Tucked into the Pensacola landscape, A Fish Store is a husband-and-wife operation that has carved out a devoted following among freshwater aquarists in the Florida Panhandle. The store's calling card is its exceptional live plant selection — reviewers regularly cite it as the primary reason they drive an hour or more to visit. From lush aquatic greenery to quality hardscape pieces like driftwood, the inventory leans heavily toward planted tank enthusiasts looking to build something beautiful.
The livestock is overwhelmingly freshwater, and the focus is on quality over quantity. Tanks are notably clean and well-maintained, with healthy specimens that include standout rummynose tetras, guppies, mystery snails, and a particularly strong shrimp selection — cherry reds are a customer favorite. Multiple reviewers have purchased shrimp that were carefully packed for long trips home and arrived thriving, a testament to the care taken behind the counter.
What sets this Pensacola shop apart from the big-box pet stores is the atmosphere. Customers describe spending 45 minutes or more in conversation with staff, learning about tank cycling, stocking choices, and aquascaping without ever feeling rushed. One newcomer to the hobby visited two days in a row for aquascaping advice and plants while waiting for their tank to cycle.
Another got expert help selecting a replacement filter over the phone before even walking in. The owners clearly take pride in educating their customers and matching them with the right livestock and equipment. The store is small and almost entirely freshwater-focused — don't expect a sprawling saltwater section or massive hardware inventory.
But what they do carry is curated and high quality. The display tanks double as inspiration for aquascapers, and the overall cleanliness of the shop reflects the standard applied to every tank on the floor. For Pensacola-area fishkeepers who value healthy livestock, gorgeous plants, and genuine expertise, this is the local shop worth building a relationship with.
Rick Vangilder
3 reviews
Great knowledge and a personal touch. Thank you
Nathaniel Graham
12 reviews
Amazing selection of freshwater plants and fish available. Looking forward to getting some shrimp from them once our tank cycles.
Daniel Beck
Very knowledgeable and friendly!
RedKnight
Great place better then petco, petland, and petsmart. Fishes are healthy, plants healthy, and a good prices for everything love it, and coming here more often
Andi Szczepanski
2 reviews
Friendly, knowledgeable, and always up for answering any and all questions. Fish, shrimp, and all other aquatic creatures kept in clean & well maintained aquariums! They always have a great selection of healthy and beautiful freshwater aquatic plants as well :) 10/10
Cami
13 reviews
If I didn't live an hour away, I'd be in here all the time. Great selection of plants and haven't had an issue with pests like algae or destructive snails. The owners are super nice and helpful. Not a ton of hardware, but they carry good quality equipment and they have nice looking hardscape pieces. Overall, great quality livestock, plants and supplies!
Dana Donley
121 reviews
Stopped in while on vacation, just to check the place out. Worker was very friendly and informative. Got a great piece of wood at a reasonable price.
Dustin Yeager
4 reviews
Smallest selection of fish in town. You can find shrimp at any other pet store for half the price. Plants I bought were FULL of invasive snails, and worms. Obliterated my tank. The man and woman that work there (I think they are the owners) are so rude they act like robots that get annoyed if you have the audacity to ask a question about their fish. Will never shop here again. I can't figure out how they stay in business.
Claire K
23 reviews
I've now had two great experiences here. The first time I was looking for some shrimp to help with algae in my Musk Turtle tank. Despite not being too familiar with turtles, the owner was fantastic at helping me out. I now have a healthy stock of cherry reds that are helping the tank. Then yesterday my filter broke suddenly. I called and got confirmation they had something available to meet my needs. It's even better than the filter I had before and is working great. I also purchased a couple mystery snails. They are incredibly knowledgable and I love supporting local
anna
30 reviews
awesome freshwater fish, great selection of shrimp and plants and very helpful employees :3
Note: Store information and services may change. Always call (850) 898-3409 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting A Fish Store.
Take control of your listing to update info and respond to reviews.
Claim This ListingFind on Map
3960 W Navy Blvd Ste 19, Pensacola, FL 32507
February 7, 2026
Verified Data
Information verified through Google Places API and community contributions.
Other aquarium shops nearby worth checking out