a tonne of research on the breeder. Whether that be their Facebook page, Instagram, KZread 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.

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 🎉

Great video, it would be nice if there was a central list of breeders with ratings. This way people could know before they face the disappointment. You keep doing you, love your videos and am wishing you the best from the USA. If I ever get to go to Australia I'd love to check out your store in person and meet you. Take care of yourself and keep your chin up.

This has been going on forever as a kid remember buying a pair of fancy guppies and lovingly raising the fry only to have them turn out to be common guppies. As a store owner I had a supplier try pass off the cut off top of a pineapple as an aquatic plant not to many other completely terrestrial plants as aquatic. Some just want to take one shot at you and run with the money.🐟🐟

I couldn't agree with you more on this topic. I am from south africa and it happens here, you would think a petshop would breed to keep it available. Every hobbyists wants try and breed , it raises there skills and takes things to the next level. You and the group of people you make videos about inspire pepole and are all passionate about what you do.

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!

Most breeders are in it for the money. not for passion. That's where the difference lies and the root to such problems. Love your vids Nick. Be yourself.

I fully agree and good job calling it out but unfortunately its like asking a career criminal not to steel. Same kind of scams happen in other hobbies like dog and bird trade. Even coin collection has its similar kind of issues 😕

That's a very fair statement. I would make it clear that I want a mix of males and females, this helps to get rid of the opportunities who wants to take advantage of the transition. Best of luck 👍

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

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!

Love this kid! You keep influencing the world Nick! You give me hope for the future, thank you!

I truly appreciate this upload 🙌when you see something say something. This is how we make a change. Raising awareness is everything!👋Hello from Chicago Illinois

For me such a big part of the hobby is seeing new fry in the tank. I get such a kick out of seeing fry in the tank, it tells me that the adult fish are happy and the next generation of fish have started.