About Biotope
More Than an Aquarium Shop
My journey into fishkeeping began when I was 19 years old.
Growing up, we had the familiar goldfish in a small bowl, but it never survived for long. I eventually realized that the problem was not the fish it was how we were caring for it. Curious to understand why, I began researching proper fishkeeping.
I discovered an enormous hobby enjoyed by millions of people around the world. Until then, I thought keeping fish simply meant placing a goldfish in a bowl. I was amazed by the variety of freshwater fish that could be kept at home, but what truly changed everything for me was discovering planted aquariums.
The idea that wood, rocks and living plants could be arranged underwater to recreate a piece of nature awakened something in me. Aquascaping was not simply decoration—it was art, nature and a living ecosystem combined.
From One Aquarium to a Lifelong Passion
When I started looking for aquarium products in Lebanon, I struggled to find what I needed. There were very few specialized websites, and most of what I found was designed for traditional, outdated aquarium setups.
Things began to change when I joined a Lebanese fishkeeping community on Facebook. I met experienced hobbyists who introduced me to new ideas, products and techniques. Little by little, I learned where to find the right equipment and how to build healthier, more natural aquariums.
One small aquarium soon became three aquariums in my bedroom.
I practiced Aquascaping repeatedly experimenting, failing, learning and starting again. Trial and error is part of every hobby, and every unsuccessful attempt taught me something valuable. Eventually, the people around me began admiring my aquariums and asking me to create aquascapes for them.
That was when I began to imagine turning my passion into a business.
The Beginning of Biotope
In 2024, war forced me to evacuate. I lost my aquariums and some of my fish, but I refused to let that loss end my dream.
After the war, I opened Biotope.
I did not have enough money to establish a large, fully stocked aquarium store. Instead, I began with what I knew best: creating nano aquascapes and displaying them inside the shop. People were fascinated because many had never seen aquariums designed in this way before.
I sold the aquariums I created and reinvested the profits into new products for the shop. Slowly, Biotope became known in my area, and I could finally see my dream growing.
But Biotope was never meant to be an ordinary commercial aquarium shop.
Our Standards Come Before Profit
From the beginning, I refused to compromise the wellbeing of the animals under my care.
At Biotope, betta fish were never kept in tiny cups. Each one had its own planted aquarium. Tanks were not overcrowded, and the fish were given some of the best-quality food available.
This approach was not always the easiest or most profitable way to run a business. But it allowed me to sleep at night knowing that the fish in my care were being treated with dignity.
That principle remains at the heart of Biotope today: fish are living creatures, not decorations or disposable products.
When War Returned
As I prepared to celebrate Biotope’s first anniversary, war reached us again this time more intensely and for much longer.
As a Lebanese Red Cross volunteer, I watched my city being destroyed around me. My shop was theoretically only five minutes away, yet reaching it was impossible because of the danger.
During the first month, my father visited the shop on rainy days to feed the fish, risking his own safety to care for them. I still do not know how he found the courage. As the situation became more severe, he was also forced to evacuate.
The shop lost electricity, and no one could reach the fish or feed them. I sometimes passed within meters of Biotope while working in an ambulance, knowing my fish were inside but unable to stop without risking my life.
It was one of the most painful parts of the experience. I felt responsible for placing these beautiful creatures in a situation where they might suffer.
When I finally returned two months later, I was shocked to discover that most of the fish had survived, although sadly, some did not.
The experience taught me a great deal both emotionally and technically. I witnessed how resilient fish can be and how a properly established ecosystem can support life during extreme conditions. Some survived by feeding on the microorganisms already living inside their aquariums.
It changed the way I understand aquariums forever.
Keeping the Dream Alive
Today, my city remains in a red zone, where another escalation could happen at any time. Many people are uncertain whether to invest, rebuild or leave and begin again somewhere else.
Biotope’s physical shop is currently closed. The city has become almost a ghost town, and I mainly return to care for the fish. But I still refuse to give up.
That determination inspired the next chapter of Biotope: our online store.
I created this website to keep the dream alive and to build the resource I wish had existed when I first entered the hobby. It is a modern, straightforward place where people across Lebanon can discover Aquascaping, learn how to care for aquatic life responsibly and find the products they need in one place.
Whether you are setting up your first aquarium or developing your next aquascape, Biotope is here to help you create something beautiful, natural and alive.
Our Mission
Biotope exists to make responsible fishkeeping and Aquascaping more accessible in Lebanon.
Our mission is to:
- Help beginners start their aquarium journey correctly.
- Provide carefully selected, modern aquarium products.
- Promote ethical and responsible fishkeeping.
- Share honest knowledge gained through real experience.
- Introduce more people to the art of planted aquariums.
- Help every customer build a healthy ecosystem not merely a container filled with fish.
Biotope is more than a business. It is the result of curiosity, years of practice, repeated failure, resilience and a refusal to abandon a dream.
Welcome to Biotope a piece of nature, brought to life.