Exotic Aquaculture Australia has permanently shut down after a blaze destroyed the popular aquarium

A rare coral seller in Melbourne’s southeast has been forced to close his bricks and mortar shop after a fire ripped through it.

Exotic Aquaculture Australia gained a cult following for its rare coral and clown fish that could not be found at your ordinary pet store.Picture: Exotic Aquaculture Australia

A popular aquarium in Melbourne’s southeast has made the call to permanently close down after a “devastating” fire ripped through and destroyed the store.

Exotic Aquaculture Australia lost thousands of dollars worth of supplies when a blaze caused by an electrical fault caused significant damage to the shop in late June.

Owner Ben Duncan started the business out of his garage as one of Australia’s first online stores selling rare coral and clownfish, before setting up out of a shop in Bonbeach in 2019.

Mr Duncan said while he was able to salvage enough to keep the store’s busy online store alive, too much was lost to justify finding another bricks and mortar location.

“I can’t reopen the shop,” he said.

“Quite a lot [of coral] survived...but I’ve lost too much and to relocate would cost money that I don’t really have.

“I don’t think I’d have the energy to do it. This time round it would be hard given what happened.

“I didn’t have the motivation to go in and start clearing it for a while, it’s been a traumatic place to visit.

“A lot of the corals I had were my income because they could produce more coral that could and give me my income. A dairy farmer could lose all his milk but if he loses cows that’s devastating”.

Mr Duncan plans to remain in the industry, shifting his focus towards adding to his database and trading out of home.

“There’s plenty of supporters and thousands of followers…I couldn’t leave it and go and do something else,” he said.

“It’s definitely reassuring and motivating knowing you have support and people that care that much”.

A GoFundMe has been set up to help Mr Duncan get back on his feet.

Mr Duncan was one of the first in Australia to sell rare coral online, boasting one of the country’s most extensive aquaculture databases.

His website and store changed the game for passionate aquaculturists, given coral is unable to be imported from overseas.

He is renowned for his collection of zoanthids, which are quite rare and hot collector’s item, as well as selling equipment to help people breed their own fish and coral to reduce the amount collected from the ocean.