About
Bob's Tropical Fish in Augusta, Georgia has been a regional destination for over two decades, drawing hobbyists from as far as Anderson, South Carolina — many making two-hour drives without hesitation. The store occupies a large footprint packed with freshwater livestock, live plants, saltwater fish, corals, and an outdoor pond section that rounds out one of the most complete aquatic offerings in the CSRA. Freshwater is the undeniable star here.
Reviewers consistently praise the planted tank selection — hardscape, live plants, and the kind of variety that rewards browsing. One returning customer credited Bob's with fueling a full shrimp colony alongside sparkling gouramis, a rescue betta, and least killifish tanks, all started from what was supposed to be one modest shrimp setup. Axolotls make regular appearances, and staff have helped families get axolotl tanks properly dialed in.
Pacus, cichlids, tropical community fish — the freshwater inventory runs deep and rotates with regular shipments. Saltwater gets a smaller share of floor space, but Bob can special-order corals and saltwater species on request, and long-time customers running both fresh and salt tanks keep coming back for neo shrimp and reef stock alike. The outdoor pond section serves koi and pond keepers, and multiple reviewers mention ongoing pond maintenance service.
The staff is the other major draw. Byron is frequently singled out for his encyclopedic knowledge — he's the guy who'll tell you to hold off on buying fish because of an incoming weather pattern, then explain exactly why. Mike earns similar praise for his patience and willingness to turn a store visit into an impromptu education session.
Bob himself has built a loyal following over decades, with several employees working at the shop since its early days. Prices consistently undercut big-box pet stores, and the livestock arrives healthy and well-maintained. Tanks are clean, fish look good, and the atmosphere is welcoming enough that one reviewer's daughter wanted to visit nearly every day over summer.
For anyone in the Augusta area building a freshwater planted tank, stocking a reef, or maintaining a backyard pond, Bob's is the local shop that earns the loyalty.
What they offer
Livestock, services, water
- Livestock & products
- Services
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Massive freshwater selection with standout live plants and planted tank supplies
- Outdoor pond section with pond maintenance services
- Staff members Byron and Mike praised for deep expertise and patience
- Neocaridina shrimp, axolotls, and uncommon species regularly in stock
- Special orders available for corals and hard-to-find fish through Bob directly
From keepers
Customer reviews
“Lots of fish to choose from, fresh water, saltwater, plants, corral and everything you need for aquariums.”
— Sandlover5.021 hours ago“Great folks! Very helpful and courteous.”
— D Reid5.03 days ago“Very knowledgeable friendly staff. Very Large selection of fresh and saltwater fish. Well stocked store of tanks and supplies. Better prices than chain pet stores. Healthier fish as well. You will not be disappointed.”
— Martin Roever5.0Edited 6 days ago“Prices are GREAT selection are also GREAT. I live in Anderson SC this is the place that I will only purchase my fish in the future. Well worth the drive. 10-Star Review”
— Lindsay Dispatch5.0a week ago“Mike was so helpful. He amused me and helped turn our visit into a homeschool session.”
— Melissa B5.0a week ago“Well, it’s probably a common occurrence but I went to bobs to start a shrimp tank after being out of the hobby for a few years due to a heating incident. Long story short, this store is so good! I told myself I’d make a shrimp tank for now and see how it does etc. Well, the shrimp tank is breeding and now I have three other tanks…. Bobs is great and if you like planted freshwater tanks, you won’t beat them! They have the best prices I’ve found (if you enjoy the thrill of the hunt in person, I know I do), and as someone that can spend hours looking at the same piece of hardscape, I feel right at home. They’ve helped me form not only my shrimp colony, but my sparkling gouramis, rescue betta, and least killifish tanks. I grew up in aquarium oriented families and genuinely, I’m not sure you can get better than bobs.”
— Skyler Nichols5.0Edited 4 weeks ago“Given the name, you'd expect a fairly large selection of tropical (i.e., saltwater) fish. The store is about 90% freshwater...which is great, if that's what you're looking for. What few saltwater fish in are there are not in proper tanks and don't look all that healthy.”
— Meg Stocks3.0a month ago“I can always count on Bob’s Tropical Fish.”
— Tracy Fiebiger5.02 months ago“Knowledgeable people great saltys”
— winston pittman5.02 months ago“Courteous staff very helpful knowledgeable about their business highly recommended”
— denise lewis5.02 months ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (706) 863-9478 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Bob's Tropical Fish.