About
Foothill Aquatic & Pets in La Verne, California is a classic mom-and-pop pet shop that inspires strong feelings — both loyal devotion and sharp criticism. At its best, it's the kind of neighborhood store where the owner greets you at the door, walks you through every enclosure, and genuinely wants to make sure you succeed with your new pet. Multiple reviewers describe an owner who is deeply knowledgeable across freshwater fish, saltwater fish, reptiles, and small animals, with one customer noting he actually refused to sell additional fish until the buyer could confirm the first batch was thriving.
That kind of old-school accountability is rare in the aquarium trade. The store stocks both freshwater and saltwater fish at competitive prices, along with aquatic plants and a range of supplies that some customers say they've only found online elsewhere. Reptile keepers have scored deals here too — one reviewer saved over $100 on reptile lighting compared to retail.
The selection extends to small animals like hamsters (both Syrian and dwarf varieties), water turtles, and rodents, making it more of a full-spectrum pet shop than a pure fish store. That said, the reviews reveal a store that can be inconsistent. Several customers have arrived during posted business hours to find the doors locked, and phone calls sometimes go unanswered.
More concerning, a handful of reviewers describe dirty tanks, visible fish disease including ich and fin rot, and in the worst accounts, dead animals left in enclosures. The contrast between glowing praise for the owner's expertise and harsh criticism of tank maintenance suggests a one-man operation stretched thin. For La Verne aquarists willing to work with those inconsistencies, there's genuine value here.
The owner's consultation-style approach — diagnosing system problems, recommending solutions, and following up on purchases — mirrors what you'd get from a seasoned aquarium mentor. One customer purchased eleven fish in a single visit and reported all thriving. Call ahead to confirm hours, and you may find exactly the guidance and livestock you need.
What they offer
Livestock, services, water
- Livestock & products
- Services
- Consultation
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Owner known for refusing sales until customers confirm previous fish are healthy
- Competitive pricing on both freshwater and saltwater fish
- Hard-to-find aquarium supplies and reptile equipment at below-retail prices
- Personalized consultation and hands-on guidance from a knowledgeable owner
- Full pet shop with fish, reptiles, turtles, and small animals
From keepers
Customer reviews
“I had an amazing experience at this pet shop. When I walked in looking to get a hamster, I was a bit skeptical at first since it’s a mom-and-pop shop, but that feeling disappeared immediately. The owner greeted me as soon as I walked in and was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable. He took the time to walk me through the hamster enclosures and explain everything thoroughly. He had both Syrian and dwarf hamsters, and all of them looked extremely healthy and well cared for. You can genuinely tell he takes his time with the animals and truly cares about their well-being. He explained that some enclosures had very young hamsters that would need to be tamed by their new owners, while others had 2–4 month old Syrians that were already trained and regularly handled with care and love. I ended up choosing one of the trained Syrians, and he is super friendly and already very tamed. Overall, this shop exceeded my expectations. It’s clear the animals here are treated with respect, patience, and love. I highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a healthy, well-socialized pet and an owner who truly knows and cares about his animals.”
— GONZALEZ. IOS5.0a week ago“Idk how the rating for this place is so high, the tanks were filthy almost every tank had either fin and tail rot or ich and worst of all he keeping chameleons and other animals in horrible enclosures they will surely die in. Horrible store that abuses its pets for sale”
— Grace Slusser1.03 months ago“I am always interested in an aquarium store. This one had great prices on fresh and saltwater fish. Also had a few accessories that I've only seen on line.”
— Cynthia Crewdson5.07 months ago“Update: I tried one more time to go during business hours and they were there. They were very knowledgeable and helpful. The fish were all healthy looking and there was a very good selection. I was happy with the fish I purchased and the store. I did notice a new sign with new hours listed. Original review: I showed up during business hours and they were not open. I waited 30 minutes and no one showed up. I have since called twice to make sure they were open before I drove over and nobody ever answers. I sure hope someone is taking care of the fish because they are not there! I'm giving up and will go to another store.”
— MC Cronk4.0Edited 11 months ago“The owner was great, very helpful. Fish tanks very dirty. We bought fish and some died before we got them into the tank. All our fish died within a three week period. We did all that we were supposed to do.”
— kathryn kreutzer2.0a year ago“Beautiful little find. The owner is knowledgeable in so many areas and deeply concerned about the fish he sells. He actually refused to sell me more fish until I could come back and tell him the ones I’d purchased were all ok. Whatever your problem, he has a solution. I can’t recommend this business highly enough.”
— Clara Johnstone5.0a year ago“This store owner is very helpful and welcoming. The place is clean and so are the fish tanks. Like that he stays open until 7pm.”
— Nancy D5.02 years ago“I drive from far and wide and twice I’ve come to this location and they are closed during business hours”
— DJ dRummer Daviddee1.02 years ago“Place is a great mom and pop establishment. Highly recommended for fish and supplies.”
— Eric Salas5.02 years ago“Very cool place to come buy items for your aquarium ..The fish selections are incredibly amazing too .I been buying my water Turtle food here for years .Great prices on all of everything here. The owner is a very kind and friendly knowledgeable man. I constantly tell him he all the time he has an incredible Pet Store..You won't be disappointed shopping here too.🐢🐢🐠🐟🐠🐠🐟 😃”
— Gary5.0Edited 2 years ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (909) 596-8599 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Foothill Aquatic & Pets.