About
Fish World and Pet Shop in Hinesville, Georgia is a family-owned operation that carries both freshwater and saltwater fish alongside small animals, birds, and reptiles. Located in a military town with limited aquarium shopping options, the store occupies a small footprint and has built a polarizing reputation among local fishkeepers. On the freshwater side, the store stocks species like oscars, pacu, bettas, and rainbow sharks, along with basic supplies.
Several reviewers have praised the staff's willingness to help newcomers set up their first aquariums, answering questions about fish compatibility and care over the phone and in person. The elder gentleman and woman who typically run the shop have their loyal regulars — some customers have made repeat trips from as far as two hours away specifically for species like pacu. However, the store's track record on fish health is a significant concern that runs through the reviews like a recurring theme.
Multiple customers have reported purchasing fish — bettas, oscars, and sharks among them — that showed signs of ich or fin rot shortly after purchase, with some dying within days. The store's no-refund policy has frustrated buyers who feel they were sold visibly sick animals. Tank cleanliness is another frequent complaint, with several visitors noting algae-covered tanks and murky water during their visits.
The small animal section includes guinea pigs, hamsters, mice, rats, and budgies, though the quality of care for these animals has also drawn mixed reviews. The budgie setup received specific praise for spacious caging, while other small animal enclosures have been criticized. Pricing tends to run higher than chain pet stores, which some customers accept as the cost of supporting a local business while others find hard to justify given the health concerns.
Customer service experiences vary dramatically — from genuinely helpful consultations to being ignored while staff takes personal phone calls. For Hinesville residents seeking a local fish shop, Fish World remains the primary option, but buyers should carefully inspect any livestock before purchasing.
What they offer
Livestock, services, water
- Livestock & products
- BettasDry Goods
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Family-owned store carrying both freshwater and saltwater fish
- Stocks species like oscars, pacu, bettas, and rainbow sharks
- Also carries birds, reptiles, and small animals including budgies and guinea pigs
- Staff willing to help newcomers with aquarium setup questions
- One of the few local fish store options in the Hinesville area
From keepers
Customer reviews
“Very small along with a small amount of inventory, but it's decent. They carry white mice and rats as well for those who like to have them as pets.”
— Angela Amey3.021 hours ago“My family is very new to owning an aquarium and pet fish. Stopped by to view and purchase our first fish for the aquarium and to ask some questions to ensure proper care and maintenance. The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. He assisted me in picking the right starter fish and answered multiple questions over the phone. My family is very excited to watch our aquarium flourish and will be visiting the store soon to add to our fish family.”
— Eligah5.07 months ago“Knowledgeable and courteous great locally owned store”
— _No Tact_5.08 months ago“A little pricey but as the saying goes, you get what you pay for. Well worth it.”
— John Morgan5.09 months ago“Every single tank was ick infested and dirty. Very poor quality of life for the fish”
— Taylor S1.09 months ago“Avoid this place at all cost. Dirty, stinky, the tanks are filthy and do not look healthy. The small pet area has poor diseased mice just laying there rotting away. Pictures are very deceiving. And the lady at the desk was very rude. Drove an hour away and left empty handed because I refuse to support this place.”
— Barbara Bohley1.0a year ago“Very nice family owned fish store super knowledgeable and never had any bad experiences with them or the quality of there fish overall great experiences from here”
— Shelby Merica5.0a year ago“We got a fish for my autistic son and we seen a few white spots. We were told it was part of his pigment and that he was completely healthy. This is what he looks like now. I am extremely upset at the lack of knowledge and the willingness to sell sick fish to children. They charged double the price I pay for my healthy betas.I would not trust what these people say and I would definitely not trust any animals that look off. They will not give refunds and they will not take responsibility for the sick fish they sold my autistic son. We have three other bettas that we got from our pet shop around the corner and all of them have been happy and healthy for over 2 years. We know how to take care of betas and we know when something's wrong and when we brought it up to them they dismissed it and would not take responsibility. UPDATE: The fish is still alive but getting worse. Here are some other pics of our other betta babies so you can see we know how to take care of our fish. We have had these fish longer than the one we bought from them. The last pics are from our fish we got from our local mom and pop pet store.RIP he finally stopped swimming, eating, and died two days after.”
— Nishati1.0Edited a year ago“I will never buy another fish from them. Brought 2 sharks died the next day. They gonna tell me to test my water. Took my water to petsmart to test petsmart. Told me the water was good. and they did not refund me my money No stars”
— Darnell Pendergrass. Sr1.0a year ago“I bought an Oscar from this store a week ago, as my Oscar passed a few weeks back. I put her in a tank with perfect parameters, which had been checked before and after adding the fish. They were and currently are absolutely perfect for an Oscar. After adding her into the tank, I gave her the day to settle down. Next day, she wouldn't eat. Has refused every bit of food. Come to find out, this lady sold me a fish with fin rot. I did not expect a pet store to sell someone a fish that is diseased. The others didn't look great, but I was so excited to get yet another Oscar that I overlooked the two other sickly looking fish, stupidly. She is now likely going to have to be (humanely) euthanized, as I am not sure if treatment will even be effective at this point due to her being so far gone. I will absolutely never purchase another fish from here and don't recommend anyone else to, either.”
— Peyton Davis1.0a year ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (912) 877-3474 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting FISH WORLD AND PET SHOP, LLC.