Living World: Canterbury Garden Centre

We have this very large blue lobster available for rehoming. He is around 10" so will need to be kept alone or with very large fish. Anything he can catch will be considered food so if you choose to house him in a mixed species tank do so with caution. We will happily accept whatever somebody wants to pay for him but we will ask questions about your set up to make sure you can provide the correct care for him. Please get in touch if you are interested.

Living World Canterbury STOCKLIST Updated on 20/11/18
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TODAY IS THE DAY! LIVING WORLD OPEN EVENING @ Canterbury Garden Centre at Herne Common
10% off dry goods and livestock AND special offers and discounts on the night between 5 and 9pm!

This coming Thursday, the 22nd of November is our Christmas Open evening at Canterbury Garden Centre. There will be 10% off everything throughout the store including livestock and dry goods in Living World. Everyone who attends will receive a complimentary mince pie and mulled wine (over 18's only). There will also be entertainment and an activity table for the little ones! A great way to get ahead on your Christmas shopping and save little extra at the same time!

Just thought we would share some pictures of some of our amazing cichlids we currently have in store at the moment. They are worth coming down to have a look at.

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT
Tanganyikan Emperor Cichlid
The Tanganyikan Emperor cichlid (Boulengeochromis microlepis) is a Perciforme fish endemic to Lake Tanganyika, it is found all throughout the lake. This species is one of the world's largest cichlids and by far the biggest of the African cichlid species, males growing to an astonishing 3 feet in length whilst females staying slightly smaller at 30 inches. It is the only species in the Boulengerochromis genus.
... Whilst young Emperor cichlids are omnivorous and will eat basically anything that takes their fancy, as they grow they become more and more piscovorous and predatory. Wild adults feed almost exclusively on other fish. In captivity they will happily take a range of pellets and frozen food and have a very strong appetite, their feeding response can be likened to that of their South American counterparts of the genus Cichla.
Boulengerochromis are incredibly aggressive so due to this ideally they only work well in species only tanks but even then there is a good chance they will fight and kill each other. Breeding pairs are worse ten times over and will attack anything that enters the nest site. This is not limited to other fish, they will also attack people, turtles and just about anything else that gets too close.
Emperor cichlids are fairly rare to find for sale in the trade as they are not a commonly imported species but if you are interested in them they will require at the least a 300 gallon tank with strong filtration. Tank mate wise only other very large cichlids, predators and catfish will be able to withstand the relentless aggression. Bear in mind when setting up aquariums for this specise they require a lot of open water swimming space so heavily decorated tanks are not ideal, but large rocks at the bottom are ideal as they replicate the natural habitat for this species.
I have included a picture showing the aggression of a breeding male in the pictures. Pictures from National Geographic, Zambia Tourism, Pinterest and Live Fish Direct
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A few pictures of some of the huge range of our beautiful fish in store.. Some of these are not seen to regularly and these certainly worth looking at and would make A great addition to anyones tank. Why not pop in store amd see for yourselfs this weekend

We are all set up and ready to go for tomorrow's Family Fun Day! Lots of activities across the centre including our infamous "Do you dare?" Challenge, an activity trail and prizes for best costume! Come try our challenge and find the hidden gems if you are feeling brave enough. We look forward to seeing you all in your spookiest outfit!

Feel like your aquarium needs something extra?? Scroll through just some of our ornaments and see if any of these might be what your tank is missing. We also have plenty of others in store so why not pop down to LIVING WORLD at the CANTERBURY GARDEN CENTRE this weekend.

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT
Helicopter Catfish (Wallago leerii)
The Helicopter catfish (Wallago leerii) Is a Siluriforme fish native to the Malay Peninsula and Indonesia. This colossal beast of a catfish has been known to grow just shy of 6 feet long in it's native environment and can still push 4 feet in captivity.
... A true predator this species tends to respond much better to live food when younger, due to it's high predatory drive and being an active hunter only the very largest species will make good tankmates long term. Wallago can grow astoundingly quickly so this is not one to buy unless you already have a very large aquarium ready for them.
Wallago are a river dwelling species so they appreciate high flow in their aquariums and are fully compatible with planted tanks (plants tend to work better than other tank mates). Other decor ideal for them is large pieces of driftwood and thick drain pipes for them to hide in. As with most predatory catfish anything they can catch that fit's into their mouth will be considered food.
Due to their adult size accommodating one of these monsters will require an aquarium or pond of 500 gallons or more at the very least and will require some serious filtration to keep on top of the bioload they produce. Though not for everyone due to their solitary and aggressive nature they are certainly a fascinating beast that deserves respect. With a mouth full of razor sharp teeth and some serious power in their muscles this is certainly a species never to be taken lightly.
Pictures taken from Big Fishes of the World, Monsterfish Keepers and our stock.
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BIG CATFISH SHOWCASE
This is our current selection of larger growing catfish species (not including loricariids). We have many smaller species available in store now too! Come check them out

CYPRINID SHOWCASE.
Our current range of barbs and other tropical cyprinids, our stock is currently changing so come see them in store!

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT Pike Topminnow
The Pike Topminnow (Belonesox belizianus) is a Poeciliid fish native to Central America. It has been introduced into parts of North America and set up invasive breeding colonies. For a live bearing species they are particularly large, males growing to around 4" whilst females can grow to an impressive 8".
... A voracious predator, these fish should be considered species only as they will eat anything that they can fit into their mouth. They are known to be aggressive towards other tank mates that are too big for them to eat. This species tends to only accept live fish at first but can be convinced to take frozen foods but this can take quite a while so if you are considering keeping them be prepared to live feed.
Pike Topminnow are highly resilient towards temperature and water parameters and can thrive in both brackish and freshwater aquariums. You will need at least a 125 litre tank to keep a pair of these but be warned females have been known to eat smaller males if not well fed. Planted aquariums provide perfect habitats for these impressive little oddballs.
Though part of the live bearer family this species is a lot harder to breed than the more well known Poeciliid species, if successful in breeding the fry are also a lot more difficult to successfully raise. Fry are dependent on constant feeding and are highly cannibalistic, other species of Poeciliid fry and live insects need to be constantly present in the aquarium to successfully rear them. Females give birth to around 100 fry every 1-2 months.
Pictures from Monster Fish Keepers, The Brackish Tank, Virginia Tech Ichthyology Class and INaturalist.com
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Next time your in CANTERBURY GARDEN CENTRE why don’t you pop into our Pet section and pick up some treats for your dog from our HUNGRY HOUNDS Pick ‘N’ Mix Bar. Just £2.99 a pot!! Choose from: Cookie Mix, Marrow Mix, Mini Roll, Square Sandwich, Mini Chop, Multi Treat, Heart Sandwich or Poppy Seed Roasties

Another amazing SALE sitting in our store right now is this new CIANO EMOTIONS NATURE ONE 100. Measure 100cm long x 40cm wide x 60cm tall and holding 209 litres. Comes with internal filter, 200W heater and L.E.D lights. Stylish design with food lid and stainless steel hinges. With 30% OFF this aquarium it is on sale at £489.99!

It’s Friday and our delivery of LIVE FOOD and PLANTS 🌱🌿 has arrived! Be sure sure to get down this weekend before they are all gone!!

highly recommended great friendly service with a world of knowledge and patience especially with me constantly asking question as I'm a novice at fish keeping well worth a visit

found this place a few weeks ago and have been back 4 times so far, great selection of fish and very knowledgeable staff. Definatly worth a visit and am sure we will be back there very soon.

Where should I start it's only one world Neil is your man and the best aquatic shop in my opinion in the UK , you want a rare fish Neil is the one to go to brilliant .

We bought our first fish for our tank just now. Beautiful Sailfin Mollies. The advice and knowledge from the advisor was second to none; friendly helpful and a really nice guy. We chose to come here as the same guy advised us the other day and I knew I’d be in safe hands when purchasing my fish. We’ll be back next week to buy our second breed to add to the. Many thanks.

This place is brilliant, Neil and Chris were very friendly, helpful and know their stuff. Shop was clean, tanks were clean with a large variety of fish to choose from. All in all an enjoyable shopping trip, very pleased with my purchases and will definitely be back.

Quality fish and service at superb prices. My first visit. Will be back. Recommended to all fish keepers whether a novice with their first tank or an experienced keeper looking for something different.

Neil is the man when it comes to fish brilliant guy to speak to willing to help you as much as he can i had a black aro delivered by neil no messing around he was here within a couple of days the packageing was really well installed you can tell with these guys its more than just getting the sale they put real care and effort into everythink.

If there's a fish you want but can't find, give these guys a shout! Clean tanks, well looked after livestock and sound advice from experienced guys make this place well worth a visit! Keep up the hard work guys!

I have used Living World x 3 times in the last few years and cannot recommend them highly enough!

I collect & order rare fish from all over the world & their packaging is second to none.

Fish have arrived in pristine health. Currently not the biggest shop in the world but the collection of fish they offer can at times be astounding.

Neil is a top guy with a wealth of knowledge and no matter what you are after can probably get it.

I will continue to use them again & again. Thank you for an excellent service.

I bought six L031 Plecs on the 3rd march, they were sent by post, first I have to thank Louis for the way he handled eveything. The Peppermints arrived in good time and it was clear to me well looked after, they are doing great and once again I salute you Louis, great work. Regards Bill

Having several fish suppliers in the area I have to say that the customer service from most the staff is what keeps me going back for more especially Neil who's knowledge and willingness to help is the best. Despite how busy it was over the bank holiday the staff took the time to assist in recommending a few fish that would work well in my tanks.

Having been involved in tropical fish for many years and visiting most of the shops throughout the country - this is a typical garden centre fish shop BUT the difference being with this one is they won't try and sell you things you don't need or want. The quality of service and knowledge from the person I always head for (Neil) is outstanding and honest. Good array of quality and well maintained fish makes it a pleasure to visit this particular store.

Had my first and definitely not my last delivery today from living world. Having never met anyone from hear before I was seriously impressed by the proffesional way my order was handled. Phone calls to confirm the order had gone through and Facebook updates with my order number.

As a monster fish keeper was very impressed with the selection of fish and Neil's knowledge.

Go and visit these guys or place an order you will not be dissapointed. Well done.

Great range, great service and very knowledgeable. Aqua one stockist including my favourite the aqua vogue 240. Impressive tank with the best lights and external canister filter.

Great range of fish, excellent quality and great price. Pleasure to deal with and very helpful �

Great little fish shop could do with more tanks other than that great stock and prices

Got some rare fish at a bargain price. Very happy customer �

Ever so nice staff. lots of weird and wonderful fish that I absolutely love. All in all a great place to go definitely worth a visit

At last some one who really knows about fish. Neal offers loads of information and advice, clearly knows his fish. Love the clean tanks, no dead or sick fish like other places, it's a real pleasure to visit and even more to purchase his great stock.

highly recommended great friendly service with a world of knowledge and patience especially with me constantly asking question as I'm a novice at fish keeping well worth a visit

found this place a few weeks ago and have been back 4 times so far, great selection of fish and very knowledgeable staff. Definatly worth a visit and am sure we will be back there very soon.

Where should I start it's only one world Neil is your man and the best aquatic shop in my opinion in the UK , you want a rare fish Neil is the one to go to brilliant .

We bought our first fish for our tank just now. Beautiful Sailfin Mollies. The advice and knowledge from the advisor was second to none; friendly helpful and a really nice guy. We chose to come here as the same guy advised us the other day and I knew I’d be in safe hands when purchasing my fish. We’ll be back next week to buy our second breed to add to the. Many thanks.

This place is brilliant, Neil and Chris were very friendly, helpful and know their stuff. Shop was clean, tanks were clean with a large variety of fish to choose from. All in all an enjoyable shopping trip, very pleased with my purchases and will definitely be back.

Quality fish and service at superb prices. My first visit. Will be back. Recommended to all fish keepers whether a novice with their first tank or an experienced keeper looking for something different.

Neil is the man when it comes to fish brilliant guy to speak to willing to help you as much as he can i had a black aro delivered by neil no messing around he was here within a couple of days the packageing was really well installed you can tell with these guys its more than just getting the sale they put real care and effort into everythink.

If there's a fish you want but can't find, give these guys a shout! Clean tanks, well looked after livestock and sound advice from experienced guys make this place well worth a visit! Keep up the hard work guys!

I have used Living World x 3 times in the last few years and cannot recommend them highly enough!

I collect & order rare fish from all over the world & their packaging is second to none.

Fish have arrived in pristine health. Currently not the biggest shop in the world but the collection of fish they offer can at times be astounding.

Neil is a top guy with a wealth of knowledge and no matter what you are after can probably get it.

I will continue to use them again & again. Thank you for an excellent service.

I bought six L031 Plecs on the 3rd march, they were sent by post, first I have to thank Louis for the way he handled eveything. The Peppermints arrived in good time and it was clear to me well looked after, they are doing great and once again I salute you Louis, great work. Regards Bill

Having several fish suppliers in the area I have to say that the customer service from most the staff is what keeps me going back for more especially Neil who's knowledge and willingness to help is the best. Despite how busy it was over the bank holiday the staff took the time to assist in recommending a few fish that would work well in my tanks.

Having been involved in tropical fish for many years and visiting most of the shops throughout the country - this is a typical garden centre fish shop BUT the difference being with this one is they won't try and sell you things you don't need or want. The quality of service and knowledge from the person I always head for (Neil) is outstanding and honest. Good array of quality and well maintained fish makes it a pleasure to visit this particular store.

Had my first and definitely not my last delivery today from living world. Having never met anyone from hear before I was seriously impressed by the proffesional way my order was handled. Phone calls to confirm the order had gone through and Facebook updates with my order number.

As a monster fish keeper was very impressed with the selection of fish and Neil's knowledge.

Go and visit these guys or place an order you will not be dissapointed. Well done.

Great range, great service and very knowledgeable. Aqua one stockist including my favourite the aqua vogue 240. Impressive tank with the best lights and external canister filter.

Great range of fish, excellent quality and great price. Pleasure to deal with and very helpful �

Great little fish shop could do with more tanks other than that great stock and prices

Got some rare fish at a bargain price. Very happy customer �

Ever so nice staff. lots of weird and wonderful fish that I absolutely love. All in all a great place to go definitely worth a visit

At last some one who really knows about fish. Neal offers loads of information and advice, clearly knows his fish. Love the clean tanks, no dead or sick fish like other places, it's a real pleasure to visit and even more to purchase his great stock.