About
Emmons Tropical Fish & Ponds in Simsbury, Connecticut is the kind of store that earns loyalty measured in decades. Multiple reviewers mention shopping here for 20-plus years, and it's easy to see why. Walking in, you get what one customer called an "old school fish store feel" — a densely stocked, passionately run operation where the owners and staff are genuine hobbyists who happen to run a business.
The freshwater selection is the star. Reviewers rave about everything from pea puffers and corydora catfish to cichlids, Oscars, and monster fish you'd normally only see online. The bettas stand out — customers describe them as vibrant, reactive, and leagues beyond big-box pet store offerings.
There's a solid saltwater section too, with corals in a well-established display tank, and the store stocks salts and reef supplies. Live plants and shrimp are popular picks; one college student set up an entire shrimp tank with their help and left thrilled with the results. Outside, the pond supply area is a destination in its own right.
Massive, healthy koi draw frequent praise, and the staff has guided customers through full backyard koi pond builds — from planning through ongoing maintenance advice. Pond fish, supplies, and expertise are all under one roof. The team — Jeff, Steve, and the rest — consistently earns praise for patient, detailed consultations.
They'll help you pick the right algae eater for your cichlid tank, walk you through upgrading from a 75 to a 125-gallon setup, or answer questions about shrimp care over the phone. Several reviewers note the staff will order specific species on request. There's also a small but well-kept section of reptiles, rodents, and small animals in the back, plus live foods, frozen foods, and Dubia roaches.
The store carries a broad range of dry goods, filtration supplies, décor, and medications. For Connecticut aquarists, Emmons is worth the drive — and many customers travel over an hour to prove it.
What they offer
Livestock, services, water
- Livestock & products
- KoiCichlidsBettasPuffersCoralsLive PlantsShrimpRare SpeciesCatfishInvertebratesDry GoodsAquarium EquipmentFish Food
- Services
- ConsultationPond ServicesTank Setup
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Massive freshwater selection including pea puffers, cichlids, Oscars, monster fish, and vibrant bettas
- Outdoor pond supply area with large, healthy koi and full pond-building guidance
- Well-established saltwater coral display tank with reef supplies
- Live plants, shrimp varieties, and live/frozen food options
- Staff will order specific or rare species on request
From keepers
Customer reviews
“I have been coming here for years, the owners and staff are so helpful. They have everything for fresh and saltwater fish. I have gotten all of my fish, tanks, decor, filter supplies, frozen food and dry food from here. They even have a small reptile and rodent sections with supplies for them as well. Overall a great place to check out!”
— Emily Kay5.0a week ago“Large selection of tropical and fresh water fish, tank decor, supplies. Customer service was not great.”
— Hez Chard4.02 weeks ago“Very aura”
— Nick c5.02 months ago“Great selection and fantastic service!”
— Ken Schulz5.0Edited 2 months ago“I live about an hour away from Emmons and when I googled fish stores near me, they were the closest. I am so glad I found them! They have a wide variety of fish that are healthy and well cared for. They also sell live food, cultures, frozen foods for fish and even Dubia roaches for your reptiles! I highly recommend and will be visiting the store frequently. Thanks for my cute little pea puffers! ❤️”
— Heather B5.03 months ago“Amazing store & owner! I drove well over an hour today to visit, and I’ll definitely be making the trip again! The owner was SO helpful in finding me the right algae eater for my cichlid tank, I also picked out a few other fishies for very fair prices. They have a fantastic selection of fish, all in impressive tanks. I highly recommend stopping by :)”
— morgy !5.03 months ago“Nice, knowledgeable and helpful people. Great looking fish and a beautiful store. Will definitely be going back for more fish and supplies.”
— Jonathan Wunsch5.04 months ago“Fantastic service! The team is incredibly knowledgeable and super helpful. I recently purchased live plants, shrimp and supplies for my betta tank, and everything has been great.”
— Jess C5.05 months ago“These people are completely committed to their work and have a tremendous knowledge base about the things they sell. Their enthusiasm for everything pertaining to aquatic animals and plants is obvious. They are not only a rich source of aquarium and pond fish plus the materials necessary for them to thrive, but also experts who are willing to share their knowledge and know-how with customers. We are so glad to have them available when we need their expertise to keep our backyard pond thriving!”
— Brian Sheehy5.06 months ago“Worth visiting, staff/owners were very friendly and helpful”
— Chris Roy5.06 months ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (860) 658-5401 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Emmons Tropical Fish & Ponds.