Backyard Entrepreneur^TM

Backyard Ichthyologist

There is a natural hootchy-kootchy motion to a goldfish. --  Walt Disney

Make money working from home as an entrepreneur building ponds, filled with fish and ducks, and decorated to the nth degree for backyards everywhere.  Make money eliminating those pesky mosquitoes. Become a Backyard Ichthyologist and create a career withbackyard fish.

Carefully research how you will care for the fish in your ponds in your big backyard.  Taking care of just a few will inspire you to study more fish.  There's much to know so you will need to get started.  Get comfortable in a chair near your pond and read some books about fish.  Draw them and photograph them.

What do fish eat and how will you feed them?  Will they survive in the winter? You will need to decide which kinds of fish you can put in the various size ponds that you have.  Make certain that your water keeps moving, is fresh, and that you understand the needs of your fish.  Just because they are under water doesn't mean "out of sight , out of mind". You need to care for them. 

Build Ponds

You are going to create a beautiful pond in your own backyard and fill it with pond fish. Dig it to a 30-inch depth.  This way the fish can find a cool spot in the summer and a warm spot in the winter.  Put it at least part of it (them) in the shade to cut down on the growth of algae. Once you know how to do it and can show your pond as an example of your work, you can build ponds for others.  Take pictures of your pond for your colorful brochure.  Check out this informational pond building site.

Sell Fish

You need some fish.  Make certain that they are pond fish.  A couple of gold fish, catfish, and plecostamos (to eat the algae) are a good start. Do some research and find what other fish would be good for your pond.  Some like koi.  Raise fish and sell them.  Join clubs, get credibility, and make connections.  Check out this Koi and Goldfish Club.

Install the Filter System

You must have a great filter system and keep the water moving.  Understand water chemistry.  Now that you have a pond, your fish are not dying, and you want to share your knowledge with others, hire yourself out to all of your neighbors.  Build ponds, set up the filter system, keep the water chemisty just right.  You could be kept busy full time cleaning and maintaining the ponds in your neighborhood.

Control the Mosquitoes

Provide your customers with methods to control these pesky little bugs.  There are automatic systems that puff some chemicals into the air.  There are bug lights and special candles to burn.  There are magnets and repellants of all kinds.  Develop your own line.

Raise Ducks to Sell 

Sometimes the fish hide.  You want to see something for all your time and investment.  Add some ducks to your fish pond.  Now you have more entertainment.  Twice the fun.  Once you have all the ducks you can handle, sell ducks to other pond owners. 

Decorate with Fish and Ducks

Once you have found your niche, go all out.  Create designs for homes using your love of fish and ducks.  Sell patterns,

Decorate the Pond

You can make and sell so many cute pond decorations:  use driftwood to make floating lights, use stones, plants, ceramic statures, and floating toys.  See our page, Swamp Keeper for more ideas.  That page has information about creating a backyard wetland with frogs, turtles, and pond plants.

Become a Certified Aquascape Contractor 

Expand your business.  Give speeches, give advice, become an expert consultant. No need to waste all that knowledge.  Share what you know.  Become certified in this exciting field.

Become an Aquarist

Once you really understand pond fish, expand your knowledge base to acquarium fish.  Design, clean, and maintain acquariums for homes, offices, resturants, and businesses.  Approach all of them.  If they do not have one, offer your services to design and build.  Many would like to have an aquarium, but do not know how to care for the fish.  Acquariums are becoming as common as furniture and are incorporated into furniture designs. Carve a niche for yourself here.

Sell Aquaponic Kits

There is a natural relationship between fish and plants that is beneficial to fish and plants. Hydroponics is the growing of plants in water without soil.  Combine this with fish and bacteria and you have an aquaponic habitat system.  The bacteria breaks down the fish waste into nitrates for the plants. Research how to set up the aquarium with the plants.  Find out what plants work well.  How, what, and how much do you feed the fish.  What kind of fish work best.  Experiment at home.  Make certain that you have a workable product to sell.  Then, go for it.  Desk top version or a much larger operation.  This is a really neat operation.  Check out this website to see how it is done.

Here's to finding a plenty of pond profits.       

© Backyard Entrepreneur^TM 2007

Link to us. Contact us if you wish to have your site listed here as a resource in Ichthyology, ponds, or any related areas.

Here are some resources to help you get started:

Links

Books  -- Build Ponds

Books -- Fish

Clip Art for your Newsletters

Free Clipart and Web Graphics
A huge collection of totally free clipart! No pop ups, trick links or registration required. Just high quality images!

Decorations

DVD

Equipment

Koi

Membership

Join an organization:  American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists

Pet Fish

Fish Inside and Out. Acquarium Fish

Pond Fish

Pond Plants

Resources and Information

Aquaponics:  Agriculture in Arizona

Learn to identify fish:  Florida Museum of Natural History

Visit a Museum:  Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

Take a quick course:  Odyssey Expeditions

List of resources: from University of California

Garden Pond Maintenance Guide
Garden pond guide covering all you need to know about building impressive water gardens with fountains and garden pond statues and about pond maintenance.

Supplies

Pond Supply from Natural Solutions Etc - Garden pond supply including certified organic Barley Straw Bundles for pond algae.

Tropical Fish

Tropical Fish World -- The Complete
Tropical Fish Guide. How to setup an Aquarium Tank. How to select a Fish
Tank. Fish Diseases. Guide to Fish Anatomy. Information on saltwater and
freshwater aquarium fish keeping.