About
Bob's Tropical Fish has anchored the same compact East Los Angeles storefront for generations — long enough that one customer recalled fishing at nearby Belvedere Park back in the '60s and '70s and being thrilled to find the shop still standing. Tucked into a small building beside the Chevron station on a busy street, it remains a walk-in favorite for freshwater hobbyists across the city, and the owner and staff are, as a recent visitor put it, simply cool. Step inside and the first thing regulars mention is the tanks: pristine, immaculate, and full of bright, active fish.
Bettas are a genuine strength here, kept in real heated, planted tanks instead of tiny cups, with full, vibrant fins. If you're hunting for healthy bettas for sale in Los Angeles, CA, this is the name locals quietly trade among themselves. Just as celebrated are the invertebrates: red cherry shrimp (recently 5 for $15), rabbit snails, and other shrimp that customers report are still thriving years after purchase.
Aquascapers treat Bob's as headquarters. The shop carries live aquatic plants, hardscape, and RO water, so you can build and maintain a planted tank from scratch in a single stop — a big reason hobbyists searching "planted tanks near me" keep ending up here. The fish selection leans exotic, with tropical species and rarer fish you simply won't find at the big-box chains, plus a smaller range of saltwater fish and advice for reef keepers.
Aquarium equipment, foods, and accessories round out the inventory. What truly keeps people loyal is the guidance. The bilingual English-and-Spanish team is known to spend half an hour walking a newcomer through a first setup, and they're patient and genuinely educational with curious kids.
Prices strike most as fair — "price is very good here," one recent review noted. Parking is tight, but there are a couple of spots by the gas station and more around back. For bettas, shrimp, and planted tanks, this longtime East LA aquarium store is the real deal.
What they offer
Fish & livestock for sale at Bob's Tropical Fish in Los Angeles, CA
Bob's Tropical Fish stocks betta fish, shrimp, invertebrates, rare and hard-to-find species, aquarium plants and freshwater & saltwater fish for sale in Los Angeles, CA. As an aquarium store serving Los Angeles, CA, it also carries aquarium equipment and fish food and offers aquarium consultations and aquascaping.
- Livestock & products
- Services
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- East LA institution beside the Chevron station — operating since at least the 1960s
- Bettas kept in heated, planted tanks (not cups) with full, vibrant fins
- Red cherry shrimp, rabbit snails, and invertebrates that thrive long after purchase
- Full aquascaping supply under one roof: live plants, hardscape, and RO water
- Bilingual English/Spanish staff who'll spend 30 minutes on a first tank setup
From keepers
Customer reviews
“Very nice staff”
— Stephen J Fahey5.0a month ago“Love this place. Very helpful and knowledgeable staff.”
— Adriana Soto5.0Edited 2 months ago“Lots of exotic fish and shrimps and other aquarium merch. Located in a small building next to the Chevron gas station. I park in the gas station lot by the sidewalk and building wall. There's two spaces there. There's also a back parking. The owner and staff are cool.”
— KYI5.02 months ago“Friendly and experts staffs. They have variety of fish and aqua plants.”
— MasterYoda Fang5.03 months ago“Love this place. Price is very good here.”
— tommy luong5.03 months ago“This is my go to store for my aquascape, I get my plants, my RO water, fish, shrimp, hardscape, plus all the answers to my questions. Highly recommend this store to anyone creating or maintaining an aquascape or general fish tank.”
— Trent Strum5.02 months ago“Quite literally the best fish store ever. The tanks are pristine and immaculate and everyone is so helpful and kind!”
— Mary Bear5.02 months ago“Nice shop.”
— Mealson Wang5.03 months ago“neat shop”
— Jennyfer Serrato4.05 months ago“Can't believe the aquarium still there. We used to go to belvedere Park and fish back in the '60s '70s. Great to see it still standing”
— Anna Soto5.05 months ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (323) 261-6675 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Bob's Tropical Fish.