Pet's Playhouse

Pet's Playhouse is a family-owned Cedar Rapids institution that has built a loyal following for its fish selection — widely considered the biggest in town. The store stocks both freshwater and saltwater livestock, with reviewers specifically calling out black ice clownfish, galaxy rainbow anemones, and a solid coral selection alongside the usual freshwater staples. One dedicated customer reports purchasing hundreds of fish without a single loss after quarantine, a testament to the health of the livestock when the store is at its best.

The saltwater section draws particular praise, and the staff clearly knows their way around a reef tank. One reviewer recounted having a canister filter repaired for free, with hands-on instruction on proper use — the kind of above-and-beyond service that keeps people driving across town for crickets, fish, and light bulbs when big-box alternatives exist closer to home. Tony and other family members are frequently mentioned by name, and the personal touch is a recurring theme: staff taking time to explain exotic pets, offering cycling advice for new tanks, and genuinely engaging with customers about their setups.

The store is more than fish — macaws, iguanas, bearded dragons, snakes, ferrets, and small mammals fill the space, and low-cost vaccination clinics add practical value for dog and cat owners. It's the kind of place where a family stops in for beardie supplies and stays an hour watching parrots. Transparency demands noting that the store's recent relocation has drawn mixed reactions.

Multiple reviewers have flagged tank cleanliness issues and cramped animal enclosures at the new location, a noticeable dip from what longtime customers remember as a destination fish store. The business appears to be in a transitional phase, and conditions seem to vary visit to visit. When Pet's Playhouse is firing on all cylinders, it offers something Cedar Rapids can't get from a chain — real expertise, healthy saltwater livestock, and a community-rooted shopping experience.