About
50 Fathoms Pet Shop has been a Metairie, Louisiana fixture for decades — some customers have been shopping there for over 30 years, and that kind of loyalty says something. Owned and operated by Mike, the store occupies a unique niche in the greater New Orleans area as one of the few shops stocking a genuinely wide range of tropical fish, reptiles, amphibians, and small animals under one roof. The freshwater fish selection is a standout, with reviewers singling out the cichlid collection as one of the best in town.
The store also stocks axolotls, tortoises, geckos, birds, snakes, rabbits, and rats, making it a true exotic pet destination rather than a fish-only operation. On the aquatic side, they carry supplies for pond keepers and offer free water testing — a service that's drawn in customers dealing with ammonia spikes and pH issues in their backyard ponds. Saltwater hobbyists will find coral and live rock available as well.
The atmosphere is often described as having a chill, old-school pet shop vibe — the kind of place where staff will pull out several animals and let you spend time choosing the right one. Multiple reviewers praise the knowledge of the management team and several associates by name, noting they're genuinely helpful when it comes to care advice for exotic species. The store also sells frozen feeders, and at least one snake owner swears their reptile won't eat rats from anywhere else.
Pricing draws mostly positive remarks, with many customers finding the selection reasonably priced for the variety offered. Beyond fish and reptiles, shoppers have picked up unexpected finds like rocks for bonsai trees. It's worth noting that the store has drawn criticism regarding animal husbandry — some visitors have flagged concerns about enclosure conditions for axolotls and reptiles.
However, management has shown willingness to address complaints professionally, and the overwhelmingly positive review count suggests most customers leave satisfied. For Metairie fish keepers looking for cichlids, pond supplies, or just a real pet store experience, 50 Fathoms remains a go-to.
What they offer
Livestock, services, water
- Livestock & products
- Services
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Free water testing service for freshwater and pond hobbyists
- Strong cichlid selection praised as among the best locally
- Long-established Metairie shop with 30+ years of loyal customers
- Wide exotic animal variety including reptiles, amphibians, birds, and small animals
- Laid-back atmosphere with hands-on animal interaction before purchase
From keepers
Customer reviews
“Best fish shop in Louisiana!”
— Austin Collins5.02 weeks ago“While there are two very friendly sales people there, the others are not so friendly. Especially the girl with strawberry blonde hair. She is ALWAYS rude and off putting. I love the selection of animals and the two young ladies who helped me last week were very knowledgeable but the people working today acted like they knew what they were talking about but didn't. I went in wanting to purchase two female rat pups. I have always bought my rats when they were a few months old but I really wanted to start handling them and training them myself. The girl sold me two mice. She also didn't know how to sex them. I had to sex them myself. I am not knowledgable in rat pups and what they are supposed to look like but the girl was confident and acted like she knew what she was doing. Once I got to my car I started doubting her and myself. Thankfully, I also have mice at home so I am able to quarantine them and introduce them to my other females. But I went in for rat pups not hoppers. The rat pups were a surprise for my daughters and we wanted to introduce them to our mischief before our oldest female passes from mammary cancer. Won't trust them again. ETA: This issue was taken care of professionally before I went into the store and spoke with the two nice associates about the situation. I will continue to visit this store and am appreciative that everything was resolved.”
— Amanda Ruiz1.0Edited 3 weeks ago“The only place my snake will eat frozen rats from. Very friendly and helpful!”
— Melodey Lawson5.03 weeks ago“Awesome place. Great staff. Very knowledgeable and friendly. Highly recommended.”
— Anthony Bascle5.04 weeks ago“Came in the get a pet rat and they brought out some different ones and let me spend some time with them to choose. She’s so sweet and friendly already. I’ve been in multiple times and disagree with the negative comments. Everyone has been kind to me every time and I’ve never noticed any issues with the animals. Always been clean and doesn’t even have a smell even though they have a huge selection! I recommend.”
— Missy Duke5.0a month ago“Beware they sell sick animals. I've taken in many of there rabbits that people have surrendered because they were sick or have had developed issues. I've had several people tell me they have had many pets die within weeks of getting them rabbits and small animals mostly. Don't buy animals here.”
— shelley dennison1.0Edited a month ago“This is an awesome little pet shop with some much to offer. I highly recommend checking them out!”
— Felicia Gill5.0a month ago“Love these guys!”
— Leslie Rodrigue Tierney5.0Edited 2 months ago“VERY INFORMATIVE STAFF, LOTS OF EXOTICS, AND A REAL PET STORE FEEL.”
— kenny ray jones5.02 months ago“WARNING!!! We are visiting from out of state and frequent a lot of exotic pet stores. We were excited to find one here. Never have we ever witnessed something like this. The gecko tanks were covered in waste and nearly impossible to see into. Fish were crammed into tiny plastic carriers and 20 tortoises were shoved into a dirty tank. Some animals were wild-caught. Birds screamed and lunged because they were untamed and stressed. The animals looked sick, sad, and completely neglected. Old rotting food sat in their enclosures. Temperatures and humidity were all wrong. Staff did not care. I wanted to rescue every single animal just to save them. No creature should ever live like this. We own many of these reptiles already so are very well versed on their care. This pet store does not even cover the bare minimum. These animals are suffering. SAD.”
— Annie Montgomery1.02 months ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (504) 888-2626 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting 50 Fathoms Pet Shop.