About
Walk into Fish Planet in Deerfield, Illinois, and the tanks do the talking. Review after review calls them the cleanest they've ever seen — crystal clear, pristine, and stocked with vibrant, healthy fish. One visitor said you could practically drink the tank water, and that obsessive care is exactly why people drive in from Skokie and beyond.
It's a small shop, but a thoughtfully curated one, and the freshwater selection is the heart of it. This is where local hobbyists come for fish you won't find at a chain. The discus collection earns its own fan club — one repeat customer called them gorgeous, sweet, and thriving long after purchase.
Nano fish and ember tetras glowing in their brightest orange draw planted-tank keepers, and reviewers count Fish Planet among the few good places left for live plants, with shrimp, snails, frogs, and spider wood for aquascaping all on hand. You'll also find uncommon picks like Congo puffers and feather fin catfish, plus axolotls and what several customers call the best goldfish selection they've ever seen. Hunting for healthy discus or nano fish for sale in Deerfield, IL?
This is the spot. The saltwater side is smaller but just as well kept, with Australian corals and quality livestock that won over at least one family as their permanent saltwater shop. Sand color tells the sections apart — white for saltwater, beige for freshwater.
The staff carry the experience. Names like Riley, Nathan, and owner Steve come up again and again for patient, honest guidance — walking newcomers through tank cycling, filter setup, and even advising you to take home just a few fish and return in a week to avoid an ammonia spike. Prices run above the chains, but customers insist the health of the livestock justifies every dollar.
For anyone in Deerfield or the northern Chicago suburbs building a freshwater or saltwater setup, this aquarium store delivers the real thing.
What they offer
Fish & livestock for sale at Fish Planet in Deerfield, IL
Fish Planet stocks discus, betta fish, axolotls, goldfish, shrimp, invertebrates, catfish, pufferfish, aquarium plants and freshwater & saltwater fish for sale in Deerfield, IL. As an aquarium store serving Deerfield, IL, it also carries aquarium equipment and offers aquarium consultations.
- Livestock & products
- DiscusBettasAxolotlsGoldfishShrimpLive PlantsPlanted TanksInvertebratesCatfishPuffersLivebearersTetrasRare SpeciesCoralsAquarium Equipment
- Services
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Tanks reviewers repeatedly call the cleanest they've ever seen — crystal clear and full of healthy fish
- Standout discus collection plus nano fish and bright ember tetras for freshwater and planted setups
- One of the few local shops left with a deep live-plant and aquascaping selection, including spider wood
- Uncommon stock like Congo puffers, feather fin catfish, axolotls, and a top-rated goldfish selection
- Knowledgeable, ethical staff — Riley, Nathan, and owner Steve — who guide newcomers through cycling and stocking
From keepers
Customer reviews
“stopped in for some spider wood today and found a new favorite fish store! thanks!”
— chris rice5.0a day ago“Love this aquarium store, their tanks are always well kept and the workers are always friendly and helpful 🙂”
— celene M5.04 weeks ago“Nice fish store”
— Kelli K-L4.0a month ago“Love this place! All the tanks are always clean. Everyone is always so friendly and happy to assist you. This is my go-to store for everything I need for my aquarium.”
— Andrea Hernandez5.0a month ago“Small but helpful. One of the few good places for plants left”
— Pavel Ivanchenko5.0a month ago“I love visiting Fish Planet. Even the smell when you walk in is welcoming. I've never seen the tanks looking dull or dirty and I would hang out there every day if it was closer to my house! For the people mentioning prices, just take a look around. This isn't PetSmart. Every tank is beautiful and there are fish & equipment you'll never see at PetSmart. PetSmart probably sells thousands of questionable quality fish per day. When you move that much inventory you can sell it rock bottom. We've all bought fish from the big chain places and if you know what you're doing they could live, but if we're not careful, local fish stores will entirely disappear and that's scary.”
— Michael Scala5.0a month ago“A very well thought out and stocked tropical fish store where the staff are polite and helpful and knowledgeable.”
— Robert Fejdasz5.02 months ago“Great selection! Great Service! Come here all the time.”
— Ro5.02 months ago“Incredible and knowledgeable spot. Great selection of all assortment of colors. Fresh and salt water. Friendly staff.”
— Michael Frelas5.03 months ago“This is hands down one of the cleanest fish shops I’ve ever visited. Every single tank was pristine, crystal clear, and stocked with vibrant, healthy fish. You can tell immediately that they genuinely care. Seeing male bettas housed in proper 1-gallon tanks instead of tiny cups, and ember tetras glowing in their brightest orange, speaks volumes about their standards and expertise. I drove all the way from Skokie just to check out their nano fish selection since my local shop didn’t have what I was looking for — and it was absolutely worth it. I think I’ve officially found my go-to store. The customer service is top notch. The staff, especially Nathan, were incredibly knowledgeable, patient, and kind. What really impressed me was their integrity: instead of pushing me to buy more fish, they advised me to take home just a few and come back in a week to avoid an overnight ammonia spike in my tank. That’s the kind of guidance you only get from people who truly care about the health and wellbeing of the fish. Clean tanks, healthy livestock, ethical advice, and amazing service — this place sets the standard. Highly recommend!”
— Mila5.03 months ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (847) 945-4700 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Fish Planet.