Business & Tech

A Slice of the Sea in the Middle of New Canaan

The ocean is as vast and mysterious as space, and in the heart of downtown New Canaan, Randy Jahier is working to help people bring home a little bit of the magic.

He operates Life Aquatic at 9 South Avenue, an aquarium store specialize in saltwater tanks, reef design and in-home service work. Jahier has been in New Canaan for about two-and-a-half years but services tanks "all over the tri-state area," he says.

"We'll design systems, install them, service them, give advice," he said. "We have more than just fish. We have living coral, shrimp, lobsters, anemones. We offer a true slice of the ocean."

Jahier grows most of the reef he sells on-site, has a plentiful selection of creatures to browse and can tell you all about any of them. One of the bigger tanks he services is 450 gallons, but said there's no limit. And he's knowledgable about all the creatures available at the store, like the Tiger Pistol Shrimp and the Yellow Watchman Goby, a blind shrimp with supersonic claws and its bodyguard buddy, which he describes in the video above.

He also talked about the pair's tank partners, a Banggai Cardinalfish couple. As unique as the shrimp-goby couple might be, their neighbors are going through their own weird ritual and are currently expecting. The female has laid eggs, the male has fertilized them and now the male has been carrying the eggs around in his mouth for roughly 35 days, never eating for the duration.

To check out some of Life Aquatic's offerings or hear more cool facts, swing by and talk to Randy Jahier at 9 South Avenue.


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