The Pet Industry Plays an Important Role in Inspiring Young Aquarium Hobbyists

From an early age, my fascination with the aquatic world guided me to becoming an aquarium hobbyist and enjoying a lifelong career in the aquarium industry. What started as modest foray into aquarium ownership rapidly became an obsession. As I’ve learned over the years, my personal experience is a common one for others in the aquarium industry. 

However, in 2025, interest in the aquarium hobby has waned. I firmly believe this is mainly due to the competition for people’s attention, which is now almost 100 percent delivered through a digital device. Having spent 40-plus years in the pet industry, I have never seen it be more difficult to attract interest in aquarium stores as it is today. Most of the aquarium shops that I enjoyed as a young 10-year-old are all but gone. 

Stimulating interest is always going to be best delivered through the tangible experience at a Local Fish Store (LFS) that many of us had in our childhood. 

Exposure to the joys of aquarium keeping is critical, but what is just as important is the experience that one has after getting and setting up the first aquarium. This is especially the case in today’s fast-paced world. If it’s a complicated process, one that is labor intensive or expensive, then the beginning might not ever happen or – just as bad – the end will come far sooner than is expected or desired.  

That is the very reason that I have long advocated for “keeping it simple and stupid” – also known as KISS. If the excitement grows and the investment in the hobby expands, then the industry has been served well, and I have done my job. Rapid failure or a process that is too complicated to start the hobby is the Achilles heel of the aquarium industry. 

It’s through my experiences as an adolescent and hobbyist that has carried me to the next level of owning and operating an aquarium service business and retail store. As an eager young entrepreneur, I saw opportunities and knew that wanted to scale the business of aquariums. I knew nothing was possible without the help of others through staffing and a business model that we could successfully deliver on, as promised.  

My goal was simple. Keep it simple as I learned early on that complicated is impossible to scale. My commitment to the path of least resistance in growing the business has often been met with scrutiny by my industry peers as it wasn’t the naturally beautiful, planted aquarium or mesmerizing live reef. I love them both, but my decision was based on what I thought would carve a path of prosperity – and not just for my company but the industry as whole. After all, my most important obligation is that of running a business.  

As we enter the second half of 2025, everything in life appears to have become more difficult and further complicated by just about everything. From staffing to overhead, utilities, marketing and so much more, what would seem reasonable as a proforma business plan a few years ago has all but been blown up in 2025. It’s not just the aquarium industry, but it’s affecting just about every industry out there. Small businesses across America are fighting battles; sadly, most of them are not being won.  

Despite the present-day challenges, the members of The Fish Gallery team are not deterred. Our deep desire continues to be to expand the brand well beyond the current four stores. Our belief is driven by our past success that there is a massive opportunity to bring the joys of aquarium ownership to households across the country.  

Furthermore, we strongly believe that the aquatic hobby – from keeping saltwater or freshwater fish to shrimp or a planted tank – is critical to the mental wellness of people of all ages. Every aquarium will bring much more joy and happiness than what’s typically delivered through a digital device, be it a laptop or smart phone. The connection to the natural world and aquarium hobby is real.  

Roger DeGregori, a Pisces and avid lover of everything aquatic, was introduced to aquarium keeping when he was 8 years old. He is now the president of The Fish Gallery, a Houston-based leader in custom-aquarium installations as well as a regional chain of four aquarium stores and design centers.