Starting a Fish Shop

Summary: Fish is one of the most popular hobbies in the world. A tank or pond filled with colorful fishes is always a conversation piece be it at home, office or shops and malls. What with huge number of fish species to choose from, any fish tank or pond owner can take delight just by choosing what fish to take home and care for. Taking care of fishes, aquariums and ponds is not as complicated as other pet hobbies. This makes fish shop a good business anywhere in the globe.

However, as with any other trade, it is important that the entrepreneur entering into this kind of industry do not only have knowledge on the area but a genuine interest is beneficial in successfully running this kind of business. If you are into fishes, be it fresh water or salt water, establishing a fish shop business may just be for you.

Types of fishes

Before you start your fish shop business, it is important to figure out first what kind of fishes and fish aquarium and pond accessories are you going to focus on. Is it going to be for fresh water fishes or for saltwater fishes?

Salt water fishes, like its name suggest, are fishes that live in the sea like clown fish, angel fish, cardinals, etc. They are more expensive to buy and take care of than that of the fresh water type. Caring for these fishes require that the tank or aquarium that closely mirrors the water environment of their sea home. However, specialty shops have been breeding salt water fishes for some time now and fishes that are breed are mostly more tolerant to makeshift habitat.

Fresh water fishes are those that naturally live in the river or lake such as gold fish, koi, catfish, etc. These are more tolerant than salt water fishes and they are easier to take care of either in an aquarium or in a pond. Fresh water fishes may be a good place to start for an entrepreneur just entering into this kind of business.

Other item to sell

Aside from fishes, there are a lot of accessories that fish shop owners should make sure available in their shop. Especially those items needed for a start-up aquarium.

Some of the important ones are:
• aquariums and stand
• filtration equipment
• Heating, lighting and hoods
• Tank and pond decors
• Books on aquariums, pond and fishes
• Fish food
• Water conditioner
• Test kit: ammonia, nitrate, pH
• Fish net

Notes:

People interested to start an aquarium but do not have any idea where to start or those already into this hobby for quite sometime already, will go to your store to look, shop, meet others with the same interest or just talk to the shop owner for updates on the latest on fishes. Be sure to update yourself always as you would not want to disappoint your customers.

1. Emeghi esther (6/13/2008)

Please can you send me an email of the cost implication of fish pond business...

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