Aquarium & Reptile Depot owners Jason and Jeff Liang stand in the center in front of their staff specialized in aquatic and reptile husbandry, ready to help customers coming in for the 12th annual Customer Appreciation Anniversary event on Mar 1st and Mar 2nd. Photo courtesy of Aquarium & Reptile Depot

CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - Jason and Jeff Liang, two brothers who operate a family-owned pet store, Aquarium & Reptile Depot at 8201 Auburn Blvd. in Citrus Heights, celebrated their 12th annual Customer Appreciation Anniversary Event on March 1 and March 2.

With more than $10,000 worth of raffle prizes, giveaways and store discounts, the two-day celebration attracted thousands of customers to immerse themselves in the aquatic and reptile hobby.

“It’s moments like these that I am able to take a step back from the day-to-day grind to reflect and appreciate how far we’ve come. Many of our customers have been with us since the beginning when we were just a stand at Denio’s Farmers Market & Swap Meet in Roseville. It’s crazy to see those same customers still walk through these doors today. This event is our way of giving back to our customers and expressing our deepest appreciation for supporting us throughout the years,” said older brother, Jason Liang.

What was once a Harley-Davidson motorcycle dealership has been transformed into a 10,000-square-foot building pet store. Customers are from the area as well as from Lake Tahoe, Reno, San Francisco and San Jose, according to the owners. The business was awarded the 2024 Best of Citrus Heights first-place retail winner by Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce. 

Three large display aquariums are near the front door, each housing an array of vibrant saltwater or freshwater fish, all of which are complemented under bright modern hexagon lighting.

“The idea is to inspire others and help our customers imagine the possibilities of what a fully set up aquarium and/or terrarium could look like in your home,” said Jeff Liang, who oversees the store’s display tanks’ design.

Straight ahead and to the left are rows of tanks filled with exotic and rare saltwater and freshwater fish, corals and aquarium plants from throughout the world. Recently added are house plants that now line the front corner for avid green thumb enthusiasts. To the right, reptiles and invertebrates lay in their desert-like or bioactive tropical enclosures. 

The brothers are aided by a full staff who are highly specialized in the hobby. Each department has a dedicated service line so that each customer is provided with one-on-one support by specialists.

“My job is to understand what the customer wants and what they may need to have a successful ecosystem. This can be as simple as providing fish recommendations that will coexist well with other fish in their aquarium or as complex as recommending the best products to troubleshoot water filtration issues,” said Chris Martinez, the longest tenured employee working 10 years there.

Amy Fishman, a customer for more than 15 years said, “I love coming here and I love this event that they throw every year. I am here almost every weekend. Sometimes, it's only to pick up dog treats; most times to pick up new fish. What makes them stand out is that they make it a point to get to know you, know your name, and treat you with respect and kindness. It's not just me. I see them greet most of their customers by their name. It just shows me how much they care about their customers.”

Aquarium and Reptile Depot is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays.  Customers can check the store’s website for the latest inventory at aquarium-depot.com.