About
Wicked Sticks Aquarium Service and Maintenance is a Sarasota, Florida operation built on one thing: Mike Bassamore's deep expertise in saltwater reef systems and his commitment to showing up when he says he will. This is an appointment-only business serving residential and commercial clients, and based on the consistent praise across dozens of reviews, it's clear Mike has earned a loyal following along the Gulf Coast. The core of the business is hands-on reef tank maintenance.
Clients describe tanks that had become overwhelmed with coral overgrowth, plumbing that needed reworking, and saltwater systems that owners had simply run out of time or energy to maintain themselves. Mike steps in with a strategic approach — assessing the situation, developing a plan, and executing it efficiently. One long-time reef hobbyist whose 10-year-old tank had become unmanageable reported that within hours of Mike's visit, the tank looked better than it had in years, with fish and corals visibly thriving the next day.
He was even referred by Coral Connection, a well-known local coral shop, which speaks to his standing in the Sarasota reef community. Mike and his son handle biweekly maintenance visits for many clients, covering everything from water changes and coral management to full replumbing jobs. He's known for his personal collection of acropora corals, and his knowledge of coral health and fish compatibility comes through in every interaction.
Clients consistently highlight his responsiveness — calls answered promptly, questions addressed thoroughly, and appointments kept on schedule. This isn't a retail storefront with aisles of dry goods. It's a service-first operation where the value is in Mike's expertise and reliability.
For Sarasota saltwater enthusiasts who want their reef tanks maintained by someone who genuinely cares about the livestock, Wicked Sticks delivers with professionalism and a personal touch that's hard to find in the aquarium service world.
What they offer
Livestock, services, water
- Livestock & products
- CoralsReef
- Services
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Specialist in saltwater reef tank maintenance for residential and commercial clients
- Referred by local coral shops like Coral Connection for reef expertise
- Biweekly maintenance programs with Mike and his son
- Handles complex jobs including coral overgrowth management and aquarium replumbing
- Owner maintains a personal collection of acropora corals
From keepers
Customer reviews
“I would highly recommend Mike at Wicked Sticks for any reef maintenance or service you are looking for. My current reef tank that I built and maintained for the last 10 years was quickly overwhelmed with overgrowth and was becoming unmanageable. The amount of work required was becoming stressful and I needed someone with expertise to help come up with a plan of action to get the tank back on track. Wicked Sticks was recommended to me by Coral Connection local store and with one call I was immediately answered and scheduled for an appointment. The appointment with Mike made me very comfortable in his abilities and we came up with a strategic plan to relocated and clean out some overgrowth. Within a week Mike was back out on time and within hours the tank had never looked so good! The next day after a water change and water had cleared up I was thoroughly surprised to find that the fish and coral couldn't be happier! They could breath and thrive once again. Thanks again Mike at Wicked Sticks for all your services and getting me back on track once again!”
— David Cohen5.09 months ago“Mike is a reliable guy! Very generous with his advice and very detailed oriented ! You will be in good hands.”
— Martin Pouliot5.010 months ago“I HIGHLY recommend Wicked Sticks (mike) for ALL of your aquarium needs! Mike and his son come to our home every 2 weeks and provide top notch services. Mike answers every question and provides guidance for continued care of our tank. He's so personable, even the dogs love when he comes! If you want the best of the best, contact Mike!”
— Ashlea Hartner5.010 months ago“Incredible knowledge and extremely helpful. Great service, would highly recommend!!!”
— Austin Kennedy5.010 months ago“Wicked Sticks does a great job on our aquarium! Very responsive to our questions, he gets back to us right away. He has been very helpful and our tank looks fantastic because of his help and knowledge!”
— Tia Jackson5.010 months ago“Great tanks and very communicable I appreciated his business would recommend”
— Goat Regardless5.011 months ago“Always do a great job . Always on time. Thank you”
— Tony Ho5.0a year ago“Mike Has been awesome. He does such a amazing job He communicates amazingly and always shows up when he says he’s going to. Couldn’t be more happier than having Mike take care of my Reef tanks.”
— Craig Jackson5.0a year ago“Very knowledgeable and very professional. Highly recommended for anything aquarium related”
— Jon 3055.0a year ago“Wicked Sticks Aquarium Service, maintenance is top notch, and highly recommended Will be using them for all my aquarium needs👍”
— Fly Tooo5.0a year ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (941) 615-7410 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Wicked Sticks Aquarium Service and Maintenance.