About
Aqualand Pets Plus is a long-running, independently owned pet and fish store in Des Moines, IA, tucked into the Highland Park neighborhood where it has been a fixture for decades. Owner Mike runs the floor himself, and regulars come as much for his hands-on animal knowledge as for the livestock. Several reviewers describe him taking time, free of charge, to nurse an injured snake back to health or to walk a first-time keeper through setting up a tank the right way.
It's an old-school working pet shop rather than a polished big-box chain, and that character is exactly what its multi-generational regulars love; one customer says they drive 90 miles each way to shop here. For aquarium hobbyists, the draw is freshwater community fish for sale in Des Moines, IA, alongside one of the most affordable feeder selections around. Reviewers single out the feeder cricket and feeder rat prices as the best in town, and bulk rodent food tends to undercut the chains.
The store stocks well beyond fish, too: birds, reptiles, rabbits, guinea pigs, and small rodents share the space, making it a one-stop local source for community-tank stock and everyday pet supplies. Mike's team will even board your reptiles while you're away on vacation. Aqualand is a genuinely polarizing shop, and experiences vary from one visit to the next.
Loyal customers swear by the personal service and return across generations for fish, lizards, and pet food, while others have flagged tank cleanliness and crowded enclosures, and some fish keepers report losing new arrivals soon after buying. As with any local fish store, it's wise to look the tanks over carefully before you buy and to quarantine new fish at home. For Des Moines aquarists who value a knowledgeable, opinionated owner and old-fashioned, in-person service, Aqualand remains a convenient neighborhood stop for freshwater stock, feeders, and affordable supplies.
What they offer
Fish & livestock for sale at Aqualand Pets Plus in Des Moines, IA
Aqualand Pets Plus stocks freshwater fish for sale in Des Moines, IA. As a fish store serving Des Moines, IA, it also carries dry goods and fish food and offers aquarium consultations and fish boarding.
- Livestock & products
- Dry GoodsFish Food
- Services
- ConsultationFish Boarding
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Owner Mike offers hands-on, no-charge animal care advice and has nursed injured reptiles back to health
- Among the best feeder cricket and feeder rat prices in Des Moines, plus competitive bulk rodent food
- Freshwater community fish alongside birds, reptiles, rabbits, and small mammals under one roof
- Reptile boarding available while customers are away on vacation
- Loyal multi-generational customer base, with one regular driving 90 miles each way
From keepers
Customer reviews
“Animals are neglected and place is Dirty”
— Wen Boatwright1.0a week ago“I get feeder rats here for my ball python. The staff is courteous and knowledgeable.”
— Stephen Rader5.0a week ago“We've been coming here for our lizards food for about 2 years. And honestly love it ! We can ask as many questions as we want and my son often times holds animals here when its not busy. Please do t shut it down. Aqualand is apart of the community”
— Kali Greene5.03 weeks ago“It was very dirty and the animals are not kept in the right housing. It was very dissapointing.”
— Isabelle Cobb1.03 weeks ago“Mike knows his stuff. My grandsons love to visit and see all the animals.”
— Diane Desaulniers5.0a month ago“Great place.”
— Jeremy s Foster5.0a month ago“How do we shut this place down? Honestly it’s all animal cruelty at the point. I saw a dead mouse in a trap not even hidden under one of the shelves. Fish tanks that you can tell have not been cleaned, animals crammed into cages they can barely turn around in, rodents cages stacked on top of each other in the back. I saw 4 adult sized turtles sharing one *maybe* 10 gallon tank. The smell is terrible. Just because the people are nice does not mean this place should be open.”
— Kourtni Lancaster1.0a month ago“This place has a great selection and friendly staff. I like to window shop and check out the fish when in highland park. They will babysit your reptiles while you're on vacation.”
— Randy Carter5.02 months ago“An awful store with terrible pet safety practices. I can’t count how many times I’ve been there just to pick up supplies and see multiple dead animals. There was a time I informed the owner a hamster had just had babies, and they were getting eaten. He flung a moments old baby hamster across the cage…. Doesn’t sound like a place that should even be open”
— Aubree Edwards1.02 months ago“Friendly people, but the smell was pretty strong. Maybe it's OK for others. They can have it.”
— Bret s3.02 months ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (515) 206-2372 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Aqualand Pets Plus.