Aquarama Inc.

Aquarama Inc. has been a Miami institution for over 50 years, a family-run aquarium shop now in its third generation. Located in a compact neighborhood storefront (fair warning: parking is tight), this is the kind of place where the owners remember your name, your tank, and what you bought last time.

Christy, Manny, and Cristina are the faces behind the counter, and longtime customers speak about them with real affection — one reviewer has been shopping here since age seven and still brings family in. The store carries a solid rotating inventory of both freshwater and saltwater fish, along with live aquatic plants, driftwood, and dragon stones for aquascaping. Reviewers mention everything from cherry barbs and bettas to clownfish, starfish, and cleaner crews for reef setups.

Christy has a knack for keeping things honest — one dad visiting with his daughter for a starter betta bowl noted she stayed well under his budget and never pushed unnecessary extras. For pond keepers, Cristina has earned praise for patiently walking customers through water conditioning, feeding, and maintenance when their fish were struggling. Aquarama also offers water testing and will ship orders for customers who can't make the drive — one reviewer travels all the way from Naples for the selection.

The bilingual staff (Spanish and English) is a natural fit for Miami, and the shop has a distinctly warm, unhurried energy. Tanks with stands, food, medications, and the full range of supplies are stocked alongside the livestock. The store isn't without its rough edges.

A few reviewers have reported disease issues with purchased fish, and occasional clashes in communication between staff have frustrated some saltwater hobbyists seeking precise guidance. But the overwhelming consensus across hundreds of reviews is clear: Aquarama delivers personalized, caring service that big-box pet stores simply can't match. For Miami fish keepers who value a genuine relationship with their local shop, this is the real deal.