The fish store directory written by hobbyists.
Every independent aquarium shop we could verify, in one place — plus species profiles, calculators, and care guides we wished existed when we set up our first tank.

Care guides
Field notes for keepers
Species profiles, setup walkthroughs, and troubleshooting articles — written for hobbyists who actually run tanks.

Freshwater
Best Aquarium Fish for Beginners: 12 Hardy Species to Start With
New to fishkeeping? Discover 12 beginner-friendly aquarium fish with care requirements, tank size, and where to buy them at a local fish store near you.

Saltwater & Reef
Clownfish: Complete Care Guide, Species Comparison & Where to Buy
Learn how to keep clownfish — tank size, water parameters, anemone compatibility, and which species is right for you. Plus, find clownfish at a local fish store near you.

Tanks & Equipment
20 Gallon Fish Tank: Complete Buyer's Guide, Setup Tips & Best Fish
Shopping for a 20 gallon fish tank? Compare top kits, learn exact setup steps, and discover the best fish for a 20 gallon aquarium.
Species directory
408 species, profiled for keepers
Tank size, water parameters, diet, compatibility — every species you'll actually find at a local fish store.

Tetra
Neon Tetra Care Guide
Paracheirodon innesi
Master Neon Tetra care with our expert guide. Learn about ideal water parameters (pH 6.0-7.0), schooling behavior, diet, and how to prevent Neon Tetra Disease.

Livebearer
Cobra Guppy Care Guide
Poecilia reticulata
Master Cobra Guppy care! Learn how to maintain the stunning snakeskin patterns of Poecilia reticulata, including water parameters, diet, and breeding tips.

Tang
Tomini Tang Care Guide
Ctenochaetus tominiensis
Learn how to care for the Tomini Tang (Ctenochaetus tominiensis). Discover ideal tank size, diet for algae control, and tips for keeping this reef-safe fish.

Freshwater Other
Ghost Shrimp Care Guide
Palaemonetes paludosus
Master Ghost Shrimp care with our expert guide. Learn about Palaemonetes paludosus tank requirements, breeding, and how to keep these clear shrimp thriving.

Freshwater Mystery Snail
Apple Snail Care Guide
Pomacea diffusa
Learn how to care for Apple Snails (Pomacea diffusa). Expert tips on tank size, calcium for shell growth, diet, and choosing the best tank mates.

Freshwater Micro Crab
Thai Micro Crab Care Guide
Limnopilos naiyanetri
Master Thai Micro Crab (Limnopilos naiyanetri) care. Learn about their unique behavior, 5-gallon tank setups, and why these shy crabs are perfect for nano tanks.
Highly rated
Stores worth a road trip
A handful of the best-reviewed independent fish stores in our directory — every one of them keeper-vetted, not algorithmic.
Tennessee Tails Pet Boutique
5.0Jason's Plecos & Cichlids LLC
5.0Amazonia Tropical Fish
5.0PicKFish Pets
5.0CTX Savage Pet Supply
5.0Method Aquatics
5.0Browse by interest
Workbench
Free aquarium tools
Calculators to keep your tank dialed in — no email walls, no upsells.
By state
An index of every state
All 50 states, every store we've verified, sorted alphabetically — like an index in the back of a book.
Why local
A note from the editors
Online retailers have their place — speed, selection, the rare species you've been chasing for months. But nothing replaces walking into a shop where the owner knows your tank by name, where the staff have kept everything from neon tetras to SPS-dominant reefs, and where the livestock has been quarantined and acclimated by people who care whether it survives the drive home.
Local fish stores are the connective tissue of the hobby. They run the frag swaps, host the club meetings, and stay open on a Sunday afternoon when your heater fails mid-cycle. They'll tell you honestly that the tang you're eyeing is going to outgrow your tank in six months. They'll talk you out of a bad idea, and into a better one.
That's what local gets you. That's what we're trying to keep alive.