About
5 stars and a reputation that draws hobbyists from two counties away. This locally owned aquarium store stocks one of the deepest freshwater and saltwater selections in the Tampa Bay area, with rows of tightly packed, well-labeled tanks where every fish and plant has its name and price posted right on the glass. On the freshwater side, regulars come for kuhli loaches, Siamese algae eaters, Australian rainbowfish, sailfin mollies, endler livebearers, and ricefish for sale in Tampa, FL, alongside fancy goldfish, cichlids, and schooling tetras.
The planted-tank and aquatic plant selection earns some of the loudest praise: healthy stem plants, crypts, swords, mosses, and floaters at prices regulars say beat the big-box stores by a wide margin. One customer called it the best aquarium plant selection they have seen in Florida. Cross the aisle and it turns into a serious saltwater and reef destination.
Yellow tangs, a powder blue tang, angelfish, strikingly beautiful saltwater puffers, corals, anemones, and clean-up-crew shrimp and invertebrates are all available in Tampa, FL. When a tank needs help, staff reach for trusted gear like Fritz copper treatments, Fluval filtration, and IceCap tanks instead of upselling. What keeps people loyal is the counter help.
Names like Dillon, Chris, Holden, Jonathan, and Reese come up again and again: staff who steer beginners toward an affordable, durable filter rather than the priciest one, talk through refugium and coral choices, and walk first-timers through getting a tank up and running. They offer free water testing and straight-shooting consultation, and they will take in fish you can no longer keep in exchange for store credit. One employee even 3D-prints the floating betta hides customers rave about.
It gets busy on weekends and the aisles run tight, so regulars suggest a weekday visit when you are picking out specific fish. For Tampa aquarists building anything from a first community tank to a full reef, this is the fish store locals keep coming back to.
What they offer
Fish & livestock for sale at Marine Warehouse Aquarium in Tampa, FL
Marine Warehouse Aquarium stocks corals, reef fish, invertebrates, shrimp, livebearers, pufferfish, anemones, goldfish, aquarium plants and freshwater, saltwater & pond fish for sale in Tampa, FL. As an aquarium store serving Tampa, FL, it also carries aquarium equipment, fish medications and dry goods and offers water testing, aquarium consultations and aquarium setup.
- Livestock & products
- CoralsReefLive PlantsPlanted TanksInvertebratesShrimpLivebearersPuffersAnemonesGoldfishTangsClownfishAngelfishCichlidsTetrasAquarium EquipmentMedicationsDry Goods
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Deep freshwater and saltwater selection, from kuhli loaches, rainbowfish, and livebearers to yellow tangs, angelfish, and saltwater puffers
- One of Florida's best aquatic plant selections, with affordable stem plants, crypts, swords, mosses, and floaters
- Free water testing and honest, no-upsell advice from staff like Dillon, Chris, Holden, Jonathan, and Reese
- Corals, anemones, and clean-up-crew invertebrates and shrimp for saltwater and reef tanks
- Takes in fish you can no longer keep for store credit; an employee even 3D-prints the floating betta hides customers love
From keepers
Customer reviews
“The staff here are super knowledgeable and helpful. The selection is great.”
— Unknown5.022 hours ago“Staff is knowledgeable and helpful, plus the pricing is extremely affordable in comparison to competitors. They also give advice based on personal experience, not profit — I asked about getting a new filter and they helped me pick out a cheap but durable one suited for my tank rather than pointing out the most expensive one on the shelf.”
— Kreide Baryon5.02 days ago“This place has an amazing selection of fish and there’s always something new and interesting to check out. I used to have a bunch of tanks but now I just have 155 gallon ecosystem tank with 6 inch substrate full of tube effects worms and scuds and all kinds of living microorganisms, the tank is fully planted and I’m running a Fluval FX4 (I think they’re for a 150 or 200 gallon tank?) and I’m also running a hang on back filter for a 75 gallon. I don’t do water changes ever because I have a ton of mature plants growing from the substrate and glued to rocks… I also have Pothos growing out of the top of the tank because those absorb nitrates amazingly well. They have an amazing selection of saltwater fish and anemones… which are fantastically beautiful but a little pricey… However, I don’t have the time and energy to care for Ass saltwater tank because that is a whole Nother ball game… It’s a lot easier to re-create a lake/river environment versus the whole ocean… plus most fish and coral and anatomy for the saltwater tanks. Don’t breed indoors so they’re wild caught which I don’t feel right about. But hey, to each their own! The freshwater selection is also great… I just bought six coolie loaches, two Siamese algae eaters to go with my Loan one, and two Australian rainbow fish to go with another Loan one that were only $5.99 apiece… My favorite thing about this place is that they take donations and will give you store credit… So when I was done raising goldfish, I brought them six or seven fairly large fancy goldfish and they gave me $100 store credit which I used to buy plants… Now, I see they charge anywhere from $35-$50 for the fancy goldfish at the sizes I turned in… So I know they made a great profit, but that also gives me peace of mind because nobody is planning to spend that who isn’t serious about taking care of them or putting them in a pond. They have great freshwater floater plants, moss, tons of different stem, plants, and swords… etc. You can get three bunches of healthy stem plants for $12. And three potted plants like crypts for $24… which is much cheaper than PetSmart where you buy them in the plastic tubes if they even have any… Or online Plant sellers. It’s a very cool store to walk around in and check out all the sick lids and beautiful saltwater fish… They have amazing saltwater puffers that are just gorgeous and beautiful and anemones…”
— Cola Pia5.06 days ago“Great place to buy large selection of fish for good prices. Lots of supplies and workers here to help answer questions. Holden, Jonathan and Reese have helped us out a lot starting our first fish tanks.”
— Jacob Benintendi5.0a week ago“Really great selection of both freshwater and salt water fish and plants. Decent selection for tanks. Employees were very nice and all very engaged.”
— Marie Batacan5.02 weeks ago“Acabo de ser atendido por un trabajador exelente ,muy profesional escojiendo los peces. GRACIAS”
— Félix leandro Moya Alvarez5.03 weeks ago“They are eager to sell you stuff,so much so that they lie about what they are selling you. I bought a 1400 dollar tank and stand and ai lights from them. The tank on display is a tideline I asked do you have this tank available. Yup it’s in the back so I buy it pick it up set it up. Months down the road when I’m trying to get equipment especially for this tideline tank nothing works. After a very forgiving patient and generous company who makes adapter parts for the Red Sea nanomat sent me a part for this tideline tank that didn’t work I sent them measurements. Well guess what this isn’t a tideline it’s an icecap. Same look and stand but totally different tank in measurements. It has made getting lids and other parts extremely difficult and time consuming. Don’t get me wrong I like the tank but I feel it was a bait and switch, show you a great tank then give you a lesser cheaper model at the same price. So buyer be ware.”
— Erick2.03 weeks ago“Many tanks. A large variety of fish and aquarium life. But the fish aren't very colorful.”
— Karen W4.03 weeks ago“They have a wide variety of freshwater and saltwater fish, corals, and inverts that you can't find anywhere else in the Tampa Bay area. Staff are knowledgeable and helpful. The aisles with tanks are tight so it can be kind of awkward if another person is in the same aisle looking at fish because it you have to bend down to look into one of the lower tanks, the average sized person is going to block the aisle. I recommend visiting on a weekday if you already know what you're going to purchase, especially if it's a fish or anything in a tank because they are busy on weekends and it can take some time before a staff member becomes available to help get whatever you need from the tank. They also post the price and names of everything they sell. It would be an added plus if they started to include the broad temperament (peaceful or aggressive) of the fish as well to minimize the customer from spending additional time in the aisle while they research if the fish would be a good fit for their setup.”
— K X5.04 weeks ago“Very knowledgeable people. Will definitely be back.”
— Jennifer Schaber5.04 weeks ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (813) 884-0787 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Marine Warehouse Aquarium.