About
Nautilus Tropical Fish has become a destination for freshwater hobbyists across Lakewood and the greater LA and Orange County area, and the loyalty is easy to understand once you walk in. This family-owned fish store, run by brothers David (Dave) and Robert, packs a livestock selection into a compact space that routinely surprises even seasoned aquarists. Reviewers keep coming back for the standout Apistogramma and dwarf cichlid collection, hard-to-find corydoras like pantanalensis and similis, oddball nano fish, and species you simply won't see at the big-box chains.
If you're hunting cardinal tetras, guppies, or rare freshwater shrimp for sale in Lakewood, CA, this is the kind of shop that usually has them — and will track down what it doesn't. The tanks tell the story. Instead of bare holding systems, most setups feature live plants and natural aquascaping, and bettas are kept in real aquariums rather than cups — a small detail customers single out as proof the owners genuinely care for their animals.
The planted-tank crowd comes for hard-to-find aquatic plants, while shrimp keepers rave about both the quality and the prices. Live foods like blackworms and home-cultured daphnia (pre-order required) are a rare regional find. What elevates Nautilus is the service.
Dave and Robert are known for remembering wish lists and personally calling when a requested fish arrives, and they'll take the time to net the exact specimen you want. They sell RO and pre-mixed salt water for tank top-offs, and the family stays woven into the community — one customer thanked the owner for donating to a school harvest festival. The shop is small and the dry-goods aisle is limited, but for healthy, unusual freshwater livestock available in Lakewood, CA, regulars happily drive 30 minutes each way to shop here.
What they offer
Fish & livestock for sale at Nautilus Tropical Fish in Lakewood, CA
Nautilus Tropical Fish stocks rare and hard-to-find species, shrimp, invertebrates, catfish, betta fish, tetras, cichlids, livebearers, aquarium plants and freshwater fish for sale in Lakewood, CA. As a fish store serving Lakewood, CA, it also offers aquarium consultations and fish breeding.
- Livestock & products
- Services
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Standout Apistogramma and dwarf cichlid selection at affordable prices
- Rare corydoras (pantanalensis, similis), nano fish, and oddball species not found at chain stores
- Live blackworms and home-cultured daphnia (pre-order) — a rare regional find
- Natural planted-tank setups with bettas kept in real aquariums, not cups
- Personalized service with wish-list callbacks when requested fish arrive
From keepers
Customer reviews
“Exelente servicio la gente es muy amable”
— Stubin Equila5.0a month ago“Can’t recommend Nautilus enough!!! It’s so rare these days to find fish keepers who care and love the hobby. Still can’t believe I had 175 cardinals delivered across the country with no doa AND have only lost two over the next month!!! 10/10”
— brandon smotherman5.0a month ago“Little family-owned spot , Talked with the owner's brother, super nice great service. Say they can get whatever specific fish you're looking for, and have a ton of live freshwater inventory.”
— D C5.02 months ago“I’ve been shopping at Nautilus Tropical Fish regularly over the past year, and they’ve consistently been fantastic. I usually buy plants and shrimp from them, and the quality has always been great. The two brothers who own the shop are very knowledgeable, helpful, and always willing to answer questions or give advice. They have a wide selection—not just plants and shrimp, but plenty of fish as well. It’s a great local business, and I definitely recommend supporting them. This is one of my go-to spots—highly recommend!”
— yingjun xie5.02 months ago“Owner made a very generous donation to my son's school Harvest Festival last year. We have been in multiple times since. Very helpful and knowledgeable. Wonderful selection of fish.”
— Kimberly Sharbrough5.03 months ago“Super kind! Large variety of fish too! They sometimes gove me freebies with my purchases too!! They also sell RO water and salt water for your fish tanks! The employees are so nice! The owner sometimes brings his dog and the dog is so sweet and gentle.”
— Mariam5.0Edited 3 months ago“First time here, n I truly enjoyed it!.. Called ahead about guppies & they had a pretty good selection... They're willing to order/ ship fish as well...”
— Ghreg W5.04 months ago“Best LFP around! Looking for your non basic fish? This is the store to go! Good quality fish, always healthy I never leave disappointed.... my bank account does BUT not me 😉”
— Jennifer Borchardt5.015 hours ago“Great fish store! Absolutely insane selection of apistos and great prices for freshwater shrimp. They had some plants that are hard to find as well. Would definitely come back. Dave helped me out and I could tell he definitely cares about his fish. Instantly a top 3 fish store for me in OC”
— Brian Nguyen5.0a week ago“Nice place ,not to big but good customer service”
— Johnny Duran4.0a week ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (562) 423-8280 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Nautilus Tropical Fish.