About
Darrell's Aquarium in Lakeland, Florida is a locally owned fish store that has carved out a loyal following among freshwater and saltwater hobbyists across Polk County. Owner Darrell is a longtime aquarium enthusiast whose passion permeates the shop — from the clean, well-maintained display tanks to the personal touch of tracking down specific fish for customers via a call list when something isn't currently in stock. The saltwater side draws attention for its coral offerings and a varied selection of marine fish, while freshwater keepers come for cichlids — including harder-to-find varieties that you won't see at chain pet stores.
Bettas and live plants round out the freshwater inventory, and reviewers consistently note that the fish they purchase here arrive healthy and stay that way. The store also stocks a range of fish foods and supplies, and Darrell's team offers free water testing, which is a genuine perk for anyone dialing in a new setup. The shop has a distinctly personal atmosphere.
Darrell and his crew will show you photos of their own tanks, walk you through equipment choices for a new saltwater or freshwater build, and take fish back for partial store credit if something doesn't work out in your system. There's even a resident dog — described by one customer as a "miniature horse" — who greets regulars at the door. Prices are consistently described as fair, and the store is open seven days a week.
It's worth noting that some visitors have reported inconsistent customer service, particularly when staff are socializing with friends in-store, and a few reviewers flagged contradictory advice from different employees. Price labeling has also been mentioned as an area for improvement. That said, the overwhelming majority of the nearly 400 reviews praise Darrell's as the best fish store in Lakeland — a place where you can find quality livestock, get honest guidance, and feel the genuine enthusiasm that sets an independent aquarium shop apart from the big-box alternative.
What they offer
Livestock, services, water
- Livestock & products
- Services
- Water TestingConsultation
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Free water testing for customers
- Clean, well-maintained tanks with healthy fish
- Call list system to notify customers when specific fish arrive
- Rare cichlid varieties not found at chain stores
- Both freshwater and saltwater livestock including corals
From keepers
Customer reviews
“My husband has kept a freshwater aquarium for years and found a good variety of fish here. I am new to saltwater and they helped me purchase a tank and supplies and I plan on getting coral here once my tank is done cycling. The only reason I took a star off is because different employees told me contradicting info- for example, I was told that the filter that was recommended to me by the first employee who helped me wasn't the right type of filter for my tank, but Darrell confirmed that it is.”
— Angela F4.03 days ago“Darrell and his team are truly the definition of AMAZING! They make you truly feel welcomed and make sure you are making the most informed decisions! If I could rate 10 stars I would. If you are looking for a new crew this is the one for you!”
— Stormy Stitz5.0a week ago“I love this aquarium, fish store. I’ve gotten multiple bettas and plants,still healthy, and colorful.”
— pabloai03155.0a week ago“I just absolutely love this place! Darrell is so awesome and always finds whatever I'm looking for, even if he doesn't have it in the store at the time. Sometimes he is quite busy but all of his employees are very friendly and very knowledgeable! And his dog baby who is like a miniature horse LOL. Just loves me and my husband to death. All we do is walk in. We don't even have to say a word and I guess he just smells us or senses us. I don't know and he just runs around to come and greet us.”
— Bobbie Goodwin5.0Edited a week ago“Great customer service very happy to answer any of your questions very reasonable prices”
— Brendan bridges5.0a week ago“Customer service is always great when me and my go and they also have a selection of fish”
— Brittany Bridges5.0a week ago“Darrell's aquarium store is an EXPERIENCE for sure. The store is not nearly busy enough to justify the abysmal customer service; the owner will blatantly ignore you if you are a woman or anyone other than his "good ole boy" friends. The staff's knowledge also leaves a lot to be desired; several of the employees have very little knowledge of aquaculture and one of them wiped out nearly a whole wall of the stock by putting chlorinated water into the system. The owner himself killed a fish I ordered to the store by putting it into a tank treated with copper (many wrasses are extremely sensitive to copper, which is something most experienced fish keepers know). All that to say, my experience with most of the Darrell's staff was always uncomfortable at best. There are much better places to go in the Lakeland area.”
— K. Lee Knotts1.0a week ago“Great service. Very knowledgeable.”
— Cynthia Globe5.02 weeks ago“Good place clean and good price”
— Javier Vazquez5.0a month ago“Darrell and them are great. There's a passion for aquariums in the store and they are able to answer all my questions.”
— Frank Mathis5.02 months ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (863) 937-9000 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Darrell's Aquarium.