Fish and Friends Pets

Tucked into La Porte, Indiana, Fish and Friends Pets carved out a devoted following as the kind of mom-and-pop shop that Northwest Indiana sorely needed. Specializing primarily in freshwater fish alongside reptiles and amphibians, this local fish store earned its reputation through genuinely personalized service — the kind where owners remember your tank setup and will special order a royal pleco just because you asked. The freshwater selection drew hobbyists from over an hour away.

Customers found colorful shrimp, healthy male guppies, mystery snails, South American species, and bettas housed properly in real tanks rather than tiny cups. The shop also sourced livestock from local fish vendors and breeders, a detail that resonated with customers who care about supporting their community's aquatics ecosystem. Live plants rounded out the offerings for those building planted community tanks.

What set Fish and Friends apart was the staff's willingness to educate without condescension. One returning hobbyist, who hadn't kept tropical fish in nearly 40 years, credited the team with walking him through every question as he built a thriving 29-gallon community tank with 28 fish, snails, and glass shrimp. Water testing was part of the service — when a fish didn't survive the first night, staff tested the customer's water and replaced the fish without hassle.

That kind of accountability built real loyalty in a region where local fish stores have become increasingly rare. Beyond aquatics, the store stocked reptiles, spiders, ball pythons, and feeders like crickets, along with accessories and equipment including canister filters. The atmosphere was casual and conversational — customers frequently mentioned lingering just to chat with the owners about their setups and swap stories.

It should be noted that Fish and Friends Pets has since closed its doors, a loss felt keenly by the La Porte fishkeeping community. For the time it operated, it was exactly the kind of passionate, community-rooted shop that makes the hobby better.