This ensures production of top quality fingerlings that keep production levels rising. Selection Mature fish within three months of spawning are selected for brood fish. When starting an operation, don't wait for fingerlings to reach spawning size. This takes three to four years. The cheapest and most reliable source of brood fish is large food fish purchased from producers.
Hatcheries are often reluctant to sell to potential competitors.
If hatcheries offer brood fish for sale, they are usually overpriced, and they may be culling their stock. So be cautious when purchasing. Avoid fish recently taken from the wild. These fish are unreliable spawners. They serve as carriers for parasites and have little resistance to disease.