About
MC Aquatics in Englewood, Colorado has built a reputation as one of the Denver metro area's most comprehensive aquarium shops, and the sheer scale of the operation backs that up. Walk in and you'll find rows of clean, well-maintained tanks spanning both freshwater and saltwater, plus impressive 100-gallon-plus display setups that stop visitors in their tracks. The store stocks a deep selection of corals, freshwater plants, African cichlids, shrimp varieties, and harder-to-find species — one customer finally tracked down a fish here that no other local shop carried.
The freshwater side is particularly strong, with healthy bettas housed in proper aquariums rather than cramped cups, clown plecos, otocinclus, and rotating shrimp selections that have cultivated a loyal following. Shrimp enthusiasts have come to anticipate annual golden shrimp deals, and the store has historically accepted fish and shrimp surrenders for store credit. The saltwater section features a broad coral inventory with frequent deals, alongside marine fish, though stock levels can fluctuate.
Staff members like Jag (the owner), Amy, Emmy, and Love come up repeatedly in reviews for offering genuine, detailed guidance — from water parameter adjustments to tank compatibility advice. One employee even shared a personal phone number to walk a customer through water chemistry changes step by step. The shop also provides hands-on tank maintenance and cleaning services; Jag and his team have tackled invasive snail infestations and full tank reclamation projects, scheduling around customers' availability.
A creative touch: MC Aquatics has a sandbox area where you can mock-build aquascapes with spider driftwood and other hardscape before committing. Their rewards program offers double points on Mondays and a 5% discount at 500 points. Customers drive from as far as Colorado Springs for the plant and fish selection.
The store does get busy, and wait times can stretch — a testament to its popularity. Some customers have reported inconsistent livestock hardiness and occasional saltwater mixing issues, so testing purchases early is wise. But for the breadth of inventory, knowledgeable staff, and genuine passion for the hobby, MC Aquatics remains a destination shop for Colorado's aquarium community.
What they offer
Livestock, services, water
- Livestock & products
- Services
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Massive store with 100+ gallon display tanks and extensive freshwater and saltwater inventory
- Sandbox area for mock-building aquascapes with driftwood and hardscape
- Strong shrimp selection with annual golden shrimp deals
- Bettas kept in proper aquariums rather than cups
- Tank maintenance and cleaning services including invasive snail removal
From keepers
Customer reviews
“A lot of deals! A lot of corals to choose from!”
— Son Vu5.03 days ago“Very knowledgeable and helpful with helping me setup my tank. Great customer service!!!”
— Barb Mazur5.0a week ago“Buying fish for a new tank, had a great experience! Secondary visits were less impressive.”
— Colten Frazier3.0Edited a week ago“i LOVE this fish store so much. they have such an insane selection of freshwater and saltwater fish, plus insane plants and corals! i love having an excuse to come here and check out what they have, 10/10 would recommend! the staff is also so alazing and friendly:)))”
— Kelly Long5.0a week ago“Jag and team are reclaiming my tanks after nasty snails that you don’t want in your tank took it over. They are clean, careful and schedule with in you time frame. My tanks look amazing and all I wanna do after work is turn on the music and watch the fish. I am running a 45 gallon and 20 gallon freshwater tanks.”
— Karen V5.0a week ago“Great ornamental fish store, highly recommended. The fish are healthy, active, and clearly well taken care of. The selection is good, including fish and aquarium supplies. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, and they are happy to explain proper fish care. Prices are reasonable for the quality. Will definitely come back again! 🐠”
— Jr Dl5.0a week ago“I’m a little disappointed with this store. I come in here so often, the staff are incredibly friendly and the selections are top notch— above any other fish store I know. I always look forward to the shrimp selections of MC Aquatics and especially their golden shrimp deal that is an annual sale. But I went in yesterday to purchase some otocinclus’ and the shrimp deal is no longer available? Luckily an employee had mentioned how the deal will eventually return so I can live with that. I also typically go in to surrender baby shrimp of mine that have fully matured. My shrimp tanks are typically overbred so I take, mostly the male babies, and hope to surrender them to MC Aquatics for a few extra dollars of store credit. Yet I go in again and both their shrimp deal and store credit for surrendered aquatic life are no longer available? I’m truly deeply upset with these new changes as these were the charm to MC Aquatics. Until these I brought back I’m afraid I can only search for a new favorite fish store.”
— millie3.0a week ago“MC Aquatics has an amazing selection of fresh and salt water fish, plants, and coral. Everything looks very healthy! The staff is very helpful and answered all of our questions.”
— Kelsie Jas5.0a week ago“Love buying my African cichlids from here. Great selections”
— 7 Figures Music5.0a week ago“Love these guys, always have what I need or can get it soon”
— jared jones5.02 weeks ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (720) 531-4189 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting MC Aquatics - Englewood.