About
House of Exotics is the family-run pet and aquarium store that finally gave Cañon City a real local option, sparing hobbyists the drive to Pueblo or Colorado Springs for livestock and gear. Run by Leslie and her crew in downtown Cañon City, the shop keeps a genuinely wide range of animals under one roof — freshwater and saltwater fish alongside reptiles, rodents, and invertebrates — but aquarium keepers are the ones who keep coming back. Recent visitors describe a clean, well-kept space and staff who actually know their stock: one family whose son's fair-won fish had died came in for a fresh school and a betta and left impressed by how knowledgeable everyone was about the fish and accessories on offer.
For freshwater hobbyists, you'll find bettas, goldfish, shrimp, snails, and live plants for sale in Cañon City, CO, plus the everyday gear to get a tank running. Leslie is known for going further than a chain store ever would — one regular recounted how she sourced live plants and gorgeous mopani wood to build a 15-gallon freshwater aquascape, then helped pick out flashy fish and shrimp to stock it. If something isn't on the shelf, the family will work to bring it in.
The store also doubles as the town's reliable source for feeder crickets and rodents, which keeps reptile keepers stopping by week after week. The atmosphere lands somewhere between a neighborhood shop and a mini zoo — kids love wandering the displays while parents appreciate the fair prices and a family that clearly cares about its animals and its customers. Regulars even trust Leslie and the crew to look after their guinea pigs while they travel.
This is very much a visit-in-person aquarium store; the phone can be hard to catch, so the surest way to see which saltwater and freshwater fish are available in Cañon City, CO is to walk through the door. For local fishkeepers and exotic-pet owners, it's a genuine community resource worth supporting.
What they offer
Fish & livestock for sale at House of Exotics in Cañon City, CO
House of Exotics stocks shrimp, invertebrates, betta fish, goldfish, aquarium plants and freshwater & saltwater fish for sale in Cañon City, CO. As an aquarium store serving Cañon City, CO, it also carries aquarium equipment and offers aquascaping and aquarium consultations.
- Livestock & products
- Services
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Family-run shop in downtown Cañon City led by Leslie and her crew
- Freshwater and saltwater fish, bettas, goldfish, shrimp, snails, and live plants
- Custom-sourced live plants and mopani wood for a 15-gallon freshwater aquascape
- The town's go-to source for feeder crickets and rodent feeders
- Fair prices and a clean, small-zoo atmosphere kids love
From keepers
Customer reviews
“Nice store, go see, don't call. They NEVER answer their phone.”
— Juli Locklear2.02 weeks ago“Best place in town to get reptile supplies and super friendly and helpful staff!”
— Shelby Loyd5.02 weeks ago“This store was very welcoming, and I felt ally questions were answered when asked. I will be using this ship as my new shop! Support local businesses everybody!!”
— Michelle Heneke5.0a month ago“What a great experience! My sons fair fish died so we went in and got a new school and a beta. The store is very well kept and they are very knowledgeable on all the pets and accessories they offer.”
— Xyanne Cardenas Lopez5.0a month ago“Leslie and the crew always take good care of my two guinea pigs Chester and Vol'jin when I have concerts or trips that I need to take.”
— Nikki Schumacher5.0a month ago“I bought 30 minnos and ten gold fish by the time I got them home all but five gold fish were dead . when I called them on Wed the first real chance I got they refused to replace them. I will never buy another thing from them . if they cannot do good business then they shouldn't have one”
— Colleen Mindenhall1.02 months ago“Very knowledgeable and helpful staff great experience for us. New to the world of reptiles and they were extremely helpful in making recommendations on habitat and diet.”
— Rosie Huberty Huitema5.03 months ago“A fantastic local business in downtown Cañon City. Always a 5-star experience with great service and unique animals.”
— Coalton Miller5.03 months ago“I've tried....gone in there 4-5 times with this owner. Have NEVER been acknowledged by an associate in ANY visit. It's grown in merchandise ALOT since my last visit, so was hopeful initially, but never have had what I was looking for at the visit, always out....dwarf African frogs, mystery snails, male Bettas, Anubis plants....I saw a female betta I really liked but again I walked through the fish dept twice, looking at each tank & shelf carefully, making sure I wasn't missing what I was looking for, & entire store once intently, but no one acknowledged me at 4pm on a Sat. I saw an older, inactive male betta in quarantine area. Two associates tied up at the register entire time, NOT acknowledging anyone who entered or shopping. Maybe move register closer to the front door? I work at a small business in Canon, & I can tell you our cashiers greet everyone who enters. I hear them all day. Going to Pueblo tomorrow for doctor's appt & will try Pet Paradise I think is the name this time as I've been fighting a sick betta for 4 months, impulse buy, from Petsmart who finally passed. I had really hoped things were better now here in town. I grew up in a smaller town over the Sangre's who had an awesome pet/fish store in the 1980s thru early 2000s, at least so I truly want to like you. I need to be acknowledged and helped when I enter your store.”
— Gail Davis2.03 days ago“They are always kind and helpful when I go in, and I go in there pretty much every week. They have a wide variety of pets, and they also have everything you need to get your setups going. Love this store!”
— Chad Browder5.0a week ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (719) 320-0454 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting House of Exotics.