Fast Aquatics vs That Fish Place / That Pet Place
That Fish Place (TFP, also That Pet Place) is the long-running Lancaster PA brick-and-mortar + online retailer. Fast Aquatics is the multi-vendor marketplace built around named cultivars, captive-bred sourcing, and 50-state reach.
TL;DR
TFP/TPP is a destination retailer with a strong physical store and decades of brand trust in the Northeast. Fast Aquatics is the marketplace that aggregates direct-from-breeder inventory + dozens of vendors in one cart. TFP wins on local-pickup brand familiarity; Fast Aquatics wins on cultivar depth, vendor diversity, and aquaculture filtering.
Feature-by-feature comparison
| Feature | Fast Aquatics | That Fish Place / That Pet Place |
|---|
| Business model | Multi-vendor marketplace (50 states) | Single retailer + flagship store |
| Named cultivar pages | 1,500+ | Common species |
| Captive-bred filter | Yes | Not exposed per listing |
| Multi-vendor cart | Direct-from-breeder + reef stores | Single retailer |
| DOA window | 4-hour photo evidence | Standard arrive-alive |
| Care content per species | 500+ words + FAQ | Sales copy |
| Pond / koi | Hatcheries onboarding | Limited |
When Fast Aquatics fits better
- Named cultivars + originator credit. TFP sells common species; Fast Aquatics indexes 1,500+ named lineages.
- Multi-vendor cart. One checkout aggregating dozens of breeders. TFP is single-retailer.
- Captive-bred / aquaculture filter. Fast Aquatics surfaces it everywhere; TFP doesn't expose origin per listing.
- Care library next to checkout. 500+ words per species with parameters, FAQ, breeding notes.
When That Fish Place / That Pet Place fits better
- If you live in driving distance of Lancaster PA. Visiting TFP's flagship is a hobby pilgrimage with massive in-person inventory.
- Established brand trust in the Northeast. Decades of local reputation.
- Their dry-goods and consumables catalog is deep. TFP's online store covers RO/DI, salt, food, dosing - similar to BRS but with broader category mix.
Frequently asked questions
Is That Fish Place good for online orders?
Yes - TFP/TPP is a long-running retailer with strong process. For specialty livestock and named cultivars, Fast Aquatics aggregates more vendors (and therefore more inventory + price competition) than any single retailer can offer.
Where can I find rare aquarium fish online?
Fast Aquatics indexes named cultivars and rare lineages by originator (Pink Lemonade, Wyoming White, L046 Zebra, etc.). Vendor cohort spans direct-from-breeder shops nationwide.
Best alternative to That Fish Place?
Depends on the use case. For dry goods and consumables, BRS or Aquarium Co-op are direct competitors. For livestock + named cultivars + multi-vendor cart, Fast Aquatics is the marketplace alternative.
Named cultivars across all aquatic categories
Live vendor inventory shipping overnight to all 50 states. Buyer Protection on every order.
Browse cultivars
All comparisons