Seems like online aquarium content have a pretty good hold in platforms like tik tok and youtube. I think that helps it spread to the younger generation. However, do you guys think the aquarium hobby is growing or getting smaller?
Do you guys think the aquarium hobby is growing or dying out?
- Thread starter PartyHacks
- Start date
The online platform seems to be growing but recently so many lfs have been going out of business that I’m starting to wonder.
A LFS near me shut down too. and the one i use to go to all the time that got me into this prices have gone up like 50% for fish because of covid and shipping and stuff. Its sad to see.
I think the Covid Pandemic may be affecting some fishkeepers because their lives have been affected. I ordered large pellets from Ken's Fish through Amazon that they said UPS was delivering the package. Well guess what no package and I'm going to have to make a decision soon maybe downsizing.
It's definitely declining and has been for some time. Very few stores holding on. Much more restrictions on collection and transport of animals. Animal rights groups. Very few reputable online sites left. Only a handful of forums left and most have more wannabe experts than actual fish keepers. I have a guy who has owned his store for decades and he says it's the worst he can ever remember. If it wasn't for the saltwater people he would probably be out of business right now. I used to go to fish stores weekly to look and purchase fish. Now I don't even look at the tanks i just grab food and go these days. I used to order online alot and I haven't done that since Jeff got out. I cut back on fish keeping myself and haven't purchased a fish in a couple of years. Most the people I used to deal with don't keep fish anymore. I know of a few who still take it seriously but not many at all.
economics 101
The decline of LFS began when online retailers flooded the market many years back, offering goods below what most brick & mortar stores could dream of. This has been ongoing for the past 20 yrs, LFS that learned to adapt have succeeded. Those that did not, have suffered the consequences. The entire hobby (like most other things) took a serious hit when covid started. Millions are in financial ruins, out of work, or barely scraping by. Not a great time for people to be spending money on hobbies such as fish keeping.
The decline of LFS began when online retailers flooded the market many years back, offering goods below what most brick & mortar stores could dream of. This has been ongoing for the past 20 yrs, LFS that learned to adapt have succeeded. Those that did not, have suffered the consequences. The entire hobby (like most other things) took a serious hit when covid started. Millions are in financial ruins, out of work, or barely scraping by. Not a great time for people to be spending money on hobbies such as fish keeping.
For sure, stores that deal primarily with the hobby are dying, simply because it's a niche hobby, and the past couple of years have made any small problems really big ones. But the ones I go to don't rely on just fish stuff to get by.
Out of the three I go to.......
One is a huge garden centre. The fish part is tiny.
Another one is a huge angling centre which has a fish and pet dept.
And another one I go to, though only for crickets and cat food, is a huge pet store.
The gardening, angling and pet industries are all huge in the UK so they have masses of customers, and of course a small number will be attracted to the hobby this way.
If these three stores relied solely on the aquarium part then they'd have gone bust years ago, and I'd have some serious travelling to do for supplies, or get all my stuff on line.
Out of the three I go to.......
One is a huge garden centre. The fish part is tiny.
Another one is a huge angling centre which has a fish and pet dept.
And another one I go to, though only for crickets and cat food, is a huge pet store.
The gardening, angling and pet industries are all huge in the UK so they have masses of customers, and of course a small number will be attracted to the hobby this way.
If these three stores relied solely on the aquarium part then they'd have gone bust years ago, and I'd have some serious travelling to do for supplies, or get all my stuff on line.
Well...
A pond shop I go to often for plants is going out of business along with a garden store next to it with lots of ponds and animals. However, platforms such as Youtube and TikTok have got young people into the hobby. I feel forums are growing and growing, which helps people stay in the hobby. On nextdoor (app) I see many people giving away goldfish and various tetras as if they are getting rid of their fish tanks. An LFS near me called Coral Cove is going out of business. Coral Cove is a strictly brackish and salt store, so not a big impact on me. If you pop over on fishforums.net you will notice the thousands of young fish keepers keeping mainly small community tanks. TBH, I don't know and can't answer your question.
A pond shop I go to often for plants is going out of business along with a garden store next to it with lots of ponds and animals. However, platforms such as Youtube and TikTok have got young people into the hobby. I feel forums are growing and growing, which helps people stay in the hobby. On nextdoor (app) I see many people giving away goldfish and various tetras as if they are getting rid of their fish tanks. An LFS near me called Coral Cove is going out of business. Coral Cove is a strictly brackish and salt store, so not a big impact on me. If you pop over on fishforums.net you will notice the thousands of young fish keepers keeping mainly small community tanks. TBH, I don't know and can't answer your question.
I agree with
RD.
That many lfs are going out of business, and online stores becoming more prevalent. My lfs was very close to shutting down recently because a Covid testing clinic was set up nextdoor and the people would line up across the front door. He ended up closing his shop and waited till the clinic had gone to reopen.
The only downside i find with online stores is the difference in water conditions between the holding facility and your tank.
RD.
That many lfs are going out of business, and online stores becoming more prevalent. My lfs was very close to shutting down recently because a Covid testing clinic was set up nextdoor and the people would line up across the front door. He ended up closing his shop and waited till the clinic had gone to reopen.The only downside i find with online stores is the difference in water conditions between the holding facility and your tank.
