About
Tucked into Sioux City, IA, GroFin Aquatics has earned a devoted following among freshwater hobbyists across Siouxland and the surrounding tri-state area, with regulars driving in from Sioux Falls and Omaha. This locally owned fish store punches well above its modest footprint, and reviewers repeatedly call it one of the cleanest, most thoughtfully organized shops they've ever walked into, right down to a dedicated hardscape room stacked with driftwood, lava stones, and aquascaping materials. Live plants are the clear star.
GroFin's selection includes species hobbyists usually can only track down online, and customers report robust, thriving plants long after purchase, one shopper recently bringing home frogbit. On the livestock side, the shop is known for locally bred guppies and Endlers, plus plecos, tetras, shrimp, snails, pufferfish, cichlids, and the occasional oddball like a bumblebee goby. There's a gorgeous new betta display worth a look, along with beautiful North American native darters and sunfish in the show tanks.
If you're after healthy guppies, shrimp, or rare planted-tank species for sale in Sioux City, IA, this is the spot, and every fish is quarantined before it ever reaches the sales floor. Owner Doug and staff like Micky, Christian, and Taylor are genuinely passionate and patient, remembering customers' ongoing tank projects and walking newcomers through water parameters without a hint of judgment. One local science teacher praised how the team teaches the science of keeping an ecosystem healthy rather than just selling fish and supplies.
GroFin also stocks Aquarium Co-Op products, including the fry food and medicated flakes that Siouxland hobbyists once had to hunt down elsewhere. With free water testing, hands-on help getting a home aquarium started, and frequent in-store sales, it has become the go-to freshwater fish store for northwest Iowa, the kind of place where a first visit quietly turns into a standing weekend habit.
What they offer
Fish & livestock for sale at GroFin Aquatics in Sioux City, IA
GroFin Aquatics stocks livebearers, shrimp, pufferfish, cichlids, plecos, tetras, betta fish, rare and hard-to-find species, aquarium plants and freshwater fish for sale in Sioux City, IA. As a fish store serving Sioux City, IA, it also carries fish food, fish medications and dry goods and offers water testing, aquarium consultations, fish quarantine, fish breeding, aquarium setup and aquascaping.
- Livestock & products
- Live PlantsPlanted TanksLivebearersShrimpPuffersCichlidsPlecosTetrasBettasRare SpeciesInvertebratesAxolotlsFish FoodMedicationsDry Goods
- Services
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Live plant selection includes species hobbyists usually can only find online
- Locally bred guppies and Endlers, plus plecos, tetras, shrimp, and pufferfish
- Every fish quarantined before sale; reviewers report healthy, long-lasting stock
- Authorized Aquarium Co-Op retailer carrying fry food and medicated flakes
- Dedicated hardscape room with driftwood, lava stones, and aquascaping materials
From keepers
Customer reviews
“Amazing store, the fish, plants, and shrimp are all so well taken care of!! Just going in lifts your mood, because it's so apparent that nothing in the store is suffering. Everything I bought was healthy and high quality”
— Cora5.0a month ago“Really amazing people to work with, they know what they’re doing over here and have the best leadership in the game 👏 couldn’t recommend more”
— Miki5.0a month ago“Friendly staff and a decent variety of fish. But I went to purchase plants and was disappointed in the limited supply. I wasn’t able to find common plants like Java fern, anubia, wisteria, amazon sword, or cryptocoryne. Other aquarium supplies like aqua soil, wood, and rocks were pretty limited too.”
— Noah Gripshover4.0a month ago“Very friendly staff and knowledgable. They helped get our home aquarium started and gave tips on how to improve.love that it is close to home.”
— Hope Saltsgiver4.0a month ago“Absolute stellar place to purchase aquarium occupants, employees understand the learning process and don't judge based on others approach. They are willing to answer any and all questions you may have! 10 / 10 recommend”
— Spencer Wright5.0a month ago“It's one of my favorite places to stop at and browse. Great selection of fish, shrimp, and plants! I've never had a fish die within a week of buying one, which I can't say when purchasing fish from a retail pet store. Staff are super knowledgeable and friendly. Frequent sales and I love the Lava stones and other aquascaping materials. Something for beginner fish hobbyists or expert! I've purchased shrimp, guppies, tetras, snails, and a bumblebee goby for multiple tank set ups.”
— James House5.0a month ago“I have been in several times over the course of the last couple years. I have been pleasantly surprised that staff has remembered the fish projects I have been working on and asked how its going. They have always been welcoming and patient with my many questions (I love to learn all I can). Price is going to be more than a big box pet store...but then you can be rest assured your fish won't die within two days like my corporate betta did. My GroFin fish are going strong! I always recommend them for quality fish and information.”
— kelsey trejo5.0a month ago“Jumping in to a planted aquarium, Staff is friendly knowledgeable and passionate about their job. They have high quality fish and plants, and so a long quarantine befor selling.”
— Joe5.0Edited a month ago“Great store amazing quality”
— sadfhsafhash sbasfb5.0a month ago“Did not like the service all he did was bad mouth another fis tank service store will never go here again they need to be professional and learn what they are talking about. It's so funny you don't even remember the people that use to com in the staff said a chocolate chip star fish would go good in my reef tank and they aren't reef safe so I walked out”
— Troy Martin2.0Edited a month ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (712) 220-0599 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting GroFin Aquatics.