About
Tucked into Garden Grove, California, Cali's Tropical Fish has built a loyal following among local aquarists drawn by its broad selection of both freshwater and saltwater livestock, a well-stocked plant section, and display tanks that double as genuine aquascaping inspiration. The store carries everything from rice fish and cherry shrimp to fancy goldfish, bettas, koi, Colombian zebra plecos, and guppies — plus enough driftwood and substrates to get a planted tank up and running. Multiple reviewers single out the aquarium plants as a particular strength, noting diversity and fair pricing that makes this a worthwhile stop for anyone building a planted setup.
The saltwater side rounds out the inventory, and the staff can speak to both freshwater and saltwater care with enough depth that customers regularly describe them as genuinely knowledgeable rather than just reading labels. The owners — a husband-and-wife team — are fixtures behind the counter and have earned goodwill by accepting donated fish (one customer's surprise fry found a new home here) and offering delivery and tank setup for larger purchases. The physical space is clean and well-organized, with display tanks that reviewers call gorgeous.
The shrimp selection, including fancy varieties, draws hobbyists specifically, though sharp-eyed keepers have flagged planarian issues in certain shrimp tanks — worth asking about before purchasing inverts. A few customers have also reported pricing that runs above average, particularly on livebearers like guppies, so it pays to compare if you're stocking in volume. Where Cali's Tropical Fish shines is in being a real hobbyist shop in a region dominated by big-box pet retailers.
Several reviewers landed here specifically after chain stores turned them away, and they stayed for the personal attention and the ability to find species — like specific plecos or unusual rice fish — that PetSmart simply doesn't carry. For Garden Grove aquarists building a community tank or diving into aquascaping, this store delivers genuine variety and hands-on guidance under one roof.
What they offer
Livestock, services, water
- Livestock & products
- Services
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Strong selection of aquarium plants and aquascaping supplies including driftwood and substrates
- Carries both freshwater and saltwater fish with species hard to find at chain stores
- Fancy shrimp selection including cherry shrimp varieties
- Beautiful display tanks that serve as aquascaping inspiration
- Offers delivery and tank setup services for larger purchases
From keepers
Customer reviews
“Very neat store for the hobbiest...lots of aquascape”
— Jeanette Anderson5.0a week ago“I believe owners are a couple. Very nice interactions multiple times. Friendly and knowledgeable about their fish. Just hard to understand due to heavy accent (asian). My fish had babies and they accept donations. Highly recommend fish store.”
— Mike Noel5.02 weeks ago“He is a terrible owner and manager both him and his wife lie my Son more than $600 worth of supplies and he didn’t come to set it up. He lied nothing was done, but he sure took the money. . Shame on you for ripping people off all he said is call the company, but you are the owner of that Store. He does not make sense and if you ask him for your money, he will not return your money so he is a person that rips people off. I am sure I am not the only one that he did this to someone should investigate his business.”
— Greta Corona1.03 months ago“The owner was terrible order way over $600 worth the supplies and the owner didn't even set up anything . When asking the owner he said he know nothing about it. Shame on you for ripping off people shame on you I give it a zero zero zero zero terrible person”
— Greta Corona1.03 months ago“Planarians in the shrimp tanks as of 10/28/25, I'd avoid getting anything from those tanks until it's cleared up. It's a nice fish store and I'll keep shopping there.”
— Alex Matsumoto3.03 months ago“Very professional and I'm extremely pleased with the service and the goods I bought some of the fish here that I wasn't able to find anywhere else,my utmost respects to all of the Cali's tropical 🐠 fish store”
— Luis Rodriguez5.04 months ago“I love this place the owner very nice and helpful I recommend this place”
— Cindy Pham5.05 months ago“I been coming here for year to buy all my fish en plants came into today for help about my saltwater tank the girl who works there didnt even wanna help me gave me that dirty look anyways I ask the other worker there he helped me get the fish I wanted an I ask him for the price he told me 59 an i said okay I take one then came to the cashier an she rang me up and charged me 190 so disappointed in this fish store if you want good customer service and good pricing.Go 2405 fish store.They have good pricing and customer service there”
— Tommy Dang1.05 months ago“Cá đẹp”
— BINH HUY NGO5.05 months ago“Cali's Tropical Fish is hands down one of the best fish stores I've ever visited! Their selection of exotic fish is incredible—so many vibrant and healthy options to choose from. The staff is super knowledgeable and always willing to answer questions or offer helpful advice. On top of that, the store is spotless and well-organized, which makes shopping there a breeze. You can tell they truly care about the animals and their customers. Highly recommend for any fish enthusiast!”
— Andrew Tien Dong5.06 months ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (714) 583-8612 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Cali's Tropical Fish.