About
Set inside a storage-unit facility in a Davenport, Iowa industrial park, West Lake Aquatics is the kind of freshwater fish store you have to know about to find — watch for the fish windsock, then park in the gravel lot rather than the concrete, as regulars will tell you. The unassuming exterior hides what many Quad Cities hobbyists consider the best freshwater shop around, run by owner Alex with a depth of livestock you won't see at a big-box chain. The selection is the draw.
Healthy Hillstream Loaches, a broad range of plecos, and genuine oddities like Anableps (four-eyed fish) share space with a serious cichlid lineup that pulls drivers in from hours away. Alex breeds fish on-site, including locally raised fry, and one recent visitor finally tracked down the pygmy corydoras she had searched all over Davenport for. Community fish, rasboras, Amano shrimp, ramshorn snails, and crabs round out tanks that reviewers consistently describe as clean, active, and well kept.
If you want pygmy cory's, plecos, or rare species for sale in Davenport, IA, this is where local keepers look first. Beyond livestock, the shop stocks frozen food, Alex's own homemade fish food, live plants, driftwood, filters, tanks, and dry goods — often at prices that undercut the competition. Just as valuable is the help: Alex and his staff are praised for sharing knowledge freely, troubleshooting pH and equipment, and handing out dirty sponge-filter water to cycle a new tank, frequently without charging.
Ask for two Amano shrimp and you may walk out with four. The store also hosts periodic fish swaps that have built a loyal regional following, drawing keepers from Burlington and beyond. It's a no-frills warehouse full of fish, but for anyone fishkeeping near the Quad Cities, West Lake Aquatics is worth every mile of the trip — just remember the gravel lot.
What they offer
Fish & livestock for sale at West Lake Aquatics in Davenport, IA
West Lake Aquatics stocks cichlids, plecos, rare and hard-to-find species, invertebrates, shrimp, aquarium plants and freshwater fish for sale in Davenport, IA. As a fish store serving Davenport, IA, it also carries dry goods, fish food and aquarium equipment and offers water testing, aquarium consultations and fish breeding.
- Livestock & products
- Services
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Rare and unusual freshwater species including Anableps (four-eyed fish) and Hillstream Loaches
- Deep cichlid and pleco selection at prices that undercut big-box chains
- Owner Alex breeds fish on-site and makes homemade fish food; frozen foods stocked as well
- Hands-on help — free sponge-filter cycling water, pH and equipment troubleshooting, plus generous bonus shrimp and snails
- Periodic fish swaps drawing hobbyists from Burlington and across the Quad Cities region
From keepers
Customer reviews
“Bought shrimp and a couple plants, will never go back. Ended up getting invasive snails and planaria from the plants. The place had a nice selection but the quality is questionable. I’ve been dealing with these two invasive species for months now trying to get rid of them without killing the shrimp. The location is also a bit sketchy and odd, being in a storage unit. Also, zero parking. It’s weird.”
— Leslie Wall1.0a week ago“Wish I could give minus stars! 2 trips this week 22 miles one way. OK they are closed on Mondays that trip on me. But, this evening I drive over planning to spend a pretty penny only to be told handicap plate or not I had to park over at a gravel lot. I tried to explain my bad back was hurting but it made no difference. There was no way I could have parked, walked, and done anything other than leave. Hated leaving like that but nothing I could have done.”
— Kevin Dopler1.0a month ago“Okay so honestly you pull up and it like a storage unit, but inside they have a great selection of fish and supplies. The employee was knowledgeable and helpful too!”
— Nikkole Swanson4.02 months ago“Great folks. Super knowledgeable and willing to share their knowledge! Great selection of fish and accessories at reasonable prices.”
— Chase Scott5.02 months ago“My favorite place to get fish and frozen food, i had one incident in the 3 or 4 years I've been going here now and it was taken care of right away.”
— Alysia Alvarado5.02 months ago“Great selection, I went all over davenport looking for pygmy cory’s and I finally found them here!”
— London Amelia5.03 months ago“Decent selection, prices are inline with most places. The location sucks, middle of nowhere in a storage unit, parking sucks, not marked, don't know where to go til you walk up to the door and see the sign telling you where to park.”
— jake doudney3.03 months ago“Awesome store, I have bought fish and other aquatic items there several times. I buy all my fish food there and I live 2 hours away! Very knowledgeable!!! Don't worry about the somewhat unique location and make sure you park over in the gravel lot, not on the concrete.”
— Sean Woitynek5.0a week ago“No handicap parking”
— Jake Koning1.02 weeks ago“Always good to look through your stuff for our needs! Thanks”
— Sypher X5.02 weeks ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (563) 209-0519 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting West Lake Aquatics.