About
The Love Aquarium is an independently owned fish and aquarium store in Escondido, CA, with a following that stretches across North County San Diego — some shoppers happily drive 45 minutes or more past closer pet shops to get here. Owner Doug is a marine biologist, and that expertise shows in both the livestock and the advice: customers have watched him correctly sex and identify hard-to-find species like female Black Tiger Badis and Scarlet Badis straight from the stock tanks. If you're searching for freshwater or saltwater fish for sale near me, this is a true mixed-water shop.
The freshwater side runs from community staples and cichlids — including blood parrot cichlids — to betta fish, alongside live aquarium plants like elodea that local biology teachers stop in to grab. Saltwater and reef hobbyists will find marine fish, corals, and live rock available in Escondido, while pond keepers can pick up minnows and other pond fish. Live foods such as daphnia turn up too, which betta keepers and specialty feeders appreciate.
The showroom is part of the draw. Dozens of clean, well-maintained display tanks line the aisles, many set up as aquascaping inspiration, plus a dedicated area where you can lay out décor — driftwood, rocks, and substrate — and plan a build before committing. Beyond livestock, you'll find aquarium equipment, tanks, and stands at competitive prices, something reviewers especially praise during last-minute tank emergencies.
Staff like Jake and Ethan get named again and again for patient, honest guidance — walking newcomers through their first tank cycle, recommending compatible fish, and even talking people out of purchases they don't need, from consultation to full tank setup and aquascaping. For a knowledgeable, hands-on aquarium store in Escondido, CA, The Love Aquarium fills a real gap in the local fishkeeping scene.
What they offer
Fish & livestock for sale at The Love Aquarium in Escondido, CA
The Love Aquarium stocks corals, cichlids, betta fish, live rock, aquarium plants and freshwater, saltwater & pond fish for sale in Escondido, CA. As an aquarium store serving Escondido, CA, it also carries aquarium equipment and offers aquarium consultations, aquarium setup and aquascaping.
- Livestock & products
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Owner Doug is a marine biologist with deep expertise in fish identification and care
- Inspiring display tanks and a dedicated aquascaping area for planning layouts
- Strong freshwater and saltwater selection including corals, live plants, and live rock
- Staff members like Jake and Ethan praised by name for patient, honest guidance
- Competitive pricing on tanks, stands, and equipment
From keepers
Customer reviews
“The BEST aquatic plant and aquarium store in SD hands down”
— Logan Holsapple5.02 weeks ago“Small staff and a packed store make for quite a long wait so make sure you have time! The staff was friendly. I bought approximately 10 fish from this place and had one pass the 1st day it was home.”
— ieandrew 914.0a month ago“This is the best place in San Diego county to get healthy, great looking fish. It is about 40 minutes away from me but I make the drive every time because it is truly worth it. Doug is a very cool guy and extremely knowledgeable + helpful. He will help you get what you need without ever making you feel rushed. Him and the rest of the staff take great care of the fish, and the place is very clean. I built a pond last year and it’s fully stocked with shubunkins and koi fish from Love Aquarium, they’re all growing fast and super healthy. Great variety of quality reef fish as well.”
— Sherwan Zada5.0a month ago“Daphnia: Got a small amount of daphnia from them two weeks ago and the colony has grown exponentially and without issue. They also gave me a bladder snail (on purpose but I didn't ask for it but greatly appreciate). I grew the colony with very little water agitation(1 big bubble per every two seconds) and they love it. Their feed only consists of spirulina which I got for smoothies but work perfect for feed. Plants: I bought some plants 3 weeks ago and they all seem so happy. Dwarf hairgrass(Eleocharis parvula), lily bulb(Nymphaea stellata), unlabeled anubias, and subwassertang. I called and asked what mosses they had before going and they mentioned christmas moss and pelia. When I arrived, I asked for pelia and they gave me subwassertang. At the time I wasn't aware since I was very very new to the hobby (and still am but learned just a few more things since then) but luckily subwassertang works better for my set up anyway. Just doesn't look amazing imo. Everything is growing well, the hairgrass is rooting, the lily is sending out new leaves, the anubias seems the same, and the subwassertang also seems the same. I haven't noticed any planaria or hitchhiking snails from the plants yet but I'll update if anything happens. Service: They have great service! When I was getting plants, the individual that helped me(I don't know what his name is but he's the one on the Google maps of the shop) he was very polite and attentive. When I came to get the daphnia I met the owner who was a bit suspicious of me getting daphnia (likely cause messed up saying frozen daphnia was live....) but thankfully he sold them to me. I appreciate and understand his suspicions since this hobby can have neglectful people. He also mentioned that they were low on daphnia so he prefers to sell solely to those culturing. Cute shop, good service, good products! Just a little bit expensive”
— watatbottle5.0a month ago“Fishes and aquatic plants are great here!”
— Vanessa Homel4.0a month ago“We love it here!”
— Devina Martinez5.0a month ago“Very awesome with lots of tropical fish.”
— Ozzie Simmons5.02 months ago“So many critters”
— Jerry “xantihazardx” Garcia5.02 months ago“Awesome place. Everything I've got from here has been healthy and is still alive and thriving. I only have freshwater tanks so I can't speak to their saltwater stock but every thing I've got so far has been on point.”
— Blake Halle5.02 months ago“Cool place”
— Michelle Havlicek4.04 months ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (760) 741-1525 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting The Love Aquarium.