Shame there’s nowhere like this in London
Indeed. When the Aquatic Design Central was just around the corner from Oxford Street it was full of well maintained planted tanks, beautiful inspiring display tanks and the livestock were in excellent condition, and unusual fish suitable for planted aquariums were in abundant supply, it was then an outstanding shop. And I spent a fair penny or two. When it first moved to SW12 it was still good, but unfortunately not outstanding. It had a super large planted tank and several other displays and a good range of fish, some modestly unusual, and all the plants were in good condition. I've been back several times and it has been less impressive each time, which is sad, in fact very sad, since last time there was only one planted display tank and lots of tanks had dead or dying fish and many of the plants were not in tip top condition. Many were brown and some of the pots that were on sale dead, like in large known all animals covered, universal store. It had still, many good plants amongst the brown and deteriorated but sadly only one display tank, which I think was showing Iron deficiency symptoms. And the classic plastic plants, dry and light, 'display' tanks were abundant. Seriously, a well known chain has specialised in that con for years, though I know there are still some excellent stores across the country under that umbrella. The staff a the ADC on my last visit, earlier this month, were keen to make a sale which I find a bit much, I prefer staff to engage with me about plants, fish, livestock and a bit of kit that might make life easier. For the first time in five visits since the move south of the river, I was unable to justify a purchase. Still had a good range of dry goods for planted tanks if someone in London needed such materials, but in the age of the internet a shop must do more.
Two shops I recommend, both in London, but only two: Birchwood Aquatics, a traditional shop in terms of plants, but good display tanks - though not a CO2 high tech aquascaper shop, it used to be a decade or two ago, and the very attractive freshwater planted tank is clearly maintained, not sustained, i.e. plants replaced - but oxygen in fish bags, double bagged and good healthy plants in stock and no dead or dying fish, and I have never left without a purchase and I've been in and out over about thirty years;
and a small store
Good plants when in stock, no real planted tank specialism, no display tank but really healthy fish and often a really excellent range of corydoras to rival Wholesale Aquatics in Bethnal Green in its heyday, and a knowledgeable and friendly owner, that is Abacus Aquatics, Sidcup. I certainly rarely visit - I don't live in London anymore - catfish I have bought many from this store, and my really black healthy mollies came originally from the store, though I am now on to the second generation, I would no longer have any, but thanks to floating plants enough fry survive to replace old fish. Tony will do you a deal if you are buying shoals of fish or a lot of equipment, and I am no relation and am completely without any financial interest in the store. But I recommend his small but interesting store.
It is a bit sad, that in a city of the size of London so few really good shops exist that I know about.
I can recommend some shops outside of London, beyond the plant specialists well known here, but London was mentioned.
I'm an Ulsterman but my wife has me in Berkshire, Newbury to be precise, but London is my 'adopted home' and I still love the city, and have a great fishkeeping friend in London and am tropical fish and plant hunting in London at least two or three times a year.
I do hope my little bit of experience helps one or two folks within the M25. I used to have an ex-colleague and friend who ran a tropical fish and tortoise rescue centre in London but that was, as some say 'a lifetime ago'.
