--- type: store name: "Critter Corner Pet Shop" city: "Kokomo" state: "IN" rating: 3.2 reviews: 472 url: https://www.fishstores.org/indiana/kokomo/critter-corner-pet-shop --- # Critter Corner Pet Shop Fish store in Kokomo, Indiana - **Address**: 1796 E Vaile Ave, Kokomo, IN 46901, Kokomo, IN, 46901 - **Phone**: (765) 452-4500 - **Rating**: 3.2/5 (472 reviews) ## Hours | Day | Hours | | --- | --- | | Monday | 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM | | Tuesday | 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM | | Wednesday | 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM | | Thursday | 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM | | Friday | 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM | | Saturday | 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM | | Sunday | 12:00 – 5:00 PM | ## About Critter Corner Pet Shop in Kokomo, Indiana is a polarizing destination that has been part of the local landscape for years. The store stocks a broad range of animals — birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, puppies, cats, and exotic creatures like scorpions and tarantulas — making it one of the more diverse pet shops in the area. Their aquarium section carries both freshwater and saltwater fish, and customers have purchased goldfish, catfish, and other species from their tanks over the years. However, Critter Corner's 3.2-star rating across hundreds of reviews tells a complicated story. While some longtime customers consider it a Kokomo staple and appreciate the sheer variety of animals available under one roof, a significant number of visitors have raised serious concerns about animal welfare. Multiple reviewers have documented reptiles — particularly ball pythons — housed in conditions with inadequate humidity, resulting in visible stuck shed and health problems. Birds crowded together in large communal cages and small mammals in questionable enclosures are recurring themes in customer accounts. Several visitors have noted a strong urine smell throughout the store, and at least one reviewer mentioned contacting Animal Control about conditions they witnessed. On the positive side, the store does offer a selection that's hard to find elsewhere in the Kokomo area. If you're searching for an unusual pet or just want to browse a wide array of creatures, the variety is genuinely impressive — from milk snakes and Pacman frogs to parrots that say "bye-bye" as you leave. Some customers report positive experiences with healthy animals purchased years ago. The fish section, while not the store's primary draw, does offer freshwater and saltwater options. Prices have drawn some complaints, particularly since the store discontinued their half-price Wednesday fish deals. Anyone considering a purchase here should inspect animals carefully and be prepared for conditions that have drawn consistent criticism from the reptile and exotic animal keeping community. ## Specializations - **Water Types**: Freshwater, Saltwater - **Livestock & Products**: Goldfish, Catfish - **Known For**: Premium Equipment ## Highlights - Wide variety of animals including fish, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and exotic species - Carries both freshwater and saltwater fish - One of the most diverse pet store selections in the Kokomo area - Longstanding local business with years of community presence - Animal welfare conditions have drawn significant customer criticism and reported complaints to Animal Control ## Customer Reviews **"Amber Nellis"** - 5/5 - 2 months ago > Lots of selection, except for cats. The birds even said "bye - bye" when we left. Neat store! **"Marina Cornett"** - 1/5 - 3 months ago > The unsafe conditions these animals are in should be looked into. It made my partner and I so sad seeing the conditions of most of the cages, let alone the multiple adult animals housed together that should be in separate enclosures for their own safety! **"megan egle"** - 2/5 - 3 months ago > It was so sad **"Ray Weaver"** - 1/5 - 3 months ago > Thought prices was a bit high. And done away 2 years ago with half price on fish on Wednesday. Going to have to let my fish tank go if I had to pay these prices. **"George doyle"** - 3/5 - 3 months ago > Friendly staff, over priced and not the cleaness store **"Amy Likens"** - 5/5 - 5 months ago > I enjoyed going there. Loved it **"Matt Knight"** - 5/5 - 5 months ago > Awesome pet store very big veriaty of animals and pets **"Amanda Owen"** - 1/5 - 5 months ago > We were looking for milksnakes. To my absolute horror- they were in the tiniest little critter boxes crammed right next to each other in a closed glass karoake cabinet. With Pacman frogs. My husband pointed out one of the Pacman frogs nearly suffocating in there- completely upside down in his water bowl. And the poor young girl working in there was trying to make it seem like they just 'do that.' Now I know some people might be going in there for their 'first pet' but I assure you that absolutely no animal in that shop is being taken care of. The dogs and the Cats might be in better circumstances because they are not cold blooded but I felt like I was watching an animal abuse documentary. Walked back out of the store in complete fear of ever buying an animal in a pet store ever again. Please do not buy pets from here, don't even buy the used tanks. The money doesn't need to go to the shop. **"Alyssa Long"** - 5/5 - 5 months ago > Love the animals but I went there to look around and there was a dead mouse in one of the cages the other mice were eating it **"Space Cadet"** - 1/5 - 6 months ago > The only reason for the 1 star is because 0 is not an option. This was my first time visiting this store and I am appalled and very saddened by the conditions. The smell of urine hits you hard as you walk through the door. It made my eyes and nose burn. There were ferrets right inside, so I thought that maybe it was from them. They are notorious for being stinky. Unfortunately, the smell did not let up no matter where you went in the store. It burned our noses and eyes the entire time we were there. I went in to see their reptile selection since I am in the market for a ball python. The reptiles are in atrocious conditions. There are several balls housed together (they need to be housed alone) with nowhere to hide. One poor baby was glass surfing just begging to be taken out of there. They were on aspen bedding, which molds easily. Ball pythons need a humid environment to be healthy and this was NOT the case here. There were several snakes with stuck shed (lack of humidity) and little pieces of shed everywhere in the tank, so I can only imagine how long it has been since they cleaned it out. When a healthy snake sheds, it is in one long piece.These poor babies had small pieces of skin everywhere. The rest of the snakes were in similar conditions. All the reptiles were not housed correctly with correct heat/light/hides/humidity. There was a big bird cage with easily 60+ birds together. They were pooping all over each other while we were there. It was so gross. We had to leave without checking the aquarium section. I ended up with a headache before we walked out the door. This is the most disgusting pet store I have ever been in. I cannot believe this place is able to get away with these conditions. When we left, my son called Animal Control. They took all the information down and told him that they have been fighting this and getting complaints on this store for years. Do not spend your money here. I know rescuing an animal from Critter Corner sounds like the right thing to do, but they will fill that spot with yet another animal that will be neglected and abused. I wish I would have taken pictures while I was there, but I was in such shock over the smell and conditions that I didn't even think to do so. ## Nearby Stores - [DNA Aquatic](https://www.fishstores.org/indiana/elkhart/dna-aquatic) - Elkhart, IN - 5.0/5 - [Metazotics Chandler](https://www.fishstores.org/indiana/chandler/metazotics-chandler) - Chandler, IN - 4.9/5 - [Modern Aquatix](https://www.fishstores.org/indiana/indianapolis/modern-aquatix) - Indianapolis, IN - 4.9/5 - [River Bed Builders](https://www.fishstores.org/indiana/georgetown/river-bed-builders) - Georgetown, IN - 4.9/5 - [Seedy Sally's](https://www.fishstores.org/indiana/pendleton/seedy-sallys) - Pendleton, IN - 4.9/5 - [Summit City Coral](https://www.fishstores.org/indiana/fort-wayne/summit-city-coral) - Fort Wayne, IN - 4.9/5 --- *Source: [FishStores.org](https://www.fishstores.org/indiana/kokomo/critter-corner-pet-shop)* *Last updated: February 7, 2026*