Tucked into Hagerstown, Maryland, Appalachian Reptiles & Aquatics has grown from what loyal customers remember as a "tiny little hole in the wall" into a thriving destination that draws hobbyists from over an hour away. Owner Josh has built something special here — a dual-focus shop where freshwater aquatics and reptiles share the spotlight, and both departments reflect genuine care for animal health and husbandry.
The aquatics section is well-maintained, with clean, properly stocked tanks housing tropical freshwater fish, invertebrates, axolotls, and live aquatic plants. One longtime customer reported stocking over a thousand gallons of aquariums exclusively with fish and invertebrates from this shop, noting everything arrived healthy and parasite-free. Multiple reviewers mention switching here after bad experiences with chain stores and never looking back — the fish are vibrant, appropriately priced, and consistently healthy.
While the reptile side is a major draw — bearded dragons, ball pythons, leopard geckos, king snakes, monitor lizards, Red Eye Crocodile skinks, and jumping spiders all get mentioned — the aquatics inventory holds its own with a solid variety of freshwater species and plants. The store also carries a full range of supplies, equipment, decorations, and feeders (both live and frozen), often at prices customers say beat the big-box competition.
What stands out most in the reviews is the staff's knowledge and willingness to engage. Customers describe receiving specific, practical care advice that outperforms anything they've gotten at corporate pet stores. The shop floor itself is notably clean — several reviewers comment that it actually smells pleasant, a rarity for a store housing this many live animals.
The naturalistic enclosures throughout the store double as inspiration for keepers looking to improve their own setups. Appalachian Reptiles & Aquatics has clearly earned its 4.9-star reputation by prioritizing animal welfare, honest guidance, and a shopping experience that keeps people driving long distances to come back twice a month.
Tucked away in the rural town of Mardela Springs, Maryland, Pacific East Aquaculture is a destination saltwater shop that has earned a devoted following both locally and online. Run by the well-known Dr. Mac, the facility operates as an aquaculture farm and retail outlet specializing in corals, reef livestock, anemones, and marine invertebrates. Don't let the quiet Eastern Shore location fool you — reviewers consistently describe the selection as "deceptively huge," with healthy, vibrant specimens that reflect serious care and expertise in coral propagation.
The in-person experience is worth the drive. Walking through the facility reveals tank after tank of thriving corals and saltwater fish, all maintained under conditions that speak to Dr. Mac's deep knowledge of reef husbandry. Customers frequently remark on how happy and healthy the livestock looks, a testament to the operation's aquaculture roots. The staff is approachable and genuinely helpful, making it a rewarding visit even if you're just browsing.
But Pacific East Aquaculture's reach extends well beyond Maryland's Eastern Shore. Their online store and shipping operation have made them a trusted source for reef keepers across the country. Multiple reviewers highlight the quality of their packaging — anemones arrive with plenty of water, carefully insulated and cushioned to minimize transit stress. Communication throughout the ordering and shipping process is responsive and thorough, which matters enormously when live animals are in transit.
Pricing is another consistent bright spot. For a specialty saltwater operation with this level of quality, customers find the cost reasonable, and the value unmistakable. Whether you're stocking a new reef tank with your first anemone or adding uncommon corals to an established system, Pacific East delivers — literally and figuratively. It's a place where aquaculture expertise meets genuine passion for the hobby, and every review makes it clear the livestock reflects that dedication.
Walking into FantaSEA Aquariums in Crofton, Maryland, you immediately notice the difference between a typical fish store and a business built around saltwater obsession. The facility is spotless, the display tanks are stunning, and the coral selection draws serious reef keepers from across the area. Owner Dalton Leonard has assembled a team — including technicians like Kyle, Gigi, Cole, and Cullen — that customers describe less like service providers and more like trusted partners in their aquatic journeys.
Saltwater is clearly the heartbeat of this operation. Dalton's deep science knowledge has rescued neglected 125-gallon salt water tanks and transformed 240-gallon reef systems into showpieces. Customers rave about quarantined fish and a beautiful coral selection, and the store stocks invertebrates that help build thriving saltwater ecosystems. One long-term customer reported that nine months in, their tank continues to blossom into a gorgeous reef environment — a testament to FantaSEA's commitment to lasting results, not just initial sales.
What truly sets FantaSEA apart is their maintenance and installation service. Technicians visit on bi-weekly schedules with clockwork reliability, and after every service call, customers receive detailed reports complete with photos documenting exactly what was done. Dan has rewired entire filtration systems, Gigi fine-tunes water parameters with meticulous precision, and Cullen responds to fish health emergencies the same day they're reported. One customer who had cycled through aquarium techs for 16 years called FantaSEA the first truly professional operation they'd encountered.
The design and installation side is equally impressive. FantaSEA handles everything from initial proposals and video consultations to full aquarium builds, creating custom setups that customers proudly show off to guests. Whether it's a modest home aquarium or a massive 240-gallon saltwater system with all the bells and whistles, the Crofton team delivers aquarium designs that bring genuine peace and beauty to people's homes.
Londontowne Tropicals in Edgewater, Maryland has built a devoted following among freshwater fishkeepers across the Anne Arundel County area and well beyond — many customers happily drive an hour or more to shop here. The store is stocked with rows upon rows of immaculately maintained tanks, each labeled with accurate, easy-to-understand care information. Walk in and the first thing you'll notice is what's missing: that telltale pet store smell. Instead, you're greeted by crystal-clear aquariums full of healthy, active fish.
The freshwater selection is the real draw. Londontowne carries rare species that simply don't show up at chain stores or even most independent shops — the kind of fish that make experienced hobbyists do a double-take. Their bettas, including hard-to-find half moon varieties, are consistently praised as beautiful. Shrimp, invertebrates, and a solid variety of live plants round out the livestock offerings, along with botanicals like leaves and pods for those who love tannin-rich setups. Driftwood, rocks, hides, and a well-curated selection of food and accessories mean you can outfit a tank from scratch.
Staff members Adam and Dale are frequently mentioned by name, and for good reason. They're the kind of fishkeepers who will spend real time walking you through compatibility, tank setup, and care — even fielding phone calls and emails from hobbyists still weeks away from their first purchase. The store runs an individualized tank system with quarantine practices that give buyers genuine peace of mind. They even packed frozen food in styrofoam for a customer facing a long drive home, no extra charge.
A free loyalty program with meaningful discounts rewards repeat visits, and if they don't have a particular species in stock, they'll work to source it — one reviewer recounted the owner bringing fish from his personal collection the very next day. Londontowne Tropicals is the kind of independently owned store that makes the freshwater hobby feel personal again.
Tucked inside an easy-to-miss business park off Leonard Lane in Salisbury, Maryland, Father Fish Aquarium is the brick-and-mortar home of a fishkeeping philosophy built over more than half a century. The store's founder — known widely as Father Fish through his popular YouTube channel — has cultivated a devoted following around his natural approach to freshwater aquariums, emphasizing established ecosystems in heavily planted tanks rather than the sterile, high-maintenance setups that dominated the hobby for decades.
Step inside and you'll find rows of beautifully maintained tanks filled with healthy freshwater fish, including species you won't encounter at any chain store. Reviewers report finding rare and unique fish alongside staples like bettas, plecos, and even axolotls. The aquatic plant selection is a major draw — reasonably priced and impressively varied, with everything from guppy grass to full starter plant packs available for shipping through the online store. Father Fish also sells his own substrate, a cornerstone product for setting up natural-style tanks at home.
The store doubles as a learning destination. Father Fish himself is often on the floor, sharing stories about his tanks and offering the kind of no-stress, experience-driven guidance that makes newcomers feel at ease. Staff members like Louis have earned shoutouts for their helpfulness, and the shop even offers to accept trade-ins of plants or fish that outgrow home tanks — a practical touch that reflects the ecosystem-first mindset.
The online store extends Father Fish's reach well beyond Maryland's Eastern Shore, shipping plants and substrate to hobbyists more than a thousand miles away. Multiple customers report quick shipping and plants that arrived healthy and helped cycle their tanks successfully. For pond keepers, the shop stocks relevant supplies too.
Father Fish Aquarium is a place where the hobby feels personal and purposeful. It's worth the drive to Salisbury to browse the tanks, pick up plants, and hear decades of hard-won fishkeeping wisdom firsthand.
FreshwaterPondLive PlantsPlanted TanksRare SpeciesOnline StoreShips Fish
Tucked along the roads of Nottingham, Maryland, Tom's Tropicals is a family-run shop that's been serving the local aquarium and pet community for over 60 years. It's an old-school operation with a distinct character — part fish store, part reptile shop, part curiosity cabinet. Walk in and you'll find rows of clean freshwater fish tanks, an area filled with taxidermy animals, and shelves lined with animal sculptures and decorations that give the place a vibe entirely its own.
The freshwater fish selection is the main draw. Reviewers consistently praise the variety, with one longtime customer noting they've purchased "so many types of fish over the years" and wouldn't buy anywhere else. Owner Tom and staffer Jackie are regularly mentioned by name for their hands-on approach — Tom has been known to walk the floor with customers, helping them choose appropriate fish for their tank size and offering practical stocking advice. Several customers report that fish purchased here outlast those from competing stores.
Beyond fish, Tom's stocks hermit crabs, reptiles, small animals like guinea pigs and rabbits, and a reliable supply of live and frozen feeder rodents for snake owners. One customer highlighted the detailed care sheets provided with hermit crab purchases, complete with habitat setup guidance. The store also offers pet boarding services — multiple reviewers mention leaving their pets in Tom's care during vacations, praising the attentiveness of the team, including handwritten care notes from the front desk.
Prices run reasonable across the board, from fish to snake supplies like bedding and heat lamps. The staff earns consistent praise for greeting customers at the door and taking time to answer questions without rushing. It's a smaller footprint than big-box alternatives, but that compact space is packed with livestock and supplies that keep loyal customers returning for years. For freshwater fishkeepers and reptile enthusiasts in the Nottingham area, Tom's remains a reliable neighborhood institution with genuine personality.
House Of Tropicals in Glen Burnie, Maryland is one of those stores that swallows your afternoon whole. Walk in for one thing and you'll find yourself drifting past rows of freshwater tropicals, saltwater tanks shimmering with corals and marine fish, and a live plant selection that draws planted-tank enthusiasts from well beyond the Baltimore metro area. With over 2,400 reviews and a 4.5-star rating, it has earned its reputation as a regional destination — one reviewer flatly called it "low key better than the Baltimore Aquarium."
The sheer scale is the first thing that hits you. The freshwater section is enormous, stocking everything from flowerhorns and plecos to stingrays and species you rarely see outside specialty importers. Their saltwater side carries a full line of marine fish and corals, and they maintain a pond section for customers building outdoor setups. One regular watched a baby shark hatch from its egg over multiple visits. That kind of spectacle isn't something you stumble across at a chain pet store.
Axolotl keepers will find a knowledgeable crew here — one customer recounted spending an hour with a staff member named Kaylie, who helped them build a complete axolotl setup from scratch at prices that undercut competitors. The store also sells live blackworms (generally clean, per regulars), frozen and live feeder rodents for reptile owners, and a full range of dry goods including substrates, lighting, and enclosure accessories for snakes and tarantulas.
The staff's depth of knowledge is a recurring theme in reviews. Employees share what they do in their own home tanks, discuss cycling, and offer genuine guidance. That said, some visitors have reported inconsistent service — a few encounters with brusque or dismissive employees have left a mark. With a store this busy, waits for help can stretch.
House Of Tropicals runs periodic sales worth watching for, and the pricing on fish and supplies is generally considered fair for the quality. Just know: there's no public restroom, and the parking lot entrance near the back intersection demands caution. Come ready to browse — this place rewards the unhurried visit.
Tucked in the basement of a strip of shops in Silver Spring, Maryland, Tropical Lagoon Aquarium is the kind of place you have to know about to find. Look for the door with painted fish around it, descend the stairs, and you'll enter a cramped but densely packed world of freshwater and saltwater fish that has kept loyal customers coming back for over a decade.
The space is small, dimly lit, and unapologetically no-frills — reviewers describe it as dark and dingy — but the tanks themselves are shockingly clean and the fish are healthy. That contrast says everything about where the store's priorities lie. The owner's close attention to detail and deep experience show in the quality of livestock and a curated selection that somehow always hits the mark. Multiple customers note finding saltwater species here that don't show up at other local fish stores, and the coral selection is solid enough to satisfy reef hobbyists making a dedicated trip.
Pricing is competitive, often beating other shops in the DC Metro and Maryland area. One longtime customer who regularly ventures out to eastern Maryland and northern Virginia for special acquisitions says Tropical Lagoon consistently offers the best combination of selection and value. Staff are knowledgeable and attentive — even when the store is packed with customers, they make time to educate newcomers on water changes and tank care practices.
The store stocks both freshwater and saltwater fish along with corals, and at least one reviewer mentions it as a source for fresh-killed feeder mice, hinting at a broader inventory for reptile keepers as well. One quirk: the phone line is perpetually busy, so plan to visit in person rather than calling ahead to check stock.
Parking is available in the adjacent lot — free on weekends, metered during the week. For anyone in the Silver Spring or greater DC Metro area looking for a deeply stocked, competitively priced fish store run by people who genuinely care about their livestock, the trip downstairs is well worth it.
Tucked into an unassuming storefront in Rosedale, Maryland, Go Fish LLC is a family-run aquarium shop that rewards those who step inside with an impressive density of both freshwater and saltwater livestock. Every inch of the space is utilized, with multiple rows of tanks stacked floor to ceiling, each looking well-maintained and housing visibly healthy fish. Regulars in the Baltimore area drive 30 minutes or more to shop here, passing big-box stores along the way, because the quality and variety justify the trip.
The selection leans heavily into community favorites — cherry shrimp and loaches share shelf space with bettas, angelfish, and celestial pearl danios when they're in stock. The invertebrate selection is a particular standout: nerite snails, mystery snails, and assassin snails are available in abundance at prices that reviewers say can't be beat. Live plants fill a dedicated section, and customers regularly comment on how lush and gorgeous they look. Driftwood like spiderwood rounds out the aquascaping options.
Much of the store's reputation rests on Joanna (or JoAnn), whose deep fish care knowledge and genuine warmth have turned first-time visitors into loyal customers. She'll walk you through water parameters, pH considerations, and compatibility questions with patience and detail. Steve, the other half of this husband-and-wife operation, is frequently spotted doing water changes and restocking tanks — the behind-the-scenes work that keeps livestock in top condition. Test kits for copper, ammonia, and more are stocked for hobbyists who want to monitor their own setups.
Prices sit above big-box retail but below many specialty competitors, and Go Fish has even offered store credit to customers who brought in home-bred angelfish offspring — a nice touch that speaks to their community-minded approach. The store also carries a solid range of dry goods, aquariums, and supplies.
Go Fish is a no-frills, owner-operated shop where the focus is squarely on healthy livestock and practical expertise. For aquarists in the greater Baltimore area looking for a trustworthy local source, it delivers consistently.
Tucked away in a Timonium strip that belies its depth, CTE Aquatics is a store that looks modest from the outside but opens up into a densely packed world of saltwater and freshwater livestock. The shop has built its reputation on healthy, well-maintained tanks and a staff that treats every customer's setup like a personal project. Reviewers regularly name employees like Gavin for patient, unhurried guidance — the kind of one-on-one attention that feels more like having an aquarium coach than shopping at a pet store.
Saltwater is where CTE truly shines. Premixed saltwater is available for purchase, and the coral selection draws hobbyists from across the Baltimore metro area. Black clownfish, clean-up crews, and pest-free corals are frequently praised, and if they don't stock what you need, they'll place a special order. Their reef displays are beautifully set up, serving as both inspiration and proof of expertise. On the freshwater side, you'll find live plants, rainbowfish, and a basic but growing selection of African cichlids — though some customers wish for a deeper freshwater roster.
The equipment wall leans toward premium brands, with Red Sea aquariums featured prominently. Substrate, hardscape, and dry goods round out the inventory, and the store sells RO water alongside their premixed saltwater — services that aren't always easy to find locally. CTE also delivers tanks and handles relocations, a significant convenience for anyone upgrading or moving.
Beyond retail, CTE Aquatics invests in the Maryland aquarist community by hosting monthly hobbyist meetings with guest speakers, trivia, and prizes. That community-minded spirit runs through the store's DNA. Prices are competitive — not always the cheapest, but fair for the quality of livestock and the level of personal attention. For saltwater enthusiasts in the greater Baltimore area especially, CTE is a destination worth the drive.
