So I got this message sent privately today, and as you'll learn (if you don't already know) is that typically, if the topic is one that other people can benefit from, I prefer to deal with it in a public arena.  Of course, I have asked permission to publicly post this question from the individual first, and have withheld the personal identity of the questioner.  So, please, if you have questions, ask them publicly unless they are truly of a personal / confidential nature ;)

Hello,

I have been trying to find a good answer to this question and was hoping you may be able to help. I have been breeding Bangaii's and was wondering how big they have to be to transfer/sell? I am on reefcentral, and Cmas and cannot seem to find a solid answer. Any help you can offer would be appreciated, or if you can point me in a proper direction.

Great article by the way!

Thank you

There are different answers as you kindof asked multiple questions.

#1.  Transfer Size - Banggais, so long as they are geting a HUFA rich diet, can be moved from tank to tank pretty much at any point.  Of course, older babies will likely be more robust than younger ones.  I.e. I wouldn't personally think shipping week old baby Banggais would be a good idea.

#2.  Ready for sale - When a Banggai is saleable is an open ended kind of thing.  It's about the size your customers WANT, as well as the condition of the fish.  Younger fish are better for you because you'll spend less time rearing them.  They're better for the shop, because they'll still school and won't be pairing off and trying to kill each other.  But in my own experience, even at 100 days post hatch, they start to have some aggressive tendencies, and they may not yet be ready for sale even.  As far as actual size, I'd not suggest selling anything that's smaller that a dime-body size (so the size of the body, excluding the fins, is at least the size of a US dime).  Some people may not want them until they're subadults or even adults (i.e. quarter-sized bodies), whereas others may want them smaller.  Obviously, older fish (i.e. nickle or quarter sized) that are fully trained onto dead / frozen foods are going to be better fish in a shop because they will be able to withstand the relative abuse given to fish in a typical shop (i.e. the once a day feedings, and the general stress of being in a tank for sale vs. in a reef in someone's home).

As you can see, it's not like there's any magic numbers to go by.  I sell my Onyx Perc babies as young as 15 days on up to subadults.  Different customers buy different ages, sizes and quantities and pay different prices accordingly.  So perhaps the best answer is to find out what your potential customers want, and then make sure you can deliver :)

Good luck!

FWIW,

Matt