The Story Behind the Backroom

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From my mom's goldfish to a room full of aquariums, Backroom Betta has been a lifetime in the making.

My love of fishkeeping started long before Backroom Betta ever existed.

As a kid, I watched my mom keep and breed common goldfish. I didn't know it then, but those early experiences would stay with me.

Eventually, I got a couple of axolotls of my own. I kept them for around ten years, learning along the way and developing an appreciation for aquatic animals that never really went away.

Then life happened.

I bought a house, started building my career in law, met and married the woman of my dreams, and began building a family.

Fishkeeping wasn't necessarily at the center of everything during those years, but the interest never disappeared.

When my wife was pregnant with our son, I returned to the hobby in a bigger way, establishing two koi ponds.

And after our daughter was born, something else caught my attention.

Bettas.

The colors. The personalities. The incredible variety. The fact that two fish of the same species could look almost nothing alike.

I was hooked.

What started with an appreciation for these remarkable fish quickly became a growing collection. One aquarium led to another. One species sparked an interest in something new. There was always another fish to discover, another setup to improve, and another reason to learn.

And somewhere along the way, things escalated.

A lot.

Today, that journey has become Backroom Betta — The Fish Speakeasy, an independent freshwater aquarium business in Federal Way, Washington.

It's a growing collection of aquariums, freshwater fish, specialty foods, supplies, and projects. But more importantly, it's something personal.

It's a place where I get to share a hobby that has been part of my life since childhood.

The story is still being written.

Backroom Betta is a small, independent business, built one aquarium, one fish, and one discovery at a time. If you've made it this far, thank you for taking an interest in what I'm building.

Want to see what happens behind the scenes? Follow along on Instagram for new fish, aquarium projects, specialty arrivals, and a look at everyday life inside the Fish Speakeasy.

Follow @backroom_betta on Instagram

 Thanks for supporting Backroom Betta 

— Chris, Founder of Backroom Betta