Movie Vault & PETropoliS

Tucked inside a former movie rental shop in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, Movie Vault & PETropoliS is one of those unlikely local fish stores that has quietly built a devoted following. The owners transitioned from DVD rentals to aquatic livestock, and reviewers consistently praise the breadth of what they've assembled — saltwater fish, corals, tropical freshwater species, discus, German blue rams, fancy tail guppies, and hard-to-find stock that goes well beyond the big-box basics. The store's real draw is its people.

Mary, a staff member mentioned by name in review after review, has earned a near-legendary reputation for her aquatic knowledge. One customer credits her with saving a 55-gallon tank after repeated ammonia spikes killed off an entire guppy colony — Mary identified the root cause (wiping out beneficial bacteria during cleaning) and recommended the right chemistry to stabilize the cycle. That kind of hands-on, patient guidance is what keeps hobbyists driving from as far as Bardstown to shop here.

The livestock selection spans both freshwater and saltwater, with reviewers calling out a nice variety of tropical fish and coral alongside the more common goldfish and guppies. The store also carries reptiles — albino milk snakes and crested geckos among them — plus small mammals and fishing worms. The sales floor is described as well laid out and maintained, and prices are generally seen as reasonable for the region.

It's worth noting a handful of reviews raise concerns about fish health and the store's lack of a guarantee policy; a couple of customers reported losses shortly after purchase, including a pair of discus. These are worth weighing, though the majority of feedback is strongly positive. For aquarium keepers in central Kentucky who want more than mass-market options, PETropoliS offers genuine expertise, a rotating inventory of interesting livestock, and the kind of personal service — greeting you at the door, answering every question — that turns a pet store into a community fixture.

Ask for Mary.