Iowa City Tropicals

Iowa City Tropicals has quickly earned a devoted following in the Iowa City area — and even draws hobbyists from as far as Cedar Rapids. Operated by a single passionate owner, this shop punches well above its weight with an impressive selection of freshwater fish, live plants, shrimp, snails, and all the supplies needed to keep them thriving. The plant selection is a standout.

Multiple reviewers describe it as one of the best plant displays they've seen, with healthy specimens in excellent variety. Whether you're building a lush planted tank or just adding a few stems, the quality and condition of the plants here consistently impress. Livestock is equally well cared for — tanks are clean, fish look healthy, and one customer reported a pair of bristlenose plecos that spawned just two months after purchase, a testament to the stock's vitality.

Beyond plants and fish, the shop stocks a surprisingly deep range of supplies: driftwood, substrate, air pumps, heaters, and other aquarium accessories, all at prices that reviewers repeatedly note undercut the big box stores. One customer described gradually replacing their entire chain-store starter kit with upgrades purchased here. But the real draw is the owner's approach.

He's known for patient, judgment-free conversations about responsible fishkeeping. He'll spend 20 minutes discussing plant care, steer beginners through their first setup step by step (even in Spanish), and give honest advice that sometimes costs him a sale — like warning against fish that won't survive in a customer's tank. He also takes special requests to source specific species.

First-time fishkeepers and established hobbyists alike leave feeling genuinely supported. For anyone in eastern Iowa looking for a dedicated freshwater shop with healthy livestock, thriving plants, fair prices, and an owner who treats the hobby as a calling rather than a transaction, Iowa City Tropicals delivers on every front.