Tucked into Suwanee, Georgia, Oranda Aquarium has quickly built a devoted following among freshwater fish keepers drawn to its pristine tanks and genuinely uncommon livestock. Owner Shu runs a tight ship — every tank sparkles, and the fish inside reflect that attention. Customers regularly report finding species here they've never encountered at any other store within a 50-mile radius, from exotic tropical rarities to prized lionchu goldfish and quality discus.
The store's namesake hints at its goldfish roots, and fancy goldfish remain a clear strength, but the inventory stretches well beyond. Large predatory species, Oscars, and other statement fish share shelf space with more modest community tank options. Shu stocks pumps, heaters, filters, and a solid range of fish food, and he's known for making thoughtful feeding recommendations tailored to what you're actually buying. He even uses compressed oxygen when bagging fish — a small detail that matters enormously if you're one of the many customers who drive over an hour to shop here.
What sets Oranda Aquarium apart from the chain pet stores scattered across metro Atlanta is the personal touch. Shu will talk pH levels with you, help you choose compatible tankmates, and genuinely steer you away from bad decisions rather than just ringing up a sale. He's taken in oversized pond goldfish from customers who outgrew their tanks and offers store credit for fish that get too big at home — a policy that speaks to someone who thinks long-term about the animals in his care.
The space itself is compact but immaculate, and first-time visitors consistently describe spending far longer inside than they planned, mesmerized by the sheer variety on display. Prices are competitive, often surprising for the quality of livestock offered. For freshwater hobbyists in the Suwanee area and well beyond, Oranda Aquarium has become a destination worth the drive — a focused, owner-operated shop where the fish come first.
Pure Reef in Alpharetta, Georgia is a saltwater-only aquarium store that has earned a devoted following across the greater Atlanta metro area — and for good reason. Owned and operated by George and Angela, who have been in the marine aquarium business for over thirty years dating back to their original Jonesboro location, this family-run shop radiates expertise and genuine passion for the reef hobby.
Walk through the doors and the first thing you notice is how immaculately clean everything is. The showroom is bright, well-organized, and features stunning display tanks that double as inspiration for your own build. The livestock — saltwater fish, corals ranging from softies to LPS to SPS, cleaner shrimp, and other invertebrates — is maintained to a standard that multiple reviewers describe as the best they've seen in the state. You won't find ich-ridden fish or overcrowded tanks here. Every frag and fish looks healthy and vibrant.
The coral selection is a major draw, with knowledgeable staff members like Matt, Rob, Lee, and Jennifer who can walk you through placement, lighting requirements, flow needs, compatibility, and color pattern design for your reef tank. They've built custom tanks for customers that have lasted over seven years, and they're just as happy helping someone set up their very first saltwater system as they are advising a forty-year industry veteran.
Beyond livestock, Pure Reef stocks a comprehensive range of dry goods, equipment, rocks, salt mixes, and RODI setups at prices that compete with online retailers — a rarity for a brick-and-mortar store. Their return policy on livestock is frequently praised, and their alive guarantee gives buyers confidence.
Multiple customers drive well out of their way to shop here, passing other stores along the route, because the combination of pristine livestock, competitive pricing, and deeply knowledgeable staff simply can't be matched elsewhere in Georgia. If you're serious about the saltwater hobby in the Atlanta area, Pure Reef is worth the trip north to Alpharetta.
Go Fish Education Center in Perry, Georgia isn't your typical fish store — it's a state-run educational facility operated by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources that immerses visitors in the world of freshwater fishing and aquatic conservation. Housed on well-maintained grounds just off the beaten path in Middle Georgia, Go Fish combines indoor museum exhibits, outdoor aquarium displays, a working hatchery, and a fully stocked catch-and-release pond into one memorable experience.
The outdoor aquarium section showcases native Georgia species — bluegill, trout, sturgeon, turtles, and even alligators — displayed in large, well-kept tanks that let visitors get up close with the state's freshwater biodiversity. Inside, interactive exhibits teach visitors about fisheries management, wildlife conservation, and Georgia's geography, though some reviewers note that a handful of the touchscreen displays could use maintenance. A fishing simulator and a three-screen laser shotgun shooting gallery add unexpected entertainment value.
The real star is the casting pond. Go Fish provides rods, tackle, and bait (cut-up hot dogs, no less) with the cost of admission, making it effortless for first-time anglers of any age to wet a line. Reviewers rave about children catching their first fish here — bluegill and trout are common catches — and the patient, knowledgeable staff walks newcomers through every step. Multiple families describe spending entire afternoons at the pond without feeling rushed.
Behind the scenes, the hatchery offers a fascinating glimpse into conservation work. One visitor was captivated watching a staff member tend to baby sturgeons. Guided tours led by educators like Ms. Chrystal receive glowing praise for being informative and genuinely engaging.
The gift shop is well-stocked with affordable souvenirs, and admission costs are minimal. For families traveling through Middle Georgia — especially those with young children — Go Fish delivers a rare combination of hands-on learning, outdoor recreation, and quiet natural beauty that's hard to find anywhere else in the state.
Tucked into Rincon, Georgia, Aquarium Eden has quickly become the go-to local fish shop for aquarists across the Savannah metro area. The store carries both freshwater and saltwater fish, but its real calling card is an exceptional live plant selection — both submerged and emersed varieties — paired with a dedicated hardscape room where customers can hand-pick driftwood, spiderwood, and stone to build their own aquascapes. It's the kind of hands-on experience you simply won't find at a big-box pet store.
The fish selection leans heavily into community freshwater favorites: candy cane tetras, flag fish, guppies, platys, bettas, and neocaridina shrimp all get regular mentions from customers, alongside invertebrates and more unusual species that keep repeat visitors coming back to see what's new. Saltwater livestock rounds out the offering for reefers in the area. Live foods including brine shrimp and blackworms are stocked for keepers with pickier eaters — a detail that signals the shop's understanding of serious hobbyists' needs.
Product-wise, Aquarium Eden carries a deep lineup of Aquarium Co-op products, which immediately tells you something about the store's philosophy: practical, hobbyist-tested gear over flashy marketing. The shop is well-organized and clean, with healthy-looking tanks that reflect genuine care behind the scenes.
Owner Dave and his team are regularly praised for walking customers through tank setup decisions, recommending compatible tank mates, and offering plant care guidance. Multiple reviewers mention returning within days of their first visit — a strong endorsement for a store that opened relatively recently. One customer credited the staff with helping set up a dedicated shrimp tank for family members, highlighting the kind of personalized consultation that keeps people loyal.
The store is closed Mondays, so plan accordingly. If you're in the Rincon or greater Savannah area and keeping aquariums, Aquarium Eden delivers the selection, expertise, and fair pricing that make a local fish shop worth driving to.
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.
Nemo Aquarium in Lawrenceville, Georgia has built a decade-long reputation as one of the Atlanta metro's most respected aquarium stores, and the reviews overwhelmingly back that up. Originally run as two separate locations by a pair of brothers, the combined shop now offers what many customers describe as the biggest in-person livestock selection they've ever seen — spanning both freshwater and saltwater species under one roof.
The coral selection draws particular praise from reef hobbyists across Atlanta. Reviewers call it "amazing," noting competitive pricing on frags and colonies that undercuts both local competitors and online vendors. Long-term reefers say that most of their coral collections and marine fish came from Nemo's, a testament to the consistency of their livestock quality. On the freshwater side, the store stocks everything from orandas and flowerhorns to discus, live plants, and axolotls. Several reviewers highlight the shop's ability to source rare and unique species on request, with surprisingly fast turnaround times.
Staff members Simon and Aaron are called out by name for their depth of knowledge. Multiple reviewers describe interactions where employees actively discouraged purchases when a customer's tank wasn't ready — declining sales based on bioload concerns, water parameters, or compatibility issues rather than pushing for profit. They'll feed fish in front of you to demonstrate health, and hold back corals showing any skeletal concerns for monitoring before releasing them for sale. That level of care has earned fierce loyalty.
The store itself is notably clean — a detail that comes up again and again — with well-maintained tanks and plenty of staff on the floor to assist. Prices are consistently praised as the best in the Atlanta area for both marine and freshwater livestock.
It's worth noting that some controversy arose around axolotl sales to a reportedly unprepared buyer, sparking debate about customer screening. The store has a passionate following, and that passion cuts both ways. But for the vast majority of the 750+ reviewers, Nemo Aquarium represents the kind of knowledgeable, fairly-priced, well-stocked local fish store that hobbyists wish existed in every city.
Southern Aquatics in Roswell, Georgia has built a loyal following among metro Atlanta fishkeepers with its combination of healthy livestock, well-maintained tanks, and staff who genuinely enjoy educating customers. The store carries both freshwater and saltwater species, though reviewers note it currently leans more heavily toward the freshwater side. That said, saltwater hobbyists will find staples like ocellaris clownfish, live sand, and live rock ready to go.
The freshwater selection is where Southern Aquatics really shines. Live plants are a standout draw — multiple reviewers specifically mention the store's plant inventory, and aquascaping enthusiasts have called it a great resource for building planted tanks. The shop also stocks axolotls, bettas, and a range of tropical species, all kept in clean, uncrowded tanks where the fish visibly look healthy.
What comes through most consistently in reviews is the staff's willingness to spend real time with customers. Bryce has been singled out for walking newcomers through everything they need to know about planted setups, while Taylor has earned praise for her attentive, knowledgeable service. First-time fishkeepers and betta owners have described the experience as patient and welcoming, with staff answering every question without rushing. One customer who bought their first betta rated the experience a perfect 10 out of 10.
The store itself is on the smaller side, and some visitors note the variety can feel limited compared to larger operations. Staff have acknowledged a refresh is in the works, which suggests the selection and layout may be expanding. Even so, multiple reviewers say they wished they had discovered Southern Aquatics before buying from big-box pet stores — a telling endorsement.
For Roswell-area hobbyists looking for a local fish store where the livestock is healthy, the plants are thriving, and the staff will actually take time to help you succeed, Southern Aquatics delivers on every count.
Mrs. Toad's Depot in Perry, Georgia is a family-run pet shop that has earned fierce loyalty across central Georgia — not through flashy marketing, but through genuine care for animals and the people who love them. Owner Melissa and her sons run the operation with hands-on expertise that spans reptiles, birds, small mammals, and a solid freshwater fish section that keeps aquarists coming back.
The fish side of the business, while not the store's sole focus, has developed a devoted following. Staff member Joseph earned particular praise for his deep knowledge of African cichlids during a phone consultation, and the store carries species like golden dojo loaches that customers have reported thriving long after purchase. Reviewers mention coming back repeatedly for fish tank needs, and the staff takes care in bagging and dividing fish purchases — small touches that matter when you're trusting someone with live animals.
The store's real strength is its breadth. Ball pythons, bearded dragons, tortoises, cockatiels, Indian ringnecks, red-bellied parrots, guinea pigs, ferrets, hamsters, rats, and tarantulas (including rose hair Ts that one customer had been hunting for) all share space in what multiple reviewers describe as a clean, well-organized shop. Animals consistently look healthy and well-socialized, from the birds playing in their water bowls to the friendly bearded dragons ready for adoption.
The staff — Stephanie, Kari, Joseph, Carrie, and others — come up by name repeatedly in reviews, which says something about the personal connections being built here. Kari helped a customer set up layaway for a tortoise. Joseph guided a family toward adopting an adult beardie instead of a baby, complete with habitat. These aren't transactions; they're relationships.
Mrs. Toad's also accepts animal surrenders and offers a layaway program, making pet ownership more accessible. For Perry and the surrounding central Georgia area, this shop delivers something big-box stores simply cannot: people who genuinely know and care about every species on their shelves.
Tucked away in Marietta, Georgia, Reef Shac is a dedicated saltwater shop that has earned a devoted following among reef hobbyists across the metro Atlanta area. Owned and operated by the namesake Shac, the store reflects one person's genuine passion for the marine aquarium hobby — and that passion shows in everything from the well-labeled coral frags to the willingness to spend an hour and a half walking a newcomer through their first saltwater setup.
The coral selection is the main draw. Reviewers consistently praise the health and variety of the frags and colonies, with one out-of-state visitor noting that after a rigorous dipping process, they found zero pests — a remarkable feat in the coral trade. Pieces like snowstorm clownfish and fire red shrimp catch the eye of browsers who didn't plan on buying. The store also sells saltwater and freshwater top-off water by the gallon, making it a regular stop for hobbyists doing weekly water changes.
What truly sets Reef Shac apart is the consultation experience. Multiple reviewers describe staff who listen carefully, gauge your experience level, and take the time to explain water parameters, cycling processes, and livestock compatibility without ever making customers feel rushed. One couple recounted arriving with a 100-gallon horse stock tank to fill with saltwater — a request that might raise eyebrows elsewhere — and being welcomed without hesitation. The staff walked them through everything they needed to know before adding their first coral or fish.
The shop also handles special requests with care. One customer called ahead to have corals bagged, packed in a cooler with heat packs, and ready for pickup before a trip to the airport — and everything was prepared perfectly. Prices are consistently described as reasonable, making the hobby more accessible without cutting corners on livestock quality.
For saltwater enthusiasts in the Marietta area looking for healthy corals, clean tanks, and genuine expertise, Reef Shac delivers a personal, invested experience that big-box stores simply can't match.
Tucked into Athens, Georgia, Fish Gallery has built a loyal following over several years by pairing a deep freshwater and saltwater inventory with staff who genuinely enjoy talking fish. The store stocks everything from guppies and bettas to cichlids, shrimp, and oto catfish, alongside a rotating selection of live plants that plant-hunters say is worth the trip. Reviewers consistently note the rare and unique finds on the shelves — the kind of stock you won't stumble across at a chain pet store.
Reef enthusiasts will want to spend time with the Red Sea display tank, which draws praise for its quality and serves as real-world inspiration for anyone planning a saltwater build. In fact, the store's array of display tanks doubles as a design workshop; a sandbox station lets customers mock up hardscape layouts before committing to a purchase, a thoughtful touch that speaks to how seriously the team takes aquascaping and tank setup.
Staff names like Justin, Taylor, and Skyler come up repeatedly in reviews, and the common thread is patience. One customer recounted a half-hour conversation about shrimp die-off and algae control that ended with a perfectly tailored recommendation. Another couple drove two hours for a replacement tank and found the team coordinated and ready the moment they walked in. The store also offers tank maintenance and cleaning services at rates reviewers call reasonable, extending its usefulness well beyond the point of sale.
Pricing is competitive across fish, plants, and supplies, and the team can special-order items they don't carry in stock. The shop is clean, well-organized, and clearly run by people who keep tanks themselves. For Athens-area aquarists building a planted community tank, stocking a reef, or just trying to keep their first shrimp alive, Fish Gallery delivers the kind of hands-on guidance and curated inventory that turns casual hobbyists into repeat customers.
