About
Fintastic Aquariums of Frederick is a dedicated saltwater shop tucked into a compact space that punches well above its square footage. The store is almost exclusively marine-focused, stocked with corals, saltwater fish, and invertebrates — and that singular focus is what draws hobbyists from across the region, some making hour-long drives to browse the selection. The coral inventory is widely regarded as the best in Frederick, with pricing that consistently undercuts competitors.
Reviewers have walked out with hundreds of dollars in frags and colonies, praising the health and variety on display. Fish offerings lean toward reef-safe staples — clownfish, watchman gobies, midas blennies, damsels — and the store has even been known to sell more unusual specimens like octopus from their display tanks. Invertebrates, including urchins, round out the livestock selection.
The staff, including a team member named Jared and longtime contributor Steve, earn high marks for taking time with newcomers. Multiple reviewers who were new to saltwater describe feeling genuinely educated rather than pressured, with recommendations that sometimes saved them money rather than inflating a sale. The owner has a reputation for sourcing specific items on request, turning first-time visitors into regulars.
Tanks throughout the store are generally clean and well-maintained, with livestock appearing active and healthy. The lighting is optimized for the animals rather than retail aesthetics, which gives the space a different feel than a typical pet store but keeps the corals open and thriving. Display tanks offer inspiration for reef builders.
There are caveats worth noting. Several buyers have reported fish arriving with illness or dying shortly after purchase, and the store does not appear to run a formal quarantine process on incoming fish. Coral dipping before adding to your home tank is advisable, as occasional hitchhikers like bubble algae have been spotted.
Checkout accuracy has also been flagged, though the owner has responded to concerns and made process changes. For Frederick-area reefers looking for affordable, well-kept coral and honest saltwater advice, Fintastic is the go-to local fish store.
What they offer
Fish & livestock for sale at Fintastic Aquariums of Frederick in Frederick, MD
Fintastic Aquariums of Frederick stocks corals, reef fish, invertebrates, clownfish and saltwater fish for sale in Frederick, MD. As an aquarium store serving Frederick, MD, it also carries dry goods and offers aquarium consultations.
- Livestock & products
- Services
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Widely praised as having the best coral selection and pricing in Frederick
- Almost exclusively saltwater-focused shop with corals, reef fish, and invertebrates
- Staff provides patient, educational consultations for newcomers to the hobby
- Owner accommodates special requests and stocks items on customer feedback
- Compact but well-organized space with healthy display tanks
From keepers
Customer reviews
“My husband and I have been calling for 6 months or more for a blue velvet. The owner specifically told us he would hold one for us even though they don’t typically do holds. We offered to pay in advance and were told not to worry about it because we had been calling weekly. My husband told him we would be in around 12:30. We arrived at 12:17 only to be told he sold them all and they had been open for 45 minutes and they had been busy. The owner acknowledged he told my husband he would hold one and barely offered an apology. We drive over an hour to this establishment. On multiple occasions had to wait long waits for salt water to be mixed. People waited on before us that arrived after us only to sell what we had been waiting for out from under us. The owners attitude is subpar at best and zero accountability when they or their employees make mistakes or offer incorrect information. If you want a crappy attitude with zero customer service skills then this is the place for you. If not I would shop elsewhere especially if you have to travel any sort of distance. Shipping may be cheaper from elsewhere at this point and at least you know your items are secured. We won’t be returning!”
— Lori Nescio1.03 months ago“Very disrespectful staff. Tried to buy a nice aquarium but said it was one price then added taxes after taxes. Saying it was the tariff that's y. Ended up not buying from them. Would never go here again”
— Nicholas Lowry1.03 months ago“I will definitely be getting more fish from you in the future. The drive was absolutely worth it! I’m super happy with my Black Storm Clownfish it has been an amazing addition to my tank. The fish is very friendly and healthy.The staff is really nice and takes the time to explain everything clearly, which I truly appreciate. Thank you so much!”
— Lizma C G5.04 months ago“Owner is a very nice guy for starters. I recently moved to Harper's Ferry WV and needed to find a decent LFS that was closer than my normal place which was House of Tropicals in Glen Burnie. There's always a nice selection of fish and coral and invertebrates but the best part is his prices are very very reasonable. There was a few things I requested for my tanks that I asked if he could carry so I could make this my main LFS and sure enough, my next visit he had them all. Though it's not a very big place, he has it laid out nice and utilizes the space with a little bit of everything. Another thing I like is that it's basically all saltwater items. Great job to the owner and you have a permanent customer now.”
— Steve Campanella5.06 days ago“Background Info: In early December I got an established 46g reef tank but the owner had started to let it go so it only had mushroom coral. This is my first saltwater tank but I've owned freshwater for years. The physical store: I was a little confused about what was the front of the store vs the back from the outside and it looked small. I chose the correct entrance though. The lighting wasn't typical pet store lighting but it was good enough and I assumed was setup for the animals rather than the customers which is a good thing. I couldn't easily understand the layout at first but figured it out by the end. The selection is really food for a LFS. The staff: The guy that helped me (tall white guy) was extremely helpful. He was by himself and busy putting livestock into tanks and tild me he would be multitasking a bit because the fish had arrived 2 days late so he needed to get them into the tanks. While tending to the new fish, he listened about my setup, my concerns and questions. He was knowledgeable, friendly and provided soe great advice. Ultimately I bought a some maintenance items, media, a clownfish and an urchin. I never felt like I was being up-selled or like anything was just to get me to spend money (he actually made a recommendation that saved me money). The livestock: The coral were open and seemed happy. All the fish were active and swimming. I didn't see any fish that had a sign of disease. The inverts all looked healthy as well. Everything in that store seemed to be thriving. 1.5 months later and the urchin and clown are doing great still. Overall: My experience was great and I look forward to going back. All aspects of the experience were great and the guy that helped me made me feel a lot more comfortable with the status of my tank and my ability to care for it. I highly recommend Fintastic and hope everyone has the great experience I had.”
— Bill Angiolillo5.06 days ago“Beautiful saltwater fish store! Friendly staff too!”
— Jennifer Herrmann5.0Edited 2 months ago“I purchased a clownfish, watchman goby, and midas blenny here and they are all doing great. They usually have a decent selection and also some cool display tanks.”
— Garrit Zwakenberg5.02 months ago“Always an awsome experience”
— Az Az5.03 months ago“Excellent service and quality. Only place we go to in Frederick!”
— Nina Indrei5.03 months ago“Fantastic experience!!!! I gained so much knowledge and info to help my tank! I'm a beginner to the hobby and I gained a lot of great info and how to make my tank great. He didn't talk down to me like other places I have been and he taught me a lot!!! Great place to go! Would highly recommend if you are new to the hobby and want to learn how to make your tank the best definitely stop in!!!!”
— Jeremy Nisbet5.03 months ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (240) 815-6532 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Fintastic Aquariums of Frederick.