Hi Caryl, yes I used to keep fishes in France, since I was 10, the hobby is huge over there and you are not really limited in terms of choice. The prices are also way cheaper (divide by 2 or three for a fish tank). Every garden center would have at least 50 different tanks with a wide variety of fish from your typical gold fish to the rarest you'd always dreamed of, yes no ministry of primary industry to restrain importation. brands like Juwel are very comon and cheap as they are made in Germany (as long as you don't need parts lol) there is also a big community of aquarium builder, DYI is much appreciated with big fish keepers and breeders.