Where else can you walk into a pet store and get 100 years of combined knowledge about aquarium life in town?

Customers, new and old, continue to visit family owned and operated Western Slope Aquatics, now at a new location — 2893 North Ave., Unit B, in Grand Junction. It’s mainly focused on aquatics, with small mammals available by special order. A wide variety of fresh and salt-water fish, including site-bred plecostomus and angel fish, are regularly available.

“Quite a few people haven’t seen us since we were in Teller Arms,” Western Slope Aquatics employee (and family member) Ami Martin said.

Founded by Ben and Opal Hatch in 1969, the store has focused on aquatic pets for four generations now. What started as a hobby in the family garage blossomed into a successful small business, a testimony to the couples’ passion for fish. They opened their first store in Orchard Mesa.

As business boomed at their original store, they opened a second location in Teller Arms Shopping Center in 1979. Then, after a few moves, they landed at their most recent North Avenue spot.

“The latest move was triggered by the need for a more visible location that was easily accessible for our customers,” Martin said.

David Hatch, the current store owner and son, also creates custom tank stands, sump and refugium filtration systems (a more natural system for salt and fresh-water creatures.

And for anyone looking to kickstart an aquatics hobby, Martin offers this pearl of wisdom.

“Shop with someone that has been in the business for years,” she said.