As requested for Tom and Steve..
Shop sets up homes for fish
Aquarium store run by longtime lover of animals
By LESLIE EVERTON BRICE
For the Journal-Constitution
Published on: 03/16/05
Jennifer Myerscough has always loved animals. She was the kind of kid who'd bring home stray puppies and kittens, she says.
But her love of animals wasn't limited to the soft, furry types.
"I was the kid at summer camp who'd find snakes under the rocks," she said. "It was probably hard on my mom — she wasn't much of an animal lover."
These days, Myerscough is co-owner of Imagine Ocean, which she and husband Scott Myerscough opened three years ago. The store has all kinds of supplies for marine and freshwater aquariums, as well as the fish, live coral, and a variety of other aqua-creatures.
"People think fish don't have personalities, but they most certainly do," Jennifer Myerscough said. "Some of them will eat out of your hands; some even like to be petted. They all learn who their keepers are."
Myerscough has given just about all her charges names and seems to know each one's personality and preferences.
"They all have their stories," she said.
She became interested in fish 18 years ago, she says, when she "got a two-gallon tank and a couple of goldfish as pets."
After spending some time learning the trade by working in another store, the Myerscoughs decided to go it on their own, and opened Imagine Ocean. At first, the shop sold only marine (saltwater) fish and supplies. About two years ago, the store was expanded into the space next door and doubled in size to 2,760 square feet.
"A large part of what we do is educate people," said Jennifer Myerscough. "We help people choose the right fish for their environment. I learned by doing, reading, attempting, and I've made mistakes. We try to help people so they can avoid those mistakes."
The first question fish fanciers should ask themselves is, "What [fish] must I have?" Myerscough said.
"Usually people have at least one fish that they really want when they think about setting up an aquarium," she said. "After that's decided, we tailor the tank around it."
Imagine Ocean has starter freshwater kits priced from about $50 (plus fish), she said. Saltwater setups are from about $200, she said.
Help and advice are always available. "We can completely outfit and even take care of your tank for you," she said.
That was a nice article on Jenn and her store.
