About
Down a dirt road in Bucksport, Maine, Vance's Tropical Fish & Exotic greets you like a Caribbean outpost dropped into rural New England — a tiki-themed aquarium store where owner Vance's Hawaiian shirts match the warm, immersive vibe inside, and vintage pinball machines hum alongside rows of beautifully kept display tanks. Regulars routinely drive 45 minutes or more, and the small lot fills within minutes of the door opening on a Sunday morning. Step inside and, as several reviewers put it, you feel transported somewhere warm and exotic.
The selection runs deep across both freshwater and saltwater. Hobbyists come for goldfish, clownfish, corals, live rock, clams, and live plants, plus the genuinely unusual — including a mud skipper display Vance keeps for visitors to study. One recent customer happily spent about two hours browsing before settling on an Albino Bristlenose pleco and a few black ruby barbs, all healthy and disease-free.
If you're hunting for clownfish, corals, or freshwater fish for sale in Bucksport, ME, this is the place, and Vance will track down whatever he doesn't currently stock with a custom order. What people remember most is Vance himself. Reviewers describe him as endlessly patient and a "wealth of knowledge" — the kind of owner who multitasks between helping a newcomer set up a first saltwater tank and bagging an order for a returning regular, all while sharing decades of fishkeeping experience.
" His livestock arrives healthy and stays that way; one customer noted fish bought two years ago are still thriving, and prices stay reasonable across the board. Searching for a freshwater or saltwater fish store near me in coastal Maine? Vance's is worth the drive — equal parts livestock shop and tropical escape.
Call ahead to confirm the day's hours, since they occasionally shift, then come browse the tanks in person.
What they offer
Fish & livestock for sale at Vance's Tropical Fish & Exotic in Bucksport, ME
Vance's Tropical Fish & Exotic stocks corals, live rock, clownfish, goldfish, plecos, invertebrates, rare and hard-to-find species, aquarium plants and freshwater & saltwater fish for sale in Bucksport, ME. As an aquarium store serving Bucksport, ME, it also offers aquarium consultations and aquarium setup.
- Livestock & products
- Services
- ConsultationTank Setup
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Owner Vance shares decades of fishkeeping knowledge with every customer
- Deep freshwater and saltwater selection: goldfish, clownfish, corals, live rock, clams, and live plants
- Rare and exotic species, plus a unique mud skipper display tank
- Custom orders for livestock not currently in stock
- Tiki-themed store with Hawaiian decor and vintage pinball machines
From keepers
Customer reviews
“I bought my fish from Vance 2 years ago in October and they are still healthy I'm planning a trip soon for a few more my neighbor gave me a 10 gallon aquarium and I love it!”
— Christine Nisbett5.04 days ago“Vance’s Fish Store is a fantastic place to visit! I loved the unique tiki theme throughout the store, it makes the whole experience fun and memorable. They have an awesome selection of healthy, beautiful fish, and everything looked well cared for. The owner was incredibly friendly, knowledgeable, and happy to answer questions. You can tell they genuinely care about their fish and their customers. Highly recommend stopping by if you’re into aquariums or just want to check out a really cool local fish store!”
— Abi5.02 weeks ago“First time visiting and was pleasantly surprised. Vance was Very friendly and very informative. Easily a 5/5”
— Chris Wright5.03 weeks ago“Great place! Wonderful owner!😀😀😀”
— Joan Paul5.0a month ago“Vance is a wealth of knowledge and takes great care of his fish. I spent about two hours looking at the fish before I finally decided on an Albino Bristlenose Pleco and a few black ruby barbs. All the fish I purchased are healthy and disease free.”
— Hayden Hunt5.02 months ago“Hands down the best spot. Vance is a great guy with so much knowledge. As soon as you talk to the guy you realize he's doing this as a passion and not a business.”
— Dustin S5.03 months ago“Great fish store! Always find something new and fun! Healthy tanks!”
— Patrick Hutchings5.03 months ago“We always get our fish here.”
— Dan Kenny5.0Edited a month ago“I have been going here since I was a kid for freshwater fish and now for saltwater fish always in great health never had any issues with fish from there, Vance is a very nice guy who take good care of his fish definitely recommended going here for your fish.”
— Kasperice Man5.0Edited 4 months ago“This place is amazing, a tropical paradise in Bucksport, Maine. Vance is an awesome and interesting guy, very friendly and knowledgeable. His fish all look healthy and are not overstocked; he has a wide selection of interesting fish as well as some really cool personal tanks you can check out. Looking forward to visiting again soon!”
— Travis Jorge5.06 months ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (207) 469-6310 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Vance's Tropical Fish & Exotic.