Any Czech members?

[GaryE]

I may find myself in Prague this coming Spring. Are there any centrally located aquarium stores I should visit?

The Czech hobby is very respected, and I'd expect there to be some good spots to see as I walk around.

 

[Magnum Man]

My Father in law as born in this country, but was full Czech… Mrs. Is Boy half, as her mom was Norwegian… but Czech food is as amazing as their fish, I hope you get to explore the cuisine as well…

 

[Magnum Man]

@GaryE … are there any native aquarium friendly fish from the Czech Republic, assume they would be temperate, but Mrs would find keeping them interesting…

 

[GaryE]

European fish are unlikely, but the Czechs have very soft water (which makes great pilsner beers) and breed for a good chunk of the 'uncommon fish' market in North America. I'd like to see a good store just to see.

 

[emeraldking]

I've been to the Czech Republic several times when it was still one country with Slovakia. The ornamental fish industry and hobby is well represented overthere. Maybe it would also be interesting to visit some wholesalers overthere.

 

[gwand]

Prague is a beautiful city. I know Dan’s, Aqua Huna and Wet Spot import some livestock from there.

 

[Back in the fold]

Svengoolie says : No Personal Czechs !

 

[MattW]

I'm sure @Beastije would know some of the hotspots

 

[AquaBarb]

My local fish store get most there stock from the Czech republic. Some stunning fish come from breeders that way

 

[Beastije]

Sorry I missed this post. While we have good breeders we don't have good stores it would be easier if you found what fish and get in touch with a breeder and schedule a visit
I know about two stores, neither is in Prague though one is close. One imports from Glasser and the store is great and the owner is a real fish person. There is also a public aquarium ran by a guy with an interesting (think father fish methods) approach but stunning old fish (emperor tetras around 13 years, one of the piranha is 25 if I am not mistaken and I think I fell in love with the group dynamic of cichlids, especially cutter and midas and red devil that behaves like a pet thanks to him. He met few guys in his time like Bleheri and his wife and he hosts talks about Amazon expeditions and such.
Oh and close to Prague is a tetra/cpd breeder, I will link his YouTube channel here

Also in Ostrava (like furthest away from Prague) a girl specializing in Sulawesi restore works in one zoo, she is a real capacity and is now working on some endangered breeds.
Or you can experience one of the hells of our weekly fish fair ) so many people but hey, fish ?))

Fair warning. Prague got expensive and is filled with hustlers and cheap trinkets. And the food business is crazy now. Plan with caution

 

[Beastije]

@GaryE … are there any native aquarium friendly fish from the Czech Republic, assume they would be temperate, but Mrs would find keeping them interesting…

Afaik neither of our lake or river fish are small enough for our fish tanks. Think 20-40 cm fish 6-24°c and I think people keep some in 2000 liters. Think carps and minnows. We have crayfish though. But the large ones.

There are few aquarium expositions specializing in keeping our fish but I will have to do more research
But on the other hand parts of Prague zoo exhibitions, like gavialis and turtle exhibitions have awesome aquarium fish ) clown loaches, barbs, labeos, giant danios ...

 

[Beastije]

Zoo branik used to be a good store, but it is shifting a bit but it is in Prague. Site is in czech so I linked to the address and hours open.
These are links for fishfair happening every third Saturday site is only in czech but I linked the gallery
Fishfair every Sunday, site IS in english

A breeder not too far away from Prague (Neratovice, visit has to be booked, no idea if he speaks english) - he seems to update his facebook more often but he has a website. He is a no filter no aeration no water changes sort of guy, so if that is not your jam, I wouldnt visit

And the store not terribly away from Prague - Mělník. Site is in czech again
The Sulawesi initiative
And the public aquarium in Česká Lípa site in czech, no clue about his english, also linking facebook

BTW years ago I visited a Tanganiyakn breeder here. Was a wild ride

 

[Beastije]

Oh and for your mental health, do not go to any of the authentic or fast food "Chinese" restaurants here, they keep large fish in small bare tank in almost every single one of them and it is a torture to watch.
(we call all asian based restaurants chinese and all asian based cuisine chinese though it is almost exclusively run by vietnamese people since we have a 1million community of them here and has nothing to do with any sort of chinese food. or vietnamese. or food sometimes )

 

[GaryE]

Thank you. A fish fair?

I like to see how things are done in different cities and countries. I doubt I'll buy fish because we will have a connecting flight we might miss on our return if the customs agent is slow. But I will look, and will check the links.

Thanks for the travel warnings. I almost hate to be part of the tourist deluge that hits Europe these days, but my curiosity... I dislike the idea of spending my life only seeing one place or region. Too many people fall into the belief that where they live is the best place on earth. I have friends here who are convinced of that, but who have never traveled to see what other people think are their best places on the planet. I've seen several best places where I think I could have lived an alternative life, and I'd like to see more.

Travel is always superficial, but it opens your eyes. Prague will only be a few days, but it will be low season, and maybe I'll see some fish related things, as that would be part of my life if I lived there. I always walk through fish stores, a couple of grocery stores, local markets and ordinary places where life happens. I grew up in a city where tourists took over in summer, in Montreal, so I look for where I would have gone to avoid that, just to see what ordinary life is.

I usually walk 10 or 15km a day when we travel.

 

[Beastije]

I do not know what you plan to visit, some things are worth the tourist overload, like Prague Castle, some are not - think Venceslas or Václavské náměstí/square or the Staroměstské náměstí - Old town square. There is a traffic renovation that is restoring most of the Vaclavske square, the walking is limitted, traffic is a nightmare, do not visit. Pick a different square to see, like Jiřího z Poděbrad, Náměstí Míru (peace square),... you get your old church old buildingst there too. The National Museum, sittting on top of vaclavske square is awesome and recently renovated but depends on the exhibition and your love of minerals (massive rock collection), huge whale skeletons and taxidermy animals.
Walking is fine in the city center, though people and pickpockets, but subway is cheap and safe and quick and will allow you to visit more places, trams are fine, buses get stuck in traffic. Also one ticket gets you on any subway bus or tram AND some trains for some stops.

I always recommend the zoo, subway plus a bus ride, and hit the opening time/9am time, if you like animals, you can spend up to 6 hours there, even a whole day. The new restaurant complex (though eating mostly outside, limitted seating inside) next to the elephant exhibition is the best one in the zoo, so aim for a nonstandard lunch time - 11am, 13pm and you will be fine.

We utilize bolt ride and ubers, do not get one from the airport, the bus goes wherever you need, goes like every ten minutes, directly to the subway which will drop you anywhere in the city. Just research the ticket purchase, it can be done by card in the bus now, but the ticket inspectors are mean

And if you like alcohol, there is this https://slivovitzmuseum.com/ with virtual tour and tastings and they have a restaurant with not much food, think finger food czech style, and it is worth the visit though it is a potent booze

For food, lunch is fine anywhere in the city, some fastfoods, like bagueterie boulevard or wok-in ar eok for fastfoods, rest is the same as everywhere. For dinner, either pick a cuisine or go out of prague 1. Also friday-saturday dinner almost always requires a seat booking lately. I was recently in a Georgian restaurant in city center, high prices but lovely food and local performance. Not for everyone (georgian singer singing a pop song was not my jam)

most things and stores accept cards, but having 1000 czk in cash would be wise.