Who We Are
We do not have a storefront. We work closely with existing pet stores to provide our clients with the widest range of products at the lowest price. This allows us to create partnerships rather than competitors while providing our clients with superior service. Through Kawartha Aquariums, you can continue to support your favorite pet store, save money on your favorite products and have a professionally designed, care-free aquarium.
In addition to our goal of providing the highest quality of life to your aquatic pets, our passionate staff love to focus on the creative element of aquariums. These living works of art should provide a sense of relaxation, inspiration and even fun. As one of our clients, you can benefit from FREE designs and changing decor. As a client you also become part of an aquarium community, connecting you to benefits such as free aquatic plant swaps, homes for fish that have perhaps outgrown your aquarium, access to hospital tanks and much more.
There are no formal education opportunities for aquarium servicing techniques, so as such, we are all self-taught and self-motivated. Whether it be racks of aquariums in our own homes, shelves full of books or just the constant desire to dance around a pet store, our staff are fin and tails always swimming in the pursuit of fun things to learn about aquatic critters and their habitats. We have real, hands on experience and are always relishing the chance to share that knowledge and use it to improve our aquariums and their inhabitants. Watching healthy and happy fish is our greatest joy.
In addition to our goal of providing the highest quality of life to your aquatic pets, our passionate staff love to focus on the creative element of aquariums. These living works of art should provide a sense of relaxation, inspiration and even fun. As one of our clients, you can benefit from FREE designs and changing decor. As a client you also become part of an aquarium community, connecting you to benefits such as free aquatic plant swaps, homes for fish that have perhaps outgrown your aquarium, access to hospital tanks and much more.
There are no formal education opportunities for aquarium servicing techniques, so as such, we are all self-taught and self-motivated. Whether it be racks of aquariums in our own homes, shelves full of books or just the constant desire to dance around a pet store, our staff are fin and tails always swimming in the pursuit of fun things to learn about aquatic critters and their habitats. We have real, hands on experience and are always relishing the chance to share that knowledge and use it to improve our aquariums and their inhabitants. Watching healthy and happy fish is our greatest joy.
The Current Team
Sheila Smith
owner, freshwater and marine specialist
Sheila has been enthralled with fish and aquariums since 2007. She had just finished an Honours Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology majoring in zoology and found work at Paulmac's. She quickly become head of the fish department and eventually store manager. She became the person who took work home with her and ended up with up to 15 tanks with lizards, frogs, salamanders and many fish, and 2 cats!
Her love of the biotic world means she is always surrounded by things that grow, and is striving to provide the best habitats for our fish friends.
She will forever be indebted to Deanna for starting and growing the company to great success, and for allowing Sheila to be part of the journey.
owner, freshwater and marine specialist
Sheila has been enthralled with fish and aquariums since 2007. She had just finished an Honours Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology majoring in zoology and found work at Paulmac's. She quickly become head of the fish department and eventually store manager. She became the person who took work home with her and ended up with up to 15 tanks with lizards, frogs, salamanders and many fish, and 2 cats!
Her love of the biotic world means she is always surrounded by things that grow, and is striving to provide the best habitats for our fish friends.
She will forever be indebted to Deanna for starting and growing the company to great success, and for allowing Sheila to be part of the journey.
Deanna Hunt
freshwater specialist
Deanna has over 18 years experience working in the pet and animal care industry. She has worked at the Peterborough Riverview Park and Zoo as a seasonal fulltime zookeeper, at Animalia as an animal caretaker for aquatics and at Paulmacs in aquatic and reptile care/sales. While completing her degree at Fleming College she worked in full time placement at The New Zealand Marine Studies Centre. In New Zealand she was responsible for organizing the aquariums educational special events and animal care.
Deanna's entrepreneurial vision, professionalism and experience is the driving force behind creating Kawartha Aquariums.
freshwater specialist
Deanna has over 18 years experience working in the pet and animal care industry. She has worked at the Peterborough Riverview Park and Zoo as a seasonal fulltime zookeeper, at Animalia as an animal caretaker for aquatics and at Paulmacs in aquatic and reptile care/sales. While completing her degree at Fleming College she worked in full time placement at The New Zealand Marine Studies Centre. In New Zealand she was responsible for organizing the aquariums educational special events and animal care.
Deanna's entrepreneurial vision, professionalism and experience is the driving force behind creating Kawartha Aquariums.
Taryn Kottelenberg
freshwater and blackwater specialist
Taryn is our youngin', firing on all pistons - you'll see her around town in her grey Beetle named Lisa. She grew up on a farm in Shelburne, Ontario with pigs and turkeys and having a vet tech mom who rescued all kinds of animals, which solidified her love for animals. Taryn started fishkeeping as a hobby during Covid, which quickly grew to full-on obsession. We could tell she was meant for our team when she showed up to her interview wearing goldfish earrings!
Taryn currently cares for 5 nano tanks (less than 20 gallons) and loves blackwater type tanks. Her favourite critters to keep are bettas, snails, corydoras and snails. Taryn is a full-blown animal lover, from her schnauzer TJ to copepods scooped at the local stream to fossilized trilobites.
freshwater and blackwater specialist
Taryn is our youngin', firing on all pistons - you'll see her around town in her grey Beetle named Lisa. She grew up on a farm in Shelburne, Ontario with pigs and turkeys and having a vet tech mom who rescued all kinds of animals, which solidified her love for animals. Taryn started fishkeeping as a hobby during Covid, which quickly grew to full-on obsession. We could tell she was meant for our team when she showed up to her interview wearing goldfish earrings!
Taryn currently cares for 5 nano tanks (less than 20 gallons) and loves blackwater type tanks. Her favourite critters to keep are bettas, snails, corydoras and snails. Taryn is a full-blown animal lover, from her schnauzer TJ to copepods scooped at the local stream to fossilized trilobites.
Allyson Handson
pond specialist
Allyson is new to Kawartha Aquariums, but certainly not a greenleaf when it comes to ponds! Allyson has been professionally playing in ponds for many, many years, through employment at Vandermeer Nursery and Picov's Water Garden Centre. She knows all manner of pond building, fixing, maintenance, landscaping and upgrades.
Allyson has her own dog grooming business in Norwood. She shows her dogs and is bubbling over with knowledge about dog training. She spends many of her weekends as a race marshall for various motorsports.
We promise to update Allyson's picture with a better one of her face - as soon as we remember!
pond specialist
Allyson is new to Kawartha Aquariums, but certainly not a greenleaf when it comes to ponds! Allyson has been professionally playing in ponds for many, many years, through employment at Vandermeer Nursery and Picov's Water Garden Centre. She knows all manner of pond building, fixing, maintenance, landscaping and upgrades.
Allyson has her own dog grooming business in Norwood. She shows her dogs and is bubbling over with knowledge about dog training. She spends many of her weekends as a race marshall for various motorsports.
We promise to update Allyson's picture with a better one of her face - as soon as we remember!
The Support Team
Phil's Pets, Lindsay Ontario
our preferred pet specialty store
We source the majority of our supplies from Phil's Pets, located in Lindsay. Phil and Jules are an invaluable resource to us, and we are very grateful for their continued support, assistance and friendship. We highly recommend anyone to visit their shop, filled to the gills with aquarium supplies, fish, reptiles, birds and pond paraphernalia. The aquatics industry will only thrive while we continue to support the local owners. Big thanks to Abby and Coral too. Check them out at www.philspets.ca
our preferred pet specialty store
We source the majority of our supplies from Phil's Pets, located in Lindsay. Phil and Jules are an invaluable resource to us, and we are very grateful for their continued support, assistance and friendship. We highly recommend anyone to visit their shop, filled to the gills with aquarium supplies, fish, reptiles, birds and pond paraphernalia. The aquatics industry will only thrive while we continue to support the local owners. Big thanks to Abby and Coral too. Check them out at www.philspets.ca
Mum and Dad Smith
parents extraordinaire
No small business can be successful without a solid support team and Kawartha Aquariums has the best support team possible. Sheila's parents are willing and available for whatever and whenever, from being an extra set of wheels, picking up stuff from stores and dropping off milkshakes on hot pond days. Mum's specialty is being the most persistent cheerleader, extolling the virtues of aquariums wherever she goes and plastering the city with business cards. Dad's specialty is lectures about insurance.
parents extraordinaire
No small business can be successful without a solid support team and Kawartha Aquariums has the best support team possible. Sheila's parents are willing and available for whatever and whenever, from being an extra set of wheels, picking up stuff from stores and dropping off milkshakes on hot pond days. Mum's specialty is being the most persistent cheerleader, extolling the virtues of aquariums wherever she goes and plastering the city with business cards. Dad's specialty is lectures about insurance.
Nel Rodosky
certified best friend
Nel has no specific interest in anything aquarium related, but as one of Sheila's best friends she often gets roped into adventures whether she wants to or not. She's a willing pair of hands when everyone else is busy, a companion on a Saturday night long drive to deal with a broken filter, and feeds Sheila's home aquariums when she goes on vacation. Nel always joins in without fuss until something really gross comes along, like a spider or a snake. Nel also knows a lot of people, so if she doesn't have the knowledge, then maybe Steve, or Chad, or Ken does.
certified best friend
Nel has no specific interest in anything aquarium related, but as one of Sheila's best friends she often gets roped into adventures whether she wants to or not. She's a willing pair of hands when everyone else is busy, a companion on a Saturday night long drive to deal with a broken filter, and feeds Sheila's home aquariums when she goes on vacation. Nel always joins in without fuss until something really gross comes along, like a spider or a snake. Nel also knows a lot of people, so if she doesn't have the knowledge, then maybe Steve, or Chad, or Ken does.
Steve Rodosky
strong dude with a truck
Steve is Nel's brother and is super strong and has a big truck. He's who we call when we need a strong dude with a big truck. Luckily for us, Steve is always helpful and willing, and never stops laughing. We don't have a picture of Steve but we do have a picture of his other sister's dog, Nori, who likes Steve too.
strong dude with a truck
Steve is Nel's brother and is super strong and has a big truck. He's who we call when we need a strong dude with a big truck. Luckily for us, Steve is always helpful and willing, and never stops laughing. We don't have a picture of Steve but we do have a picture of his other sister's dog, Nori, who likes Steve too.
Dexter
Golden retriever, official mascot
Dexter takes his duties as official mascot very seriously. He often joins his aunt Sheila on short appointments, especially to help with holiday decor drop off.
Dexter has lots of experience as a East Central therapy dog, and behaves himself around all who love their tanks. He is still in training around ponds - he loves to jump in them!
Dexter loves anyone who calls him handsome, and is working on figuring out how elevators work!
Golden retriever, official mascot
Dexter takes his duties as official mascot very seriously. He often joins his aunt Sheila on short appointments, especially to help with holiday decor drop off.
Dexter has lots of experience as a East Central therapy dog, and behaves himself around all who love their tanks. He is still in training around ponds - he loves to jump in them!
Dexter loves anyone who calls him handsome, and is working on figuring out how elevators work!
The Past Team
Nate Maraldo
Freshwater and pond specialist
Nate is passionate about all walks and swims of life, and loves to learn about biology and anything interesting. He has worked in several pet stores, including Animalia for 3 years and owned a whole variety of animals.
Nate is an outdoorsy person, full of stories from camping and giving the best life to his golden retrievers, Mila and Murphy.
Nate is always willing to jump into a new adventure and will offer help before requested. Nate is a valuable asset to our team with his knowledge and enthusiasm
Freshwater and pond specialist
Nate is passionate about all walks and swims of life, and loves to learn about biology and anything interesting. He has worked in several pet stores, including Animalia for 3 years and owned a whole variety of animals.
Nate is an outdoorsy person, full of stories from camping and giving the best life to his golden retrievers, Mila and Murphy.
Nate is always willing to jump into a new adventure and will offer help before requested. Nate is a valuable asset to our team with his knowledge and enthusiasm
Willow Graham Des-Vignes
Pond specialist
Willow is a Trent University student filled to the brim with all sorts of fun tidbits about local ecology. She is hard-working with a quiet but wicked sense of humour. Willow manages to juggle school work with a variety of other jobs, all related to ecology and adventure. She is renowned for her ability to tolerate Nate's horrible jokes
Pond specialist
Willow is a Trent University student filled to the brim with all sorts of fun tidbits about local ecology. She is hard-working with a quiet but wicked sense of humour. Willow manages to juggle school work with a variety of other jobs, all related to ecology and adventure. She is renowned for her ability to tolerate Nate's horrible jokes
The Hockey Teams
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Kawartha Aquariums sponsors two rec league teams, a woman's floor hockey team in the winter months and a woman's ball hockey team in the summer months. Sheila plays defense and falls a lot, and Taryn just switched from defense to offense and is on her way to scoring tons of goals. Taryn even roped in her sister to join! Our green shirts match the algae we spend all day scraping off the tanks and ponds (blue shirts were already claimed!)
Kawartha Aquariums Pet Policy
We respectfully ask all of our clients to allow their pets to join us while we service their aquariums and ponds, as safety allows. While we are fish specialists at heart, we strongly desire the opportunity to meet and adore your furry, feathered and scaled friends. The best homes are full of life and we are happy to admire all our non-human friends. We promise to allow your dogs a bit of time at the beginning to find their calm. We assure all clients that your dog, your cat and even your emu friends (yes we have a client with emus I swear!) are welcome to be near us, and that their supervision of our work is paramount to our success.
