About
Fish Happens on Indianapolis's south side has earned a devoted following — the kind of store people willingly drive two hours to visit. Owner Tyler and his team, including staff members like Isaiah and Keegan, have built something special: a freshwater-focused shop packed with healthy fish, an extraordinary variety of aquatic plants, and a rotating cast of specialty livestock that keeps regulars coming back every few months just to see what's new. The freshwater selection runs deep.
Cichlids, including Africans, are a clear strength, and the store stocks everything from celestial pearl danios and sparkling gouramis to clown killifish, oscars, glo angelfish, and red plecos. Invertebrate keepers will find mystery snails in impressive color and size variety, plus shrimp and — when available — axolotls. The live plant section is a standout, with large-quantity moss bundles that are hard to source even online, alongside enough variety to overwhelm newcomers in the best possible way.
The store also carries houseplants and live pond plants, plus driftwood and accessories at prices reviewers consistently call reasonable. What sets Fish Happens apart is the staff's genuine investment in each customer's success. Tyler knows the inventory by heart and will walk you through tank cycling, stocking compatibility, and proper care without rushing.
Keegan has been praised for patiently helping customers work through wishlists, matching fish by temperament, activity level, and size. Isaiah earns repeat mentions for his plant expertise. They'll test your water on the spot and offer honest, budget-conscious advice — steering you toward less expensive alternatives when pricier options are out of stock.
The store also accepts fish rehomes with decent in-store credit, and some livestock is bred on-site, reinforcing the quality-first ethos. The space itself is clean, well-organized, and constantly evolving — staff are always tinkering with improvements. For freshwater fishkeepers in Indianapolis, Fish Happens is the destination that makes the hobby feel personal again.
What they offer
Livestock, services, water
- Livestock & products
- Services
- Water TestingConsultation
- Specializes in
- FreshwaterPond
Highlights
What makes them special
- Massive freshwater fish selection including cichlids, celestial pearl danios, sparkling gouramis, oscars, and axolotls
- Outstanding live aquatic plant variety with hard-to-find moss bundles
- Free water testing and patient, personalized stocking consultations
- On-site fish breeding and fish rehoming with store credit
- Customers regularly drive 1-2 hours for the selection and expertise
From keepers
Customer reviews
“Great people very knowledgeable and great customer service. We will be back and recommend to others.”
— Jessie C5.019 hours ago“Poor fish quality. You will be lucky if there fish last in your tanks for a week if their fish don't wipe out your tanks. I've got better quality fish from petsmart and the reef.”
— Clifford Potter1.0a day ago“Please don’t buy plants here unless you want a snail issue in your tank. I have been pulling snails out of two of my tanks for 3 weeks since adding and then removing the plants I purchased from this store.”
— Katey1.0a day ago“I got my first cichlid and my african clawed frog from these guys and they are amazing. I can tell how loved these animals are, and they had such an amazing selection. Better prices than the reef, and better selection of cichlids and plants too. Even though its further away for me I will definitely be going back”
— lilian begeman5.03 days ago“Friendly and knowledgeable staff that is always happy to answer questions. We love seeing their variety of aquatic life. Great local business to support.”
— Adam5.05 days ago“This store is amazing. Staff knows everything and they're extremely helpful.”
— K S5.05 days ago“Amazing quality fish and plants also the best service if you have any questions about anything they definitely have answers for it 100% recommend if your coming to visit Indiana and your a fish keeper”
— Jayden Hayes5.06 days ago“Went into this local spot for the first time today & can’t wait to come back!”
— Brittney Levingston5.0a week ago“Absolutely love this store! I came upon it in a search, because all of the pet stores around me are garbage and don't care for their aquatic sections well at all. Was absolutely taken aback when I walked in! Plants and clean and stocked tanks galore!! The prices are great!! Everything looks so healthy and happy!! The people are fantastic, down to earth and knowledgeable!! Have already been back, but will continue, as this is my new favorite place!”
— Christina Pflum5.0a week ago“Love this place, the staff is super personable and knowledgeable, the fish selection is HUGE and healthy, and they’re always willing to spend time helping if you have questions!!”
— Kayde Brook5.0a week ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (317) 753-3464 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Fish Happens.