About
Tucked into Murray, Kentucky, Living Aquariums — also known locally as The Fish Hut — is a small, passion-driven freshwater fish store run by Christian and his team. What stands out immediately from customer experiences is the genuine enthusiasm the staff brings to every interaction. This isn't a place where you grab a bag of fish and leave; conversations about Corydoras care, Oscar habitats, and pond maintenance are part of the experience.
The store stocks a solid assortment of freshwater fish, from panda cories and guppies to African dwarf frogs and shrimp, alongside live aquatic plants that customers rave about — the Java moss, in particular, has earned a local following. Duckweed, plant fertilizers, and shrimp caves round out the planted-tank offerings. They also carry higher-end equipment brands like Oase, which is uncommon for a shop this size and signals a commitment to quality over volume.
Beyond retail, the Fish Hut provides hands-on services that set it apart from chain competitors. Christian personally handles tank maintenance for local customers, keeping 75-gallon freshwater setups running beautifully when big-box store advice falls short. He's also taken on pond work — one customer described a full pond refurbishment behind their home, including drainage, gravel installation, waterfall lighting, and ongoing monthly maintenance to keep koi and goldfish thriving.
The store has even helped package and ship an axolotl across the country. The showroom itself features impressive planted display tanks that customers describe as picturesque, and the staff openly shares what products and techniques they use in their own setups. Christian has built a reputation for honest recommendations, fair trade-in deals on livestock, and a willingness to source items he doesn't have in stock.
Prices run higher than chain stores, but repeat customers consistently report healthier fish and better long-term outcomes. For aquarium hobbyists in western Kentucky, Living Aquariums delivers the kind of personalized, knowledgeable service that keeps people coming back.
What they offer
Livestock, services, water
- Livestock & products
- Services
- Specializes in
- FreshwaterPond
Highlights
What makes them special
- Full pond refurbishment and monthly maintenance services for koi and goldfish ponds
- Impressive planted display tanks and strong live plant selection including Java moss and duckweed
- Carries premium equipment brands like Oase not typically found at chain stores
- Owner Christian provides personalized tank maintenance and troubleshooting for home aquariums
- Stocks freshwater species including panda cories, guppies, shrimp, African dwarf frogs, and axolotls
From keepers
Customer reviews
“They never showed up when they said that they would”
— Kelly Hawk1.02 weeks ago“Absolutely wonderful store. Very helpful staff. They answered all of our questions and helped us as beginners in the aquatic hobby. Will definitely be a returning customer!”
— Jessica Herndon5.0a month ago“Very open on what they use in their tanks and very helpful and friendly also they are respectful too reasonably priced”
— Cory Shumaker5.0Edited a month ago“Id give this negative stars if I could. We went here and the lights were low and the doors were locked it was 4 pm on Wednesday. Their hours clearly say they should be open. My husband went to check the doors and said a guy who acted and appeared high answered the door. When my husband asked if they were open the guy said no when my husband asked if the hours had changed the guy gave the same hours as advertised when my husband asked why they were closed at 4 in a respectful manner he was told to come back tomorrow. We wont be coming back ever and id highly advice anyone reading this to take ypur kids to a different store. My child was incredibly disappointed today because this establishment is unprofessional and have either owner or staff under the influence”
— Brandy Edwards1.02 months ago“Have gotten several fish and plants and all my aquarium needs from this store, Friendly and helpful and I am well on my way in my fish adventure”
— Erin Greene5.02 months ago“Best Java Moss in town! Iv bought quite a few fish from here and they've all turned out great. New store layout is sweet and the staff is always helpful.”
— NSXTCY5.03 months ago“Enjoy myself everytime I go in the store and walk out with my new fish 💖🤗”
— Sherri5.03 months ago“I absolutely loved everything about place from how personal they were and genuine it was just a really awesome fun experience I loved it !!! Thank yal so much my community fish tank looks great”
— Jenny S5.03 months ago“Walked in Tuesday probably around 2. Open sign was on and door was unlocked. When I walked in most of the lights were off and no one was present even after calling out a few times. What was present was a cat ripping open an old to-go box with trash strewn everywhere. Cat looked at me and meowed like the demon cat out of pet sematary. I got out of there as fast as I could! Not sure what happened... store used to be decent. Now it seems like it might actually be a demon portal.”
— Johnathan Bailey1.04 months ago“Good place”
— William Reynolds5.07 months ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (270) 917-0217 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Living Aquariums.