Favorite local fish store?

[Justnotrook]

What is your favorite fish store you have ever been to?

 

My personal favorites would have to be Reefkoi corals LLC, and Insidereef.

[Beach Cruiser]

Not really a "store", per se...but my good buddy ran a fish farm in South Florida for 20yrs. Not only did they have dozens & dozens of tanks in a warehouse (full of crazy oddball fish from the owner's expeditions around the world) but also several acres of in ground ponds full of exotics! It was all fresh spring water constantly circulating & out into fruit orchards. You could actually get in the huge ponds & swim with a couple hundred of these! 

 

[Ninjoma]

Aquarium Zen in Seattle is my favorite fish store local to me.

[Justnotrook]

On 9/28/2024 at 1:15 PM, Ninjoma said:

Aquarium Zen in Seattle is my favorite fish store local to me.

I just looked that up and that is the best freshwater fish store I have ever seen. It has some amazing aquascapes and the beautiful rimless ADA tanks. If I ever go to Seattle I’ll make sure to check it out.

[Mississippi fish guy]

I have never been to a lfs before since I’m not aware of any that are any where near me. I do however have a mom and pop pet store I visit fair regularly. It’s not the greatest place to buy fish but most fish they have are healthy and they can bring in fish they don’t normally carry if you call them Tuesday morning. Also I’m pretty sure someone local has been bringing them extra plants since plants aren’t normally something they sell.

[Retrophyllum_minus]

There's a guy an hour away with a small store attached to his house. He's an interesting guy. The tanks in his store have been running for like 40 years. They're wild. 
 

But there's a store half an hour in the other direction that is great. I usually go there. The owner is super knowledgeable and a really good guy. He knows so much, too and is very glad to assist with whatever he can. 

[GoofyGarra]

This is not my LFS but I've been to The Reef in Indianapolis on trips several times and it is a very nice store.

[Justnotrook]

On 9/28/2024 at 6:09 PM, GoofyGarra said:

This is not my LFS but I've been to The Reef in Indianapolis on trips several times and it is a very nice store.

Just looked it up, it looks like a nice and big store with a lot of fish and aquascaping supplies.

Forgot to say this, but I love aqua rocks Colorado and aquatic art inc. Not really local fish stores but definitely worth a mention.

[TAB]

Probably  capital aquarium a couple decades ago

[Tony s]

On 9/28/2024 at 8:09 PM, GoofyGarra said:

This is not my LFS but I've been to The Reef in Indianapolis on trips several times and it is a very nice store.

This is usually a must stop for us when in town. We have to go say hi to Esmeralda their scarlet macaw. Then aquarium world in Lafayette. Then today we discovered Petware House in Fort Wayne. Will be going back there when in town.

[Tazalanche]

My top 2 LFS within 3 hours of my home are "Aquatic Critter" in Nashville, TN & "Knoxville Aquarium" in Knoxville, TN.

Pre-covid, I was a supplier to Aquatic Critter of various ancistrus, endlers, guppies, angelfish, discus, sterbai cories, etc., & assassin snails, but it was just a hobby and was taking up too much of my time. Even after multiple decades, I still like to go in there & just wander for about 30-60 minutes.

Knoxville Aquarium has a great selection too, but their indoor and outdoor aquatic plants are where they truly shine.

 

In the mid-1990's, Capital Aquarium in Sacramento, CA was the coolest fish store I'd ever seen, with jaw dropping low prices. You'd literally walk over an indoor koi pond bridge to get into the main store. I was last there in 1995. They've been closed for years now 😞

Edited September 30 by Tazalanche

[gardenman]

"Ever" is an interesting option. I'm not sure I have a current favorite overall as most of the stores I grew up with are gone. Different stores had different appeals. Martin's Aquarium in Jenkintown PA and Cherry Hill NJ had the best overall selection of fish. World Wide Aquarium in Upper Darby PA had the best prices on fish and supplies. They were a wholesale/retail setup, and you'd often find LFS owners there buying their stock. Tisa's pet shop in Cherry Hill NJ had nice fish with a gorgeous display tank up front with calico goldfish in it. Chick and Barbs' in Vineland NJ always had some interesting stuff. They bred fancy goldfish so their culls would end up as feeder goldfish and you could often find some pretty nice fancy goldfish being sold as feeders. Mantua Tropical Fish and Pet Island in Mantua NJ was among my favorites as Maryanne and her husband were devoted fish keepers. Evan's Tropical Fish in Salem NJ was an older couple who bred fish in their basement and sold the fish out of their enclosed back porch. And there are many more. There was a store over on Governor Printz Boulevard in Delaware that had a huge display tank with a large arowana in it. They had a dark showroom lit mostly by the light from the tanks that was very impressive. Every tank was like a show tank. And they're all gone now. The sixties-nineties were the heyday of the LFS around here. There were stores everywhere and most were run by hobbyists who loved fish. There just isn't much around here any longer. 

[dangerflower]

This is a little more niche than a regular lfs, but Hughes Water Gardens in Tualatin, OR is an incredible water plant nursery and pond supply store. They have an amazing selection of plants, and lots of gorgeous ponds set up with beautiful huge koi! It's so nice there.

[MrBen]

On 9/30/2024 at 9:08 AM, gardenman said:

"Ever" is an interesting option. I'm not sure I have a current favorite overall as most of the stores I grew up with are gone. Different stores had different appeals. Martin's Aquarium in Jenkintown PA and Cherry Hill NJ had the best overall selection of fish. World Wide Aquarium in Upper Darby PA had the best prices on fish and supplies. They were a wholesale/retail setup, and you'd often find LFS owners there buying their stock. Tisa's pet shop in Cherry Hill NJ had nice fish with a gorgeous display tank up front with calico goldfish in it. Chick and Barbs' in Vineland NJ always had some interesting stuff. They bred fancy goldfish so their culls would end up as feeder goldfish and you could often find some pretty nice fancy goldfish being sold as feeders. Mantua Tropical Fish and Pet Island in Mantua NJ was among my favorites as Maryanne and her husband were devoted fish keepers. Evan's Tropical Fish in Salem NJ was an older couple who bred fish in their basement and sold the fish out of their enclosed back porch. And there are many more. There was a store over on Governor Printz Boulevard in Delaware that had a huge display tank with a large arowana in it. They had a dark showroom lit mostly by the light from the tanks that was very impressive. Every tank was like a show tank. And they're all gone now. The sixties-nineties were the heyday of the LFS around here. There were stores everywhere and most were run by hobbyists who loved fish. There just isn't much around here any longer. 

World Wide Aquarium is in Philly now, Roxborough/Manayunk area.  Their fish section isn't great though, dirty tanks, lots of dead fish, and relatively expensive too.  They do occasionally get very cool fish though, that's where I got my Ropefish.  Other than that your only option around here these days is Petco/Petsmart....

[govsfabshop]

We have two good ones local to me, About fish who recently became a co-op dealer and rays tank. 

Few months ago heading to montana we stopped at Dans fish in sheridan wyoming and wow! That place is impressive, not a store just a warehouse, but it is quite the impressive operation and everyone there was incredible!

[Justnotrook]

On 9/30/2024 at 4:11 PM, govsfabshop said:

We have two good ones local to me, About fish who recently became a co-op dealer and rays tank. 

Few months ago heading to montana we stopped at Dans fish in sheridan wyoming and wow! That place is impressive, not a store just a warehouse, but it is quite the impressive operation and everyone there was incredible!

I’ve surprisingly heard about this one!

[Ravelle]

We don't really have dedicated fish stores around where I live,  just general pet stores or home and garden centers with fish sections,  that said  the big pet store near me don't have many fish but the stuff is always helpful and knowledgeable, same for the big centers,   where they have staff especially for the fish.

[karanit]

The Fish Place in Tonawanda, NY outside Buffalo. I wish they'd put their bettas in tanks but all the other tanks are pristine.

[mynameisnobody]

Monster aquarium in NYC has basically everything you would need. If you’re ever visiting, I highly recommend it and the food in the area is ridiculous. Subway will get you there from anywhere in the city. You would never expect it looking from the outside, but it’s the most impressive aquarium shop I’ve ever been to, but I’ve also never been to the West coast. 

[Justnotrook]

On 10/1/2024 at 6:04 AM, mynameisnobody said:

Monster aquarium in NYC has basically everything you would need. If you’re ever visiting, I highly recommend it and the food in the area is ridiculous. Subway will get you there from anywhere in the city. You would never expect it looking from the outside, but it’s the most impressive aquarium shop I’ve ever been to, but I’ve also never been to the West coast. 

I’ve also heard of this one before

[Scaperoot]

Neighborhood fish farm in Miami for fish, plants, snails. Strictly fish for hardscape and certain plants I can't find at the fish farm. 

[Tony s]

On 10/1/2024 at 2:46 AM, Ravelle said:

We don't really have dedicated fish stores around where I live

Lfs is a relative term. For me it’s at least an hour drive. And 2 hours for our favorite. Find one around that far away or slightly farther. Fins a couple of other things you like there. Zoos, theater, restaurants, and make a short day trip out of the visit.

[quikv6]

Monster aquarium can also get you something specific/rare that may not be regularly stocked in the store.

[Tanked]

My favorite store with fish is the new PetSmart near me.  They cut my travel time in half. 

My favorite LFS is Monfort Aquarium & Pet in Monfort Heights OH. 

The store is about 95% fish related, and the only downside for me is: they don't itemize plants on the register receipts. If you don't remember the name or cost of the plant, you are out of luck.