About
Nautilus Tropical Fish in Lakewood, California has earned a devoted following among freshwater enthusiasts across Orange County and LA — and for good reason. This family-owned shop, run by David (Dave) and Robert, punches well above its weight with a livestock selection that routinely surprises even seasoned hobbyists. Reviewers consistently point to their outstanding Apistogramma collection, rare corydoras species like pantanalensis and similis, oddball nano fish, and a rotating cast of species you simply won't find at chain pet stores or even most independent shops.
The tanks themselves tell you everything about the philosophy here. Instead of bare holding tanks, most setups feature live plants and natural-looking aquascaping — a detail that reflects genuine care for the animals. Bettas are kept in actual aquariums rather than cups, a small but telling distinction that multiple customers have noted.
The freshwater shrimp selection draws its own crowd, and live foods like blackworms and cultured daphnia (pre-order required, as they culture it at home) are a rare find in the region. The plant inventory is another draw, with hard-to-find aquatic species complementing the fish selection. Whether you're building a planted tank from scratch or hunting for a specific stem plant, the stock here is curated with intention.
What elevates Nautilus beyond just good inventory is the personal service. Dave is known for remembering customers' wish lists and personally calling when requested species arrive. One reviewer recounted ordering rare corydoras and getting a heads-up call before the fish were even publicly available.
The owner also sells quality Apistogramma through eBay, earning praise for expert packing and fast communication. The shop is compact — don't expect a warehouse — and dry goods are somewhat limited, but the livestock quality and pricing consistently earn high marks. RO water is available on-site.
For freshwater hobbyists in the Lakewood area and beyond, Nautilus delivers the kind of focused, passionate experience that keeps people driving 30 minutes each way.
What they offer
Livestock, services, water
- Livestock & products
- Services
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Outstanding Apistogramma selection with online sales via eBay
- Rare nano fish and corydoras species not found at other local shops
- Live blackworms and home-cultured daphnia available
- Natural planted tank setups throughout the store
- Personalized service including custom fish requests and callback notifications
From keepers
Customer reviews
“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“This is a great little community store that is family owned. This store was recently purchased and the new owner has updated the fish tanks and has taken care of keeping the prices affordable. There is a large selection of fish and plants. The staff and owner are very knowledgeable and they take the time to talk to you and give sound advice. For those who support small businesses in your local community, try them first before going to the large chain pet stores for your aquarium needs.”
— J G5.0Edited 2 months ago“Great place really friendly family owed place. The owners are really friendly and willing to talk and help out with any questions. Great selection of fish fair prices all around Great place to visit”
— Dan Weasner5.02 months ago“Don’t come here save your money and go somewhere fish won’t last and they are so rude”
— chris solis1.03 months ago“Super knowledgeable and nice place! I wanted to find shrimps or snail I can add to my new tank and the store owner was super helpful! I am so happy with our new additional snail in our tank. Best choice ever. I will be back when I need more stuff! I added my snail photo since it's adorable.”
— Yeawon Min5.03 months ago“My absolute favorite family run local fish shop. Customer service cannot get any better than this. Top notch! They have plants, RO water, and plenty of fish. If they don't have the fish friend you're looking for, just ask! I requested some rarer corydoras species and not only were they able to find them, they even remembered who I am and personally called me to tell me they were in before anyone else could snag them! What an amazing shop. They're super friendly and take the time to catch the fish you want. They have live blackworms and daphnia (you have to pre-order the daphnia because they culture them at home) which is a rare find down in Orange county. I drive 30 minutes from Southern Orange County just for the premium experience here. I love my pantanalensis and similis corydoras ❤️ I love this shop!”
— Amanda P5.03 months ago“Love them family owned they sold me my gulper catfish sold my brother a few things as well always well informed and really clean even there feeders go throw a cleaning process”
— Omar F5.03 months ago“Great aquarium store, David is super helpful and knowledgeable. They have tons of plants for your planted tanks, great selection of both fish and plants. You can tell a lot about a fish store by how they keep their bettas. Bettas in actual aquariums not in cups shows they actually care about their fish and not just trying to make a quick easy dollar.”
— Josh M5.03 months 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.