Aquatic business has grown to include more than 180 display tanks and 12 outdoor ponds.

Silver dollar fish swim in a tank at Prairie Creek Aquatics, 7828 26th Avenue, in Watkins, Iowa, on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. The business breeds and raises numerous breeds of tropical fish in about 180 aquariums. The business has about 3,000 fish. Customers come from Des Moines and the Quad Cities as well as the Waterloo area and the Missouri border. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

An angel fish swims in a tank with other angel fish at Prairie Creek Aquatics, 7828 26th Avenue, in Watkins, Iowa, on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. Store owner Bill Ballard says that angel fish are his biggest seller. The business breeds and raises numerous breeds of tropical fish in about 180 aquariums. The business has about 3,000 fish. Customers come from Des Moines and the Quad Cities as well as the Waterloo area and the Missouri border. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Bill Ballard shines a flashlight onto a male Zaire blue moba as it swims in a tank at Prairie Creek Aquatics, 7828 26th Avenue, in Watkins, Iowa, on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. Ballard has a male and female pair. The business breeds and raises numerous breeds of tropical fish in about 180 aquariums. The business has about 3,000 fish. Customers come from Des Moines and the Quad Cities as well as the Waterloo area and the Missouri border. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

The tail of a candy corn guppy is seen as it swims in a tank at Prairie Creek Aquatics, 7828 26th Avenue, in Watkins, Iowa, on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. The business breeds and raises numerous breeds of tropical fish in about 180 aquariums. The business has about 3,000 fish. Customers come from Des Moines and the Quad Cities as well as the Waterloo area and the Missouri border. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Dorothy Knowler checks the mouth of a OB zebra cichlid as she removes baby cichlids from its mouth at Prairie Creek Aquatics, 7828 26th Avenue, in Watkins, Iowa, on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. The business breeds and raises numerous breeds of tropical fish in about 180 aquariums. The business has about 3,000 fish. Customers come from Des Moines and the Quad Cities as well as the Waterloo area and the Missouri border. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Eggs are seen in a breeding cave placed in a tank at Prairie Creek Aquatics, 7828 26th Avenue, in Watkins, Iowa, on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. The business breeds and raises numerous breeds of tropical fish in about 180 aquariums. The business has about 3,000 fish. Customers come from Des Moines and the Quad Cities as well as the Waterloo area and the Missouri border. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Hybrid yellow lab fish swim in a tank at Prairie Creek Aquatics, 7828 26th Avenue, in Watkins, Iowa, on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. The business breeds and raises numerous breeds of tropical fish in about 180 aquariums. The business has about 3,000 fish. Customers come from Des Moines and the Quad Cities as well as the Waterloo area and the Missouri border. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Flutter, a male stingray, swims in a tank at Prairie Creek Aquatics, 7828 26th Avenue, in Watkins, Iowa, on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. The business breeds and raises numerous breeds of tropical fish in about 180 aquariums. The business has about 3,000 fish. Customers come from Des Moines and the Quad Cities as well as the Waterloo area and the Missouri border. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Baby koi congregate in a tank at Prairie Creek Aquatics, 7828 26th Avenue, in Watkins, Iowa, on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. The business breeds and raises numerous breeds of tropical fish in about 180 aquariums. The business has about 3,000 fish. Customers come from Des Moines and the Quad Cities as well as the Waterloo area and the Missouri border. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Bill Ballard puts food into a tank of fish at Prairie Creek Aquatics, 7828 26th Avenue, in Watkins, Iowa, on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. The business breeds and raises numerous breeds of tropical fish in about 180 aquariums. The business has about 3,000 fish. Customers come from Des Moines and the Quad Cities as well as the Waterloo area and the Missouri border. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

A male electric blue acara is seen in a tank at Prairie Creek Aquatics, 7828 26th Avenue, in Watkins, Iowa, on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. The business breeds and raises numerous breeds of tropical fish in about 180 aquariums. The business has about 3,000 fish. Customers come from Des Moines and the Quad Cities as well as the Waterloo area and the Missouri border. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

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