About
Tropical Fish Incorporated — known locally as Pasadena Tropical Fish — has been a fixture on Colorado Boulevard for roughly 40 years, and the depth of its inventory reflects every one of those decades. Owner Steve has built a reputation as a walking encyclopedia of aquarium knowledge, the kind of shopkeeper who'll talk you through a problem rather than just sell you a product. Longtime customers speak of 15-year relationships with the store, and that kind of loyalty doesn't happen by accident.
The floor space is genuinely large for an independent fish store, and the livestock range is staggering. The freshwater section rotates through rainbows, loaches, fancy goldfish, nano species like chili rasboras, and oddball imports you won't find elsewhere in the LA area. One reviewer picked up 20 chili rasboras — a notoriously finicky species during transition — and didn't lose a single fish over three weeks, a testament to how well the stock is conditioned before sale.
Ranchu hunters will find quality specimens at honest prices, and the freshwater shrimp are frequently called out as a great deal. The marine side holds corals, invertebrates, and saltwater fish that reviewers describe as spectacular, while a dedicated pond section stocks koi and a solid assortment of pond plants. Equipment and hardscape fill out the remaining aisles, with a wide range of brands covering everything from filtration to décor materials.
Recently, aquascaped display tanks have started appearing throughout the store, showcasing planted setups that spark real creative inspiration. It's a small but telling detail — a signal that this shop is run by and for hobbyists. The atmosphere is admittedly old-school; some visitors note the store could use a cosmetic refresh, and the organization can feel a bit chaotic.
But for sheer variety of healthy livestock, fair pricing, and Steve's decades of hands-on expertise, Tropical Fish Incorporated remains one of Pasadena's most dependable destinations for freshwater, saltwater, and pond keeping alike.
What they offer
Livestock, services, water
- Livestock & products
- Services
- Consultation
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- 40-year Pasadena institution with deeply knowledgeable owner Steve
- Unusually large freshwater selection including rare nano species like chili rasboras and quality fancy goldfish
- Impressive marine section with corals, invertebrates, and saltwater fish
- Dedicated pond section with koi and pond plants
- Competitive pricing on livestock, especially freshwater shrimp
From keepers
Customer reviews
“Old School aquarium store. A great visit.”
— Dan Ermey5.02 months ago“The best local fish shop in Pasadena. The store is huge for a LFS. they have a wide selection of freshwater, marine and koi pond fish, as well as plants, corral, and tons of related accessories. The fish tend to be healthier, larger and more affordable than other fish shops nearby, especially the the big box chains. The owner is knowledgable and will help solve your problems and answer your questions. This review is for the retail store on Colorado Blvd., in Pasadena. The sign says Pasadena Tropical Fish. Highly recommended!”
— Phil Blum5.03 months ago“Great store. Great fish 🐟. Great service.”
— Anpan Mom5.04 months ago“Super nice owner and the staff are really helpful! The livestock are a good deal, especially their freshwater shrimp.”
— Seiji5.05 months ago“Finally after 6 months of searching i found my dream fish. For 20$ it is an excellent near lemon head ranchu. Will be treating with methylene blue just in case. The guy also had a large assortment of pond plants and healthy guppies, Also the only store that has cheap good quality goldfish. Ill be going again soon!”
— ginger balls5.06 months ago“I had stopped by this store several times over the last couple years, but just to get hard scape and various supplies. I stopped in recently and was surprised to see a huge supply of chili rasboras available, which I haven't seen at any other local fish stores. I had been wanting to grow my school, but I hate having to order fish online, so I was thrilled to see them in person and immediately bought 20. They were juveniles, but nearing full size, which I appreciate because it's just a better chance of survival. They were all healthy, a little pale due to being juveniles, but I've had them for about 3 weeks now and they're really starting to develop their red colors now, it's easy to tell which ones are a few weeks older than the rest because theyre really hitting that saturated adult red color now. I added them to my established, planted tank and although a few of the smallest ones ended up in the filter chambers the first week, I didn't have a single loss of the whole 20. I know chilis as a fish that can struggle with transition, so to not lose a single one was fantastic. At this most recent visit I noticed several really nicely aquascaped tanks had popped up around the store, which looks great and get the creativity flowing for me. This little touch, to me, is a real beacon to acknowledge that this is the kind of fish store for hobbyists. The variety of fish they have, the good health of the fish, the variety of hard scape and other materials for a tank, plus the huge selection of equipment from a wide range of brands shows a sincere dedication to the hobby and not to making a buck. I honestly can't imagine the work it takes to maintain the number of tanks in there with such a massive variety of conditions, and I hope the owner and staff all know that at least I recognize the work y'all are putting in, I hope everyone else does too.”
— Carly Nichole5.08 months ago“Nice place. Really helpful .”
— Sean Callahan5.08 months ago“We love Steve and his store, we have been going to this shop for about 15 years, he is super knowledgeable, very kind and friendly, my kids love this place, every fish we have has been from here.”
— Patricia Gonzalez5.09 months ago“Great place to get your feet wet with aquarium knowledge”
— Daniel Nave5.0a year ago“I’ve been coming here since early 2000s . They know fish! Support small/independent businesses…especially ones that care.”
— Andrew Moore5.0a year ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (626) 449-4987 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Tropical Fish Incorporated.