Welcome To Jurassic Aquatics & Pets Store

Jurassic Aquatics & Pets owner Fred Boseman is not exactly sure how many fish tanks he has in his Mayfield Heights store. But his best estimate is about 150 tanks, neatly stacked on top of each other in several rows of 6-foot metal racks.

The tanks are filled with all kinds of marine, saltwater and tropical fish as well as live corals. Other tanks not filled with fish are nests for reptiles and snakes that lie motionless under the light purple rays of UV lights.

Boseman opened the pet store earlier this year at 1413 Golden Gate Blvd. in a building that also houses medical, legal and business professional businesses. He moved his business from Richmond Heights in part because he needed more room.

In addition to fish, reptiles and snakes, Boseman breeds and sells chinchillas.

"They are kind of popular because they are a bit different," said Boseman. "Like guinea pigs, they make pretty good pets."

Jurassic Aquatics and Pets also sells pet supplies, as well as new and used aquarium products and equipment.

Boseman became hooked on fish in his teenage years when he discovered a book on exotic aquarium fishes. The book featured detailed descriptions and black-and-white photos of fish from all over the world.

"I used to read this book all the time," said Boseman. "That’s how I got my start and learned a lot about fish."

As a teen he started working, and later managed, the Heights Pet Store in Cleveland Heights, which was one of the largest pet stores in Greater Cleveland.  While working there, Boseman began a part-time business that maintained aquariums at businesses and homes. Later, he began offering aquarium design and installation.

A few years after the Heights Pet Store closed in 2001, Boseman decided it was time to open his own store. He didn’t name his business after the well-known movie Jurassic Park. Years before the film came out, he named his fish tank maintenance business Jurassic Art Aquatics.

"I got the idea to name my first business from my favorite fish, which is arrowana, a freshwater bony fish that is from the Jurassic Period," said Boseman. "So I decided to keep the Jurassic name for the store."

Jurassic Aquatics & Pets is open noon to 9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, noon to 4:30 p.m. Friday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. The store is closed on Saturday. For more information, call 440-461-7387.