--- type: category category: "Rare Species" stores: 290 states: 32 url: https://www.fishstores.org/best/rare-species --- # Best Rare Species Fish Stores by State 290 stores specializing in rare, exotic, and hard-to-find fish species across 32 states Some fish stores sell tetras and angelfish. Others keep a back room with L046 zebra plecos, freshwater stingrays, and Asian arowanas under CITES permits. The rare and exotic fish trade operates on different rules: longer quarantine periods, higher price tags, species-specific husbandry that general care guides do not cover, and legal requirements that vary by state. Finding a store that specializes in uncommon species means finding a dealer who understands the regulatory, logistical, and biological complexity these fish demand. ## States | State | Stores | | --- | --- | | [Florida](https://www.fishstores.org/best/rare-species/florida) | 32 | | [California](https://www.fishstores.org/best/rare-species/california) | 31 | | [Texas](https://www.fishstores.org/best/rare-species/texas) | 26 | | [New York](https://www.fishstores.org/best/rare-species/new-york) | 22 | | [Illinois](https://www.fishstores.org/best/rare-species/illinois) | 16 | | [Ohio](https://www.fishstores.org/best/rare-species/ohio) | 14 | | [New Jersey](https://www.fishstores.org/best/rare-species/new-jersey) | 13 | | [Michigan](https://www.fishstores.org/best/rare-species/michigan) | 9 | | [North Carolina](https://www.fishstores.org/best/rare-species/north-carolina) | 8 | | [Pennsylvania](https://www.fishstores.org/best/rare-species/pennsylvania) | 8 | | [Virginia](https://www.fishstores.org/best/rare-species/virginia) | 8 | | [Georgia](https://www.fishstores.org/best/rare-species/georgia) | 7 | | [Iowa](https://www.fishstores.org/best/rare-species/iowa) | 7 | | [Washington](https://www.fishstores.org/best/rare-species/washington) | 7 | | [Colorado](https://www.fishstores.org/best/rare-species/colorado) | 6 | | [Minnesota](https://www.fishstores.org/best/rare-species/minnesota) | 6 | | [Wisconsin](https://www.fishstores.org/best/rare-species/wisconsin) | 6 | | [Kentucky](https://www.fishstores.org/best/rare-species/kentucky) | 5 | | [Maryland](https://www.fishstores.org/best/rare-species/maryland) | 5 | | [Nevada](https://www.fishstores.org/best/rare-species/nevada) | 5 | | [Oregon](https://www.fishstores.org/best/rare-species/oregon) | 5 | | [Utah](https://www.fishstores.org/best/rare-species/utah) | 5 | | [Connecticut](https://www.fishstores.org/best/rare-species/connecticut) | 4 | | [Indiana](https://www.fishstores.org/best/rare-species/indiana) | 4 | | [Louisiana](https://www.fishstores.org/best/rare-species/louisiana) | 4 | | [Massachusetts](https://www.fishstores.org/best/rare-species/massachusetts) | 4 | | [Missouri](https://www.fishstores.org/best/rare-species/missouri) | 4 | | [Nebraska](https://www.fishstores.org/best/rare-species/nebraska) | 4 | | [New Hampshire](https://www.fishstores.org/best/rare-species/new-hampshire) | 4 | | [South Carolina](https://www.fishstores.org/best/rare-species/south-carolina) | 4 | | [Tennessee](https://www.fishstores.org/best/rare-species/tennessee) | 4 | | [Arizona](https://www.fishstores.org/best/rare-species/arizona) | 3 | ## What makes a fish rare and why it costs what it costs Rarity in the aquarium trade comes from several sources. Some species are geographically restricted. The L046 zebra pleco is endemic to the Xingu River in Brazil, and export bans since 2004 mean every legally sold specimen was captive-bred, usually in small-scale operations in Asia or Europe. That breeding difficulty is why a single juvenile costs $150 to $300. Freshwater stingrays from the Potamotrygon genus are captive-bred more readily but demand huge tanks, pristine water, and specialized feeding. They are also outright illegal in several U.S. states including California, Arizona, and Georgia. Asian arowanas are the extreme case: listed under CITES Appendix I, every legal specimen carries a microchip and a certificate of origin. A quality super red arowana from a certified farm runs $1,500 to $5,000. These prices are not markups for scarcity. They reflect real costs in breeding infrastructure, veterinary oversight, legal compliance, and the mortality risk of shipping large, delicate predators across continents. ## How to evaluate a rare fish dealer The first question to ask any rare fish store is about their quarantine protocol. Reputable dealers quarantine imports for a minimum of two weeks, often four, and treat prophylactically for parasites with Praziquantel and bacterial infections with Kanaplex or Furan-2. They will show you their quarantine room if you ask. A store that sells freshwater stingrays or wild-caught cichlids straight out of the shipping box is gambling with your money and the animal's life. The second question is documentation. Any store selling CITES-listed species like Asian arowanas must provide a certificate with a microchip number that matches the fish. If they cannot produce paperwork, the fish is either illegal or misidentified. Third, ask about their supplier network. The best rare fish dealers have direct relationships with specific breeders and collectors. They know exactly where their Altum angelfish or Zebra Otocinclus come from. A dealer who just orders from a wholesaler's availability list has no more knowledge about the fish than you do. ## Keeping rare species alive: the real cost of ownership Buying the fish is the cheap part. A freshwater stingray needs a tank with a footprint of at least 6 feet by 2 feet, not for swimming room, but because rays are disk-shaped bottom dwellers that need floor space more than water depth. Filtration needs to handle massive bioload from a messy carnivore: expect a sump rated for twice your tank volume, with heavy biological media and fine mechanical filtration. Water changes of 30 to 50 percent weekly are standard, not optional. For species like Discus from wild bloodlines, you are managing pH at 5.5 to 6.0, temperature at 84 to 86 degrees, and near-zero nitrates. Those parameters require RO water, consistent heating, and obsessive testing. L-number plecos from fast-flowing river habitats need high oxygen saturation, strong current from powerheads like Tunze or Maxspect, and a diet heavy on Repashy gel foods and blanched zucchini. A good rare species store sells you the fish and makes sure you understand the ongoing commitment before you swipe your card. ## FAQ **Q: Are freshwater stingrays legal in my state?** A: Freshwater stingrays from the genus Potamotrygon are banned or restricted in several U.S. states including California, Arizona, Georgia, Hawaii, Mississippi, Nevada, Oklahoma, Texas, and Utah. Regulations change, and some states require permits rather than outright bans. Always check your state fish and wildlife agency's current prohibited species list before purchasing. A reputable dealer will ask where you live and refuse to sell to you if your state prohibits them. If a store ships stingrays to a banned state without asking, skip that store. **Q: How can I tell if an Asian arowana is legally imported?** A: Every legally traded Asian arowana (Scleropages formosus) must be captive-bred on a CITES-registered farm and carry a microchip implanted before export. The seller must provide a CITES certificate matching the chip number. You can verify the chip with a standard pet microchip scanner. In the United States, the Endangered Species Act imposes additional restrictions. Only certain color varieties from approved farms can be imported, and they require a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service import permit. If a dealer offers you an arowana without paperwork or at a suspiciously low price, the fish was almost certainly smuggled. Possession of an illegal arowana carries federal penalties including fines and confiscation. **Q: Why is quarantine so important for wild-caught rare fish?** A: Wild-caught fish carry parasites and pathogens that captive-bred fish rarely encounter. Internal parasites like Camallanus worms and Hexamita are common in wild cichlids and catfish. Freshwater stingrays frequently arrive with flagellate infections that require Metronidazole treatment. The stress of capture, holding, and shipping suppresses immune function, so problems that a healthy wild fish manages in nature become life-threatening in transit. A proper quarantine of 3 to 4 weeks with prophylactic treatment for parasites and close observation for bacterial infections is the difference between a fish that thrives for years and one that dies in your tank within a month, taking your other fish with it. --- *Source: [FishStores.org](https://www.fishstores.org/best/rare-species)*