Tropical Lagoon Aquarium

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.