The Age of
Pet Care
From an inexpensive goldfish in a bowl to a $1 million 5,000-gallon tank with rare fish, aquariums are mesmerizing to watch. The sound of water is comforting, and the slow movement of the fish can help calm active minds. “Aquariums are also spectacular decoration,” says Ben Carlin, operations manager of Carlin Aquarium Systems. “In fact,” he adds, “some clients have quit watching as much television and spend their time instead taking in their aquariums.” Carlin calls aquariums the “ultimate tinkerer’s hobby because it is limitless in terms of what you can do with your personal system.” There is always some way to be interacting with it. With the internet, aquariums as hobbies have proliferated as serious hobbyists see and want what others have. “It’s like fashion,” states Carlin. “Things come in and out of style.” 26
NRV MAGAZINE
He maintains an elaborate saltwater aquarium and is a fan of coral, which can even come with a certificate of authenticity to raise its value. Carlin Aquarium Systems is a Roanoke-based aquarium design, installation and service company with clients in Roanoke and surrounding regions, including the New River Valley. The business evolved from a retail store to a commercial model. Sean Raines is senior director of marketing for Aquatics for Spectrum Brands – Global Pet Care, which manufactures some Tetra aquarium products in Blacksburg’s industrial park. Raines calls aquariums: “Where pet meets hobby.” He concurs with Carlin on aquariums’ peacefulness and adds that companionship, just having life in the house, is another reason people buy aquariums. There has been a recent bump
Jul y/August
in sales and interest in the hobby, according to Raines, as people use soothing aquariums to escape the pandemic or have a virtual vacation with a tropical theme in their homes. “More fish are finding new homes now.” Fish are popular family pets because of the educational opportunity. Fish can teach children responsibility and how to care for another living thing. Families also use fish to teach science or geography. “Fish,” Raines notes, “are especially appropriate for families with allergies or asthma since they have no dander. The demographic for aquariums used to skew older, but now is young families, Generation Z (born 19952015), and Millennials (born 1981-1995). Those groups enjoy experiences and enrichment versus buying things.” To get started with an aquarium, Carlin says 90% of people visit a big box store like PetSmart or PetCo
2020
