Tank maintenance?
30 June 2010
5 Comments
Do you think there is a market for someone to do tank maintenace? IE Would you pay someone to come and clean your fish tank for you? Weekly, monthly whatever? If you would how much would you pay? How much experience with fish would you want them to have? Would you also expect them to treat sick fish etc.? Any feedback is greatly appreciated!!
This question has been asked so many times. There are comanies, mostly fish stores that do this mostly for business. The other people who pay are too busy at work to do their own maintenance. salt tanks and tanks over 100 gallon are the main target.
Even down to "renting" the tank and the fish. The small fish shop that I deal with most charges a Dr. office $200 per month to maintain a 400 gallon salt tank in his office. The trade off is they get to advertise. The come in and clean once per month. They are in charge of what is in the tank and what can be in the tank.
They also maintain a large tank at a Realestate office, fresh water all native fish. That is $100 per week. They have a total of 42 customers with different rates and agreenments.
If I was to trust someone to clean my tanks I would need to know they know as much or more than I do with at least 10 years of experience at a commercial facility.
As far as treating sick fish, if I paid someone to set up and maintain my tank, yes I would expect them to treat sick fish, I would assume they know what would be wrong and the best course of action. Also you would need a good store to help you since perhaps a client would want to get certain fish. They might assume you are a supplier and ask you to get it. Just remember, contracts must state YOU are or arenot responsible for dead fish.
Remember this would be a "service" industry. You will still need to register with the state and local twp. as a business or classify yourself as a "handyman" type. Either way each state has regulations. Check with your local Chamber of Commerce first.
Keep good records. There is a lot to think about from tank design, set up, lighting and fish.
Good luck with your new endevor.
i’ve known a few people do this, their primary market are tanks in commercial settings (that they have placed) or very large tanks owned by wealthy private owners (in that case it included a tank in a dentists waiting room and a 6ftx3ftx2ft privately-owned pangasius catfish tank) .
you’re not going to get people with small hobby tanks asking for help, i only trust my other half to feed my fish after he’s been extensively trained on how to do so, it’s going to be people with big show tanks, a lot of marine systems, and commerical tanks in stores and care homes. although placed tanks in commercial settings often come with care provided by the companies that placed them, it may be worth looking down that route rather than going it alone.
experience is a must though! as well as professionalism. a good few years of keeping complex tanks under your belt before anyone would really trust another to look after their precious beasts. i don’t really trust myself with any other tanks other than my own, and my brothers tanks. i have advised and helped an ex-colleague with a goldfish tank though, done a few water changes for her, all unpaid through the kindness of my own heart – and bribed with few glasses of wine.
I would not like anyone else to clean my tank! It’s my tank and I add the things I know I need (water conditioner, ect.), this person may not.
What if the water they put in is the wrong temperature?
This person would have to get everything perfect. I would probably like it if they had a form to fill out like this:
1. What percent of water do you want me to change?
2. What temperature of water should I put in?
3. What should I add to the water?
4. Should I wash any plants?
5. When should I come back? (example; every Thursday.)
They should keep that on file and then ask me next time if I want the same treatment for the tank.
I would probably pay about $10 per 10% water change. So a 30% water change would cost $30.
I would want the person to have at least 2 years experience with fish of my type, saltwater vs. freshwater.
I would not expect them to treat sick fish, as they may treat in a way that does not work for me, or the fish may die under their care. That would make me sooooooooo sad!
I doubt that there is a "market" for tank care. There may be a few people doing it scattered around, but not market.
Bye!
Yes there is a market and I think it is growing. Lots of businesses have someone come in to take care of their aquariums. How much experience needed for that, I don’t know. I’d say at least five years?
As people become busier and busier I think they would want someone to help clean their tanks. With the economy the way it is though I don’t think now is a good time. The wealthier people with larger tanks yes, but average people like me…no. I know I seem to getting really busy and I am having troubles finding time cleaning tanks etc. So I think there is a growing market for a service like that in a regular household. Something to look into.
You could also do feedings while people are away on vacation. Expend your service to feeding other animals, getting the mail and other household things people would need while away.
I would not want anybody but me to clean my own tank
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