Pisces Pet Emporium

Pisces Pet Emporium is a family-owned phenomenon selling fish, birds, reptiles, small mammals and all the supplies to care for them properly. It prides itself on its highly trained staff members that give customers sound advice on how best to look after their animals.

It all started back in the mid-1970s when owner Peter Hoeper, then a high school biology teacher, started breeding and selling fish out of his garage. The success of the venture necessitated finding larger quarters.

“We have a lot of customers whose patronage to Pisces started with Peter’s garage,” says Norm Nemeth, an aquatic specialist who's been with the shop for 20 years.

In 2009, Pisces Pet Emporium moved to its current location adjacent to the intersection of McKnight Boulevard and Deerfoot Trail. With a whopping 28,000 square feet, it houses 700 fish tanks with nearly 2,000 animal species, a koi pond with waterfall, a host of small birds, a variety of exotic reptiles, arachnids, rabbits, ferrets, a marmoset display and a tortoise that often wanders the store. It’s like visiting a mini zoo. In fact, Pisces Pet Emporium hosts free tours for school groups and community organizations.

Norm says with pride that the store’s reputation has spread far and wide. “I’ve been sent to Atlanta, Denver and Los Angeles for seminars and when I introduce myself to the different vendors and manufacturers they say, ‘Is that the store from Calgary? That’s such a great store!’”