United States Fish Store Directory

[dasmall1]

State: Pennsylvania
City: Pittsburgh
Store: All Oddball Aquatics

Variety/ Selection: 10
Cleanliness and quality: 10
Staff friendlyness and Knowledge: 10
Smiley rating:

Here's his website. It's not the best site ever, but the store is great. Nobody pressures you to buy anything. Eric actually suggested that I don't buy Eco-Complete and suggested a much cheaper alternative. We talked about planted tanks for a while, and he offered to take some of a plant from a display tank and give it to me! I should ask him to check out his fish room. The upstairs is pretty big. My great aunt used to own a pet shop there, but when her husband died, she sold everything, and he moved in!

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State: Pennsylvania
City: West Mifflin (Near Pittsburgh)
Store: PetSmart

Variety/ Selection: 7
Cleanliness and quality: 7
Staff friendlyness and Knowledge: 6
Smiley rating:

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State: Pennsylvania
City: Pleasant Hills (Near Pittsburgh)
Store: PetCo

Variety/ Selection: 5
Cleanliness and quality: 4
Staff friendlyness and Knowledge: 3
Smiley rating:

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State: Pennsylvania
City: Whitehall
Store: Atlantis

Variety/ Selection: 8
Cleanliness and quality: 7
Staff friendlyness and Knowledge: 7
Smiley rating:

Great only for saltwater. If you're into freshwater, they have almost zero selection of anything although they advertise that they do.

 

[ab420]

State: Massachusetts
City: Northborough
Store: Mayo's Pets and More

Variety/Selection: 8
Cleanliness & Quality: 9
Staff friendliness & knowledge: 10

Summary: They have no problem talking to you for hours to help you with any questions you have! It is a family run business, so when you go there, you are either talking to the owner, his wife, or his son (who is probably 40), and all of them have fish tanks of their own and know a good amount about them, particularly the owner, Mr. Mayo. On numerous occasions, he has stayed past closing hour to talk to me about my fish and help me out, and he ALWAYS talks me out of buying expensive stuff and shows me cheaper and usually better alternatives. From day one they treated me as a friend rather than a customer, and I have never gone anywhere else since!!!!

 

[acetennis2002]

State: Michigan
City: Waterford
Store: Moby Dicks Pet Store

Variety/ Selection: 8
Cleanliness and quality: 8
Staff friendlyness and Knowledge: 9
Smiley rating:

Summery: They have one of the best selections i have ever seen at a LFS they have both Saltwater and freshwater even a few reptiles and small animals. The staff can answer just about anything you ask them.

 

[guppymommy]

State: Arizona
City: Payson
Store: Payson Feed and Supply

Variety/ Selection: 6
Cleanliness and quality: 7
Staff friendliness and Knowledge: 8
Smiley rating:

State: Arizona
City: Payson
Store: Wal-Mart

Variety/Selection: 4
Cleanliness and quality: 4
Staff friendliness and knowledge: 8 (if you talk to Lynn) 1 (if you talk to anyone else)
Smiley rating:

State: Arizona
City: Tempe
Store: Pets Inc.
Pets Inc.

Variety/Selection: 9
Cleanliness and quality: 10
Staff friendliness and knowledge: 9
Smiley rating:

 

[rarefish]

State: Arkansas
City: Russellville
Store: Davis Pet Store

Variety/ Selection: 5
Cleanliness and quality: 2 Some of their dry-stock is over 20-years old; not very clean
Staff friendlyness and Knowledge: 6 Friendly but not very knowledgable
Smiley rating:

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State: Arkansas
City: Conway
Store: Pet Country

Variety/ Selection: 7
Cleanliness and quality: 8
Staff friendlyness and Knowledge: 7
Smiley rating:

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State: Arkansas
City: Conway
Store: Petsmart

Variety/ Selection: 8 Freshwater Only, But a lot of Cichlids
Cleanliness and quality: 6 Clean but Has Some Sickly and Dead Fish
Staff friendlyness and Knowledge: 4 Staff Knows Very Little About Proper Care of Different Species
Smiley rating:

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State: Arkansas
City: Russellville
Store: Wal-Mart

Variety/ Selection: 4
Cleanliness and quality: 2 Dead and Sick Fish
Staff friendlyness and Knowledge: 1 They Know Nothing about Even Basic Proper Care
Smiley rating:

 

[chibi]

State: Maryland
City: White Marsh
Store: Exotic Aquatics
Website: Here!

Variety/ Selection: 8
Cleanliness and Quality: 9
Staff Friendliness and Knowledge: 8
Smiley Rating:

This place is really great. It's HUGE, and the quality is great. I gave the selection an 8 because it's the best I've been to personally, but I haven't been to a bigger store. They have an enormous selection of marine fish, a row of chilids, and some fish that are HUGE. They have a corydoras there that is so big and old (2 ft+) that they have offered it to the Baltimore Aquarium because no one can accomodate it. All the tanks are properly cared for, and are equipped with plants, gravel, and even decoration. They have nice prices and nice people who work there. Not that this has to do with anything, but they're a bit pervy... XD I've had success with all the fish I've gotten from there. If they have sick fish in a tank and you ask for a fish from it, they'll tell you it's not a good idea. I love the store! If you aren't from around here, it's worth a 30 minute drive any day!

State: Maryland
City: Perry Hall
Store: Tom's Tropicals

Variety/ Selection: 5
Cleanliness and Quality: 5
Staff Friendliness and Knowledge: 7
Smiley Rating:

This place is small, the selection is a bit lacking, and there are often sickly/dead fish in the tanks. They have a nice supply of equipment there though. The staff is really nice and helpful. This place also sells pets like bunnies and guinea pigs, strange ones like turantulas and lizards, and feeder mice/fish/bugs. I've never had a huge success with their fish... it's usually a hit-or-miss. It's best to quarantine them before adding them to your tank. If they are sick, they will die within 2 days. If they survive, I'd say they are healthy enough for your main tank.

State: Maryland
City: Bel Air
Store: Neptune's Den

Variety/ Selection: 6
Cleanliness and Quality: 7
Staff Friendliness and Knowledge: ?
Smiley Rating:

This place is huge as well, but half the store is for pet foods and such for other pets other than fish. They have a nice selection of fish. I gave cleanliness/quality a 7 because even though most are healthy, the tanks aren't as nice as they could be. Some tanks have no gravel which makes me sad...

 

[philg]

Michigan

City: Bad Axe

Name: The Fish Store

Variety: I was never let down. If Chopper didn't have it he would try really hard to find it.

Cleanliness and quality: Both excellent. Great care was taken to keep the tanks clean and the store nice. It's not one of those flashy places, but a great one to go to.

Staff friendliness and knowledgeablitliy: Excellent. Honest also. If I had a question that Chopper didn't know the answer to he would find out and let me know. When you are dealt with you feel like his only customer. Also, I moved recently and was told to continue to call if I needed help.

Smilie rating:

 

[Annastasia]

I have to add a new one on for Maryland. I just went there on Friday, and it's FANTASTIC!

State: Maryland
City: Silver Spring
Name: Scales Tropical Fish Warehouse
Address:
Cloverly Towne Center
744 Cloverly Street
Phone: 301-384-7839
(No website)

Variety: They have a ton of "oddball" fish, along with a good healthy variety of freshwater and saltwater fish. I'd give it a 9.

Cleanliness and Quality: Very good. It's a lovely store, the fish all look great, the tanks are nice and clean. 10.

Staff Friendliness and Knowledgeablility: I haven't tested them yet ( ), but they were very sweet. They even offered to move my 90g for me when I moved. So 10 on the first part, not sure yet on the second part.

Smilie Rating:

 

[ox5477]

State: New York
City: Rochester
Store: Pet World
Website: unknown

Variety/ Selection: 6
Cleanliness and Quality: 7
Staff Friendliness and Knowledge: 6
Smiley Rating:

Store has very excellent prices as it is a family owned shop. But lacks many specialty fishes and really has a bland layout and appeal.


State: New York
City: Rochester
Store: Pet House
Website: unknown

Variety/ Selection: 9
Cleanliness and Quality: 5
Staff Friendliness and Knowledge: 8
Smiley Rating:

Excellent variety of rare fishes, but seemingly sparse knowledge behind some of the specialty fish. The prices are equal to fish rareity, so expect to pay. Conditions most of fish kept in, make me think twice abut buying from store. The co-owner has a great knowledge of fish, but in some areas comes up short and the fish seem to pay for this.


State: New York
City: Rochester
Store: The Reef Guys
Website: unknown

Variety/ Selection: 9
Cleanliness and Quality: 9
Staff Friendliness and Knowledge: 3
Smiley Rating:

Amazing selection of saltwater fish and live rock/reef flora. Very cool shop with low lighting and clean tanks making the fish pop. Knowledge of owner/owners unknown as only person in shop sat at computer and looked up only once. Seemed like fair prices as well.

 

[RRasco]

State: Texas
City: San Antonio
Store: Alamo Aquatics

Variety/ Selection: 7
Cleanliness and quality: 7
Staff friendlyness and Knowledge: 7
Prices: 7

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State: Texas
City: San Antonio
Store: Fintique

Variety/ Selection: 9
Cleanliness and quality: 9
Staff friendlyness and Knowledge: 8
Prices: 7

 

[saeckao]

State: Oregon
City: Portland
Store: Caye's Aquarium

Variety/Selection: 7
Cleanliness and quality: 8
Staff friendlyness and Knowledge: 6
Prices: 7

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State: Oregon
City: Portland
Store: A to Z Pets

Variety/Selection: 7
Cleanliness and quality: 7
Staff friendlyness and Knowledge: 5
Prices: 6

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State: Oregon
City: Portland
Store: Family Pet Center

Variety/Selection: 9
Cleanliness and quality: 8
Staff friendlyness and Knowledge: 6
Prices: 8

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State: Oregon
City: Portland
Store: CB"s Tropical

Variety/Selection: 8
Cleanliness and quality: 7
Staff friendlyness and Knowledge: 7
Prices: 7

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State: Oregon
City: Portland
Store: Petco on Division & 144th

Variety/Selection: 8
Cleanliness and quality: 7
Staff friendlyness and Knowledge: 7
Prices: 8

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State: Oregon
City: Portland
Store: Petsmart on Johnson Creek & 82nd

Variety/Selection: 8
Cleanliness and quality: 7
Staff friendlyness and Knowledge: 6
Prices: 8

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That's a list of only a few places that are closest to where I live. I like to go browse all of them, but I like Family Pet Center and both Petco and Petsmart the most. Those 3 had better prices and good selection, for freshwater fish at least.

 

[MoMa]

More Connecticut

Store: Slither 'N Swim
City: West Haven
Variety/Selection: 7
Cleanliness/Quality: 5
Staff Knowledge and friendliness: 3-6 -- they are primarily a reptile store, it sometimes seems as if aquaria is only out of necessity. I'd give them all 9's or 10's if we were talking reptiles.
Smiley Rating:

Store: Petco - Hamden
City: Hamden
Variety/Selection: 5
Cleanliness/Quality: weekdays 5, weekends 6
Staff Knowledge and friendliness: 2-4, w/ the exception of one kid - 7
Smiley Rating:

Store: All Pets
City: Wallingford/Meriden
Variety/Selection: 8
Cleanliness/Quality: 9
Staff Knowledge and friendliness: 9
Smiley Rating: B) -- they refuse to label brackish as freshwater
--this store is HUGE. sadly, they sell dogs. they are very competitive price-wise.

 

[Tommy Gunnz]

If you are ever in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area, you have to check out AQUATICS UNLIMITED on 108th street (actually in the suburb of West Allis, but Milwaukee is much easier to say!)

STATE: Wisconsin
CITY: Milwaukee/West Allis
STORE: Aquatics Unlimited

VARIETY/SELECTION: 8*
CLEANLINESS/QUALITY: 9
STAFF FRIENDLINESS AND KNOWLEDGE: 10

SMILEY RATING: awesome!

*In this area, which I am talking about the entire Metro-Milwaukee area (3 counties), this place has the best selection around and can order anything you want, however they will not order anything illegal or non-compatable for your set-up

This store is great because it is owned and run by a man who has been in the hobby for over 25 years. I have gone in there with my most troubling questions and he has been able to not only answer them, but his suggestions always fix my problems. The staff is very well educated and customers can actually attend the training sessions with the employees for FREE! This is the one and only store I have ever seen that does not have a 'betta wall' with the fish trapped in little cups (They have a TON of 5 gallon tanks with bettas for sale). This is also the only store I have ever heard of actually denying a sale to an inexperienced customer or a customer who is trying to do something silly. The place is super clean and doesnt even smell like fish. They also have two huge tanks, both over 1000 gallons to showcase large rare fish and also to show off how big some of the typical aquarium fish can get to be. They have a bala shark in one of these tanks that has to be over a foot and a half long!

 

[fish_fetish65]

STATE: North Carolina
CITY: Matthews
STORE: Petsmart

VARIETY/SELECTION: 7
CLEANLINESS/QUALITY: 8
STAFF FRIENDLINESS AND KNOWLEDGE: 10

SMILEY RATING:
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STATE: North Carolina
CITY: Monroe
STORE: Petsmart

VARIETY/SELECTION: 7
CLEANLINESS/QUALITY: 9
STAFF FRIENDLINESS AND KNOWLEDGE: 5 or 6

SMILEY RATING:
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STATE: North Carolina
CITY: Charlotte
STORE: Pet Supermarket

VARIETY/SELECTION: 6
CLEANLINESS/QUALITY: 8
STAFF FRIENDLINESS AND KNOWLEDGE: 5

SMILEY RATING:
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STATE: North Carolina
CITY: Charlotte
STORE: Fintastic

VARIETY/SELECTION: 9
CLEANLINESS/QUALITY: 9
STAFF FRIENDLINESS AND KNOWLEDGE: 8 (some of them are a bit stuck-up, though...)

SMILEY RATING:
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STATE: North Carolina
CITY: Charlotte
STORE: Petland

VARIETY/SELECTION: 8
CLEANLINESS/QUALITY: 4
STAFF FRIENDLINESS AND KNOWLEDGE: 4

SMILEY RATING:
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STATE: North Carolina
CITY: Pineville
STORE: Petsmart

VARIETY/SELECTION: 8
CLEANLINESS/QUALITY: 9
STAFF FRIENDLINESS AND KNOWLEDGE: 7

SMILEY RATING:
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STATE: North Carolina
CITY: Pineville
STORE: Petco

VARIETY/SELECTION: 6
CLEANLINESS/QUALITY: 6
STAFF FRIENDLINESS AND KNOWLEDGE: 8

SMILEY RATING:
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STATE: North Carolina
CITY: Pineville
STORE: Frank and Peg's Fish Place

VARIETY/SELECTION: 7
CLEANLINESS/QUALITY: 7
STAFF FRIENDLINESS AND KNOWLEDGE: 10

SMILEY RATING:
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STATE: North Carolina
CITY: Charlotte, Monroe
STORE: Walmart

VARIETY/SELECTION: 4
CLEANLINESS/QUALITY: 3
STAFF FRIENDLINESS AND KNOWLEDGE: 2

SMILEY RATING:

 

[3matthew3]

State: Pennsylvania
City: Emsworth (Pittsburgh)
Store: Aquaworld Pittsburgh

Variety/ Selection: 10
Cleanliness and Quality: 3
Staff Friendlyness and Knowledge: 5
Smiley Rating:

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State: Pennsylvania
City: Monroeville
Store: Elmer's Aquarium

Variety/ Selection: 8
Cleanliness and Quality: 8
Staff Friendlyness and Knowledge: 10
Smiley Rating:

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State: Pennsylvania
City: Pittsburgh
Store: All Odd-Ball Aquatics

Variety/ Selection: 5
Cleanliness and Quality: 8
Staff Friendlyness and Knowledge: 10
Smiley Rating:

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State: Pennsylvania
City: Cannonsburg
Store: Wet Pets

Variety/ Selection: 9
Cleanliness and Quality: 10
Staff Friendlyness and Knowledge: 7
Smiley Rating: