Fressnapf opens superlative themed pet store

With the opening of its 400th store, situated in Berlin, the Krefeld-based com­pany Fressnapf has unvei­l­ed its most attractive and lavish outlet to date. The franchise group, which has now incorporated live ani­mal departments into 85 of its stores, may have suc­ceeded in creating in the German capital what is probably one of the most splendid pet stores in the whole of Europe. The the­med store is situated within a new garden centre belon­ging to Pluta and occupies a retail area of 1 600 m². The largest feature in the new Fressnapf is a 27 000 l pond with a waterfall, populated by impressively beautiful Japanese Koi carp. Another extraordinary sight in the entrance area to the store is a walk-through 17 000 l aquarium containing a large variety of cichlids. Tetra exhibited this mega-aquarium at Interzoo in Nuremberg four years ago and it met with a huge response from visitors to the fair, following which it adorned the retail area of Kölle-Zoo in Karlsruhe for some time.
A further attraction is the 16-metre long reef tank, housing coral, anemones and splendidly coloured reef fishes, along with mo­ray eels and attractive yet highly poisonous lion fish. There is also a very fine 3 200 l aquarium pool con­taining invertebrates. A huge rock landscape made of polystyrene surrounding the aquatics department creates a truly exotic ambi­ence. Variety is also the order of the day in the terrarium department, whe­re a wide selection of sna­kes is to be found, including a boa constrictor, which when fully grown can attain a length of over two metres. Spiders, huge scorpions, lizards, frogs and other amphibians complete the extensive range of creatures available. The monitor lizards and arrow poison frogs in the department are worth a special look. Other highlights in the store include a parrot tree with tame parrots from the Loro Parque Fondacion in Tene­rife, a charitable foundation that sponsors parrot conser­vation projects worldwide. All the parrots are tame enough to be handled, and each bird comes with a detailed individual health certificate. As well as par­rots, the Fressnapf store has parakeets, budgerigars, finches and other species of birds housed separately in spacious aviaries.
Fressnapf proprietor Torsten Toeller (left) and store owner Frank Röhrdanz.
Visitors will also be surprised to see a 35 m² rodent barn. This rustic rodent shelter is home to dwarf hamsters, gerbils, rabbits and other small mammals that play in roomy cages and runs in optimum…