About
Walk into Heeeere Fishy Fishy in Gainesville, Florida, and the first thing you notice is how spotless everything is. Tank after tank of freshwater fish swimming in crystal-clear water, vibrant live plants swaying gently, and neocaridina shrimp picking their way across lush substrates. This is a store built by someone who genuinely cares about aquatic life, and it shows in every detail.
Owner Chris has earned a loyal following for his deep knowledge and generous patience. Multiple reviewers describe extended conversations where he helped them troubleshoot sick fish, balance nitrogen cycles, or select the right combination of guppies, nerite snails, and shrimp for a 10-gallon community tank. He'll test your water sample on the spot and walk you through exactly what's happening in your aquarium.
That level of personal attention is rare. One detail that comes up again and again: the bettas. Instead of languishing in tiny cups like at big-box pet stores, every betta at Heeeere Fishy Fishy lives in its own properly sized planted tank.
Reviewers describe seeing natural betta behavior for the first time — flaring, exploring, actually swimming — and it clearly makes an impression. The store stocks a thoughtful selection of freshwater fish, including some harder-to-find species that other Gainesville shops don't carry. The live plant selection is robust enough to support full aquascaping projects, and you can now pick up Aquarium Co-Op products in person — a welcome addition for fans of the brand.
Invertebrates, shrimp, décor, conditioners, and equipment round out the inventory. It's a smaller shop, tucked a bit out of the way, but that intimacy is part of the charm. There's no overwhelming warehouse feel — just clean tanks, healthy animals, fair prices, and a staff that actually wants to talk fish with you.
For freshwater fishkeepers in north-central Florida, this is the store worth driving to.
What they offer
Livestock, services, water
- Livestock & products
- Services
- Water TestingConsultation
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Bettas housed in individual planted tanks instead of cups
- Free water testing and personalized consultation with owner Chris
- Aquarium Co-Op products available in person
- Wide selection of live plants, shrimp, and freshwater fish
- Immaculately maintained tanks with visibly healthy fish
From keepers
Customer reviews
“Such friendly and knowledgeable staff. Their tanks are so clean and well maintained and their fish look very healthy.”
— Emily Hale5.05 days ago“One of the best stores I've ever seen. If not the best. The owner is super knowledgeable and everything is the store is super healthy and well taken care of.”
— Sam Rojas5.0a week ago“Love love love this place. Tanks are gorgeous, clean; their fish, inverts, and plants always look extremely robust and healthy; the people there are really nice and helpful. Cannot recommend them highly enough!”
— Angie Price5.02 weeks ago“Awesome aquastore with knowledgeable staff and owner”
— Annie Reeves5.02 weeks ago“10/10 experience getting everything I needed for an aquascape. Also love that I can purchase aquarium co-op products in person now.”
— Zachary Goodspeed5.03 weeks ago“This is a really amazing aquatic store very knowledgeable and helpful for all small and big fish needs especially if your looking to grow out large fish from babies”
— Shyanne Sheets5.03 weeks ago“The tanks are always in great condition, and it's the first place I've seen to ethically house bettas! No tiny takeout cups for these little guys.”
— Jane Maltby5.0a month ago“I'm not a fish enthusiast, but I adopted a 10 gal from a friend that went a little haywire on me. I took pictures of the tank, all my tank supplies (conditioners and whatnot), and brought ~2oz water sample from the tank. Chris was so welcoming, even with my baby and young child, tested the water and shared his knowledge so I could feel more confident about how to provide a comfortable living space for my freshwater friends (nerite snails and guppies). I wanted a few more guppies, another snail, another aquatic plant and some neocaridina shrimp and he shared his recommendation on what else would be most appropriate to put in the tank. Chris is very knowledgeable, very passionate and generous with his time and patience. Whether you are a beginner or an expert, drop by his place and check it out; you won't be disappointed.”
— Michelle Garcia-Anderson5.0a month ago“You can really tell they care about every fish they have, tanks are beautiful and clean and the fish are healthy. We were there yesterday and they were so knowledgeable and helpful.”
— Sonja Rose5.0a month ago“Really nice place, you walk in and can see like 'Wow, they know what they're doing.' It's smaller, but very well taken care of. Super clean. I was able to get everything I was looking for, (plant & shrimp) and any questions I had were answered. I definitely will be returning in the future for more.”
— B Lopez-Rayburn5.0a month ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (352) 672-6182 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Heeeere Fishy Fishy.