Hey There!

About Katrine, Founder of KatsAquatics ​

      Hey! My name is Kat - I’m a biologist, a Brooklyn native, and someone who's been obsessed with animals for as long as I can remember. KatsAquatics began with a simple mission: to create nutrition that actually works for aquatic pets—and now reptiles too.

​

      The story really started with Betsy, my golden retriever and very first best friend. At just 12 years old, she was off-leash trained, could balance treats on her nose, and knew every trick in the book. We were inseparable. But when my family faced extreme financial hardship and had to relocate to New York City, everything changed. Betsy had grown up running through forest trails, full of energy and freedom. Cramping her into a Brooklyn apartment, alone for eight hours a day, felt deeply unfair. With a heavy heart, we rehomed her to a loving family with a large yard and the time to give her the life she deserved.

That loss left a huge void. After convincing my parents to let me start a fish tank, things escalated quickly. Fish started breeding, snails were added—and that’s when the problems became clear. Their shells were soft, deteriorating, and no commercial products seemed to help. In 2019, I started formulating my own calcium blends from my bedroom. Everything changed from there.

​

      Later that year, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, I traveled to the Amazon rainforest to volunteer at the Yanacocha Animal Sanctuary in Ecuador. While there, I studied the Amazon River and its surrounding ecosystem. One key observation stuck: despite the river’s naturally acidic pH (around 6), wild apple snails had flawless, thriving shells. It became clear—pH wasn’t the problem. In captivity, it was calcium deficiency.

​

      By the time I turned 18 in 2021, KatsAquatics officially launched. The first product was designed to do what others couldn’t: support shell health without fouling water, swinging pH, or including ingredients aquatic pets wouldn’t touch. Since then, things haven’t stopped growing.

The business has moved into an official warehouse in Brooklyn. A team of dedicated employees is coming together. We’ve sold over 40,000 jars as of 2025, expanded into reptile nutrition, and are constantly developing new, never-before-seen products for the hobby.

​

      And we’re not stopping here.

​

      KatsAquatics has a "BHAG"—a Big Hairy Audacious Goal: to become the new household name in aquatics. To be on shelves at Petco. To be the one corporation that pet owners can actually trust. The goal isn’t just to sell more jars—it’s to redefine what quality means in this industry, and to build a brand rooted in science, transparency, and love for the animals we care for.

This all started with one fish tank, one frustrated teenager, and one big idea. And the best part? We’re just getting started.