Backyard aquaculture
Catch your own, raise your own. If you already love fish, the natural next step is growing them yourself - food fish for the table, crayfish and prawns for the pot, shrimp for live bait, and koi just for the joy of it, all in a tank, an IBC tote, a pond or an aquaponics system. Pick a species to see what it gives you, the space, water and effort it takes, and how to raise it.
Food Fish
Grow-out species for the table and freezer - from forgiving tilapia to premium trout.
Beginner Tilapia
Beginner Channel Catfish
Intermediate Rainbow Trout
Beginner Common Carp
Intermediate Largemouth Bass
Beginner Bluegill
Intermediate Yellow Perch
Advanced Hybrid Striped Bass
Intermediate Brook Trout
Intermediate Brown Trout
Beginner Tench
Intermediate Black Crappie
Intermediate Barramundi
Advanced Murray Cod
Beginner Jade Perch
Beginner Silver Perch
Beginner African Catfish
Intermediate Pangasius (Basa)
Intermediate Pacu
Intermediate Arctic Char
Advanced Atlantic Salmon
Intermediate Gilthead Bream
Intermediate European Seabass
Beginner Milkfish
Advanced Cobia
Advanced White Sturgeon
Advanced Coho Salmon
Beginner Rohu
Beginner Catla
Beginner Giant Gourami
Beginner Climbing Perch
Crayfish & Prawns
Freshwater crustaceans you can raise in a tank or pond for the table.
Shrimp & Snails
Small tank species for live bait, algae cleanup, and easy breeding to sell or trade.
Beginner Cherry Shrimp
Beginner Ghost Shrimp
Intermediate Amano Shrimp
Beginner Mystery Snail
Beginner Ramshorn Snail
Beginner Nerite Snail
Advanced Freshwater Mussel
Intermediate Bamboo Shrimp
Beginner Neocaridina Shrimp
Advanced Crystal Shrimp
Beginner Assassin Snail
Beginner Malaysian Trumpet Snail
Advanced Sulawesi Shrimp
Beginner Rabbit Snail
Beginner Japanese Trapdoor Snail
Beginner Pond Snail
Intermediate Tiger Shrimp (Caridina)
Beginner Black Devil Snail
Beginner Blue Dream Shrimp
Advanced Blue Bolt Shrimp
Beginner Snowball Shrimp
Intermediate Vampire Shrimp
Advanced Cardinal Sulawesi Shrimp
Intermediate Thai Micro Crab
Beginner Columbian Ramshorn Snail
Beginner White Wizard Snail
Beginner Horned Nerite Snail
Intermediate Devil Spike Snail (Faunus ater)
Ornamental & Pond
Koi, goldfish and breeders - raise fish for the hobby, the pond, and the fun of it.
Intermediate Koi
Beginner Goldfish
Beginner Guppy
Intermediate Betta
Beginner Platy
Beginner Molly
Intermediate Freshwater Angelfish
Advanced Discus
Beginner Dwarf Gourami
Beginner Corydoras Catfish
Beginner Bristlenose Pleco
Beginner Zebra Danio
Beginner Harlequin Rasbora
Intermediate German Blue Ram
Beginner Neon Tetra
Beginner Cardinal Tetra
Beginner Swordtail
Beginner Kribensis
Beginner Pearl Gourami
Intermediate Oscar
Beginner Kuhli Loach
Beginner Tiger Barb
Beginner Rosy Barb
Intermediate Rummy-Nose Tetra
Beginner Honey Gourami
Beginner Endler's Livebearer
Beginner White Cloud Mountain Minnow
Intermediate Boeseman's Rainbowfish
Intermediate Congo Tetra
Beginner Cherry Barb
Beginner Gold Barb
Get the water right first
Almost every failure in home aquaculture comes down to water - too warm, too cold, too little oxygen, or too much waste. Before you stock a single fish, it is worth understanding tanks, ponds, filtration, aeration and water quality so your system carries the load.
Systems & water qualityExplore aquaculture
Calculators & helpers
Kit for raising fish
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