This is not your typical retail space.
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A sea of aquariums fill the new retail space at Big Kahuna Tropical Fish in Madison as Scott Szukalski arranges aquatic plants. The tanks hold a variety of fresh and saltwater fish, hermit crabs, star fish and more, as well as freshwater shrimp, which are sold to customers around the country.
Jon Healy has been around tropical fish for most of his life and learned the business from his father in southern California. Healy saw his three stores in Wisconsin collapse during the recession of 2008 but has rebuilt his business and is now selling fish through his website to customers around the country. He recently expanded his business to include a retail store.
A variety of platy fish swim in a tank at Big Kahuna Tropical Fish. Platy are freshwater fish native to Mexico and Central America, but these fish are bred in captivity in Florida.
Tyler Walhovd, general manager at Big Kahuna Tropical Fish, shows off a tub of coral that is filled with circulating water and illuminated with LED and blue actinic lights that better penetrate the water to aid in the coral's growth.
Scott Szukalski organizes aquatic plants in one of the many tanks at Big Kahuna Tropical Fish. The business, like a nursery garden center, grows a variety plants, but for aquariums.
This 30-year-old clownfish, which is not for sale, is one of the showpieces at Big Kahuna Tropical Fish in Madison.
Photos: Yahara Fishing Club’s 25th annual Kids Ice Fishing Day
The Yahara Fishing Club’s 25th annual Kids Ice Fishing Day on Monona Bay at Brittingham Park drew hundreds of participants, They included Maria Estalona, 9, right, and sister, Ignacia, 7, left, with their brother, Francisco, 7, center and parents, Victor Estalona and Vicky Gonzalez, of Madison.
Zoey Hamus, 2, of Waunakee, has her photo taken by father Jake with the bluegill she caught during the Yahara Fishing Club’s 25th annual Kids Ice Fishing Day on Monona Bay in 2023.
Siblings, from left, Bo Maher, 4, and Maple, 3, of Middleton, warm up with hot chocolate during the Yahara Fishing Club’s 25th annual Kids Ice Fishing Day on Monona Bay at Brittingham Park in Madison, Wis., Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023. AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL
Ben Lin, of Oregon, and his son, Elijah, 4, try ice fishing for the first time during the Yahara Fishing Club’s 25th annual Kids Ice Fishing Day on Monona Bay at Brittingham Park in Madison, Wis., Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023. AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL
Members of the Yahara Fishing Club hand out buckets filled with ice fishing rods, ice scoops and weights during the club’s 25th annual Kids Ice Fishing Day on Monona Bay at Brittingham Park in Madison, Wis., Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023. AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL
Cristella Horstmann, 4, left, and sister, Elora, 6, from Middleton, go ice fishing during the Yahara Fishing Club’s 25th annual Kids Ice Fishing Day on Monona Bay at Brittingham Park in Madison, Wis., Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023. AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL
Jh’Manii Jackson, 7, with her mom, Taneshia, left, goes ice fishing during the Yahara Fishing Club’s 25th annual Kids Ice Fishing Day on Monona Bay at Brittingham Park in Madison, Wis., Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023. AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL
Steve Collins, left, of Madison, shows his granddaughter, Alexis Niebuhr, 11, of Rockford, how to hold the crappie she caught during the Yahara Fishing Club’s 25th annual Kids Ice Fishing Day on Monona Bay at Brittingham Park in Madison, Wis., Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023. AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL
Kim Galloway, left, member of the Yahara Fishing Club, hands out a bucket of ice fishing supplies to event attendees, including Holden Schiele, 7, of Middleton, during the club’s 25th annual Kids Ice Fishing Day on Monona Bay at Brittingham Park in Madison, Wis., Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023. AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL
Keith Cronin, of Madison, gets a photo of his kids, from right, Sam, 6, Oliver, 11, and Tim, 9, with a bluegill caught by Sam, during the Yahara Fishing Club’s 25th annual Kids Ice Fishing Day on Monona Bay at Brittingham Park in Madison, Wis., Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023. AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL
