This next store to be featured carries in my mind the best in category award for Monster Fish Aquarium Store. Ray’s Tank in Northglen, specifically at 10667 Melody Dr Unit 15, Northglenn, CO 80234, is without a doubt the most focused and unusual LFS in Colorado. I say unusual because the fish they carry are just not available in other stores like they are here. They have large healthy specimens of eels, rays, arowana, catfish, and more. While they do carry a few “normal” aquarium fish like barbs and clownfish, most of what they carry are hard to find in other LFS I have visited. The other thing about this place is the way they are kept, in bare bottom tanks with simple box filters and lots of air. The store is bright and the fish easy to view. I get a vibrant feel here which makes them well worth a visit. When you plan your visit, the hours are 11-7 Monday – Saturday, Closed on Tuesdays, and Sunday open 11-6.
On the downside, Ray’s Tank does not have the fish a beginner or average aquarist would be looking for. I would say this store is for the more experienced and advanced fish keeper. Don’t go there if you are looking for aquarium plants or planning on starting a nano tank. This place is for the big boys! Even their goldfish are top notch (see the pics). While the store definitely deserves to be on the fish crawl list, it depends on your interests whether it is at the top or further down on that list. If you are concerned about prices, they are clearly marked on the tanks which can be seen in my photos below. While they may seem high to some, I think the prices are fair for what you get.
The thing I just love about Ray’s is their focus and commitment to a market. They are the best in what they do because they are not trying to serve every facet of the aquarium hobby. The store serves one sector and does it very well. I can think of a few other stores I have already featured which do the same and a few which do not.
Sequoia Elisabeth
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