The Fish Store Pet Center

For roughly three decades, The Fish Store Pet Center has been a fixture in Atlantic, Iowa — a family-run shop with roots so deep that longtime owner Rick has become the town's unofficial authority on tropical fish and pet care. Housed in a historic building that once served as a speakeasy during Prohibition, the store carries a character you simply won't find in a big-box chain. The freshwater fish selection is the main draw.

Reviewers consistently praise the wide variety of cichlids, knife fish, and snails, along with large display tanks that showcase the store's inventory. One customer noted picking up a baby axolotl, and another highlighted the impressive range of aquariums and supplies available. Rick's encyclopedic knowledge of tropical fish means customers regularly leave with personalized advice on stocking, compatibility, and tank setup — he once helped a family choose the right fish for their tank and even tracked down a fitting lid on the spot.

But The Fish Store is more than fish. The shop carries birds (including cockatiels that are hand-friendly and well-socialized), reptiles like chameleons and bearded dragons, small mammals such as guinea pigs and rabbits, plus feeder insects, mice, and rats for reptile owners. One customer has relied on Rick for pet food recommendations for nearly 30 years, trusting his nutritional guidance for cats, dogs, and birds alike.

The staff — described over and over as genuinely friendly and willing to chat — makes the experience feel personal rather than transactional. They'll happily order in stock they don't have on hand and take time to answer every question, no matter how small. For reptile owners in particular, the store offers affordable feeder animals and supplies that keep people driving in from surrounding towns.

Atlantic is lucky to have a shop with this kind of institutional knowledge and heart. It's the kind of place where a kid can talk fish with someone who truly listens, and where three decades of passion still show in every recommendation.