Exotic Fish Now Available Right in Sussex County

From all over the world in Fiji, Hawaii, and other locations, exotic fish are now available to buy right in Sparta.

That is what Fin City Aquatics and Pet Center owner Tom Eckert says is most unique about his pet store store and why he saw the need to bring one to Sussex County.

"I was traveling all over the state to try to find good quality fish. There's really no places up here that have it," he said.

Eckert, of Hamburg, who had the grand opening of his pet store on Saturday, has been into buying fish for several years. He said it would take him all day to find the fish he wanted, and because there were no nearby locations that sold them, he would have to travel to Clifton, Plainfield, or New York City.

But now with the opening of Fin City Aquatics and Pet Center located on 37 Woodport Road, residents can get them right in Sussex County.

In just a trip to Newark Airport, Eckert picks up his fish–ranging from clown fish, to anemones, damsels, corals and starfish–that fly on Southest Airlines from around the world. The price he sells each type of fish for depends on the size and how rare it is.

During Saturday's grand opening, Eckert said he saw a large turnout, with more than 300 people coming in all day from the opening at 9 a.m. to close at 8:30 p.m.

Families, teachers, and nearby residents all came out to check out the fish and everything else offered at the pet center.

Carryn Correale, a friend of Eckert's who was at the grand opening and helped open the store, said a lot of people who came in on Saturday gave positive feedback.

"A lot of people in the area want to support small businesses and they don't want to travel far," she said. "It's convenient; people live right here."

The store is the only one in the area that sells such a wide variety of fish. The only other pet store in Sparta is Sparta Pet Shoppe & Spa on Sparta Avenue, which offers accessories, food and grooming, but does not sell animals.

Fin City Aquatics and Pet Center, which sells over 500 fish in both saltwater and freshwater, also sells pet food for dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters and other small animals.

Dog and cat accessories, including beds, leashes, and toys, are also available. Owners can even treat their pets to pupcake, a gourmet snack from a bakery in Boonton.

Eventually Eckert says he wants to bring in puppies and kittens into the store, but the next thing he has planned is to bring in hermit crabs.

To learn more about the pet store, visit its Facebook page.