About Us
One of the most unique freshwater aquarium stores you will ever encounter!
Dedication to Excellence
Recognized
Certified
Commited
Our story
Blending a hobbyist passion and an entrepreneurial dream does not always come to fruition, though that is exactly where this story begins. A young man in pursuit of obtaining the most unique and healthy specimens of tropical fish was a culmination of a history of raising and keeping fish in his parent’s basement. Having journeyed repeatedly to Malaysia, Singapore, Lake Malawi, and the tropics of the Amazon River, our founder grew his knowledge and craft. He decided to pass that love of aquatic life into the public venue, where he witnessed there was an appreciation and desire for tropical fish. Believing in the power of the local small business, a retail store was born in Portland, Oregon. Dubbed the Wet Spot Tropical Fish, the name pays homage to the reality that occurs when working with over 400 tanks—things are bound to get a little wet! Twenty-two years later, we continue to stay true to our roots of not sacrificing quality for quantity, while providing the aquatic-loving community with the most unique, healthy, and varied assortment of freshwater fish.
Our passion
Our dedication and specialization in freshwater aquaria has resulted in an unparalleled selection of fish, both popular and exotic, that one would be hard pressed to find anywhere else. Our passion has culminated in being the largest freshwater aquarium store in the nation. Often, we get visitors who have traveled a great distance to shop at our store, but don’t worry, we also ship anywhere in the United States.
While there are a variety of features that set The Wet Spot apart from other aquatic stores, one major difference is the selection, quality, and health of our fish. These three important factors in our fish livestock are provided to the public because we don’t transship fish. When fish are shipped from around the world they generally arrive in pretty bad health – malnourished, stressed, and prone to sickness. That is why we do not bring them directly into our store. We have a separate holding facility where they are kept until they have recovered from the strain of their journey and are healthy. Another thing we do differently is that all of our tanks are individually filtered, NOT run off of one central filtration system. This allows us to control the health of each separate tank and limits the spread of disease. These are just a few things which elevate The Wet Spot to another level.
Our store
We have some of the most unique fish you will ever encounter. Let our numerous beautiful display tanks inspire you while our fish entertain the whole family! Relax in our showroom while viewing some rare and graceful Altum Angelfish. Watch large clown loaches school through a driftwood maze in our Borneo tank. Don’t forget to check out our adopted Goldfish tank that includes a variety of fish that have come from many homes and now reside in ours.
We invest in promoting the aquarium hobby, assisting the novice and veteran customers, and supporting the growth of our regional community. Come in and enjoy much more than an aquarium store!