About
Animal Instincts Aquarium and Pet Center in Fall River, Massachusetts is one of those family-run stores that earns its loyal following through decades of consistency. Customers who came here as kids with their parents now shop for their own tanks and terrariums — and the staff, including standouts like Anna and Shawna, remember them by name. The aquatics department is the real draw.
Reviewers consistently call it the best saltwater fish store in the area, with display tanks that showcase the incredible health of their livestock. Their coral selection earns particular praise — visitors describe "absolutely STUNNING" frags that are reasonably priced and hand-selected. The freshwater side holds its own with a variety that surprises even experienced hobbyists, offering species many have never encountered in a retail setting.
Live aquatic plants round out the inventory for planted tank enthusiasts. The fish team will spend months talking you through a reef build before you buy a single piece of equipment, with no pressure upselling — they genuinely want your tank to succeed. Beyond fish, Animal Instincts is a full-spectrum pet store.
The reptile room stocks bearded dragons, ball pythons, boas, and geckos, along with gut-loaded feeder insects — dubia roaches and other bugs that reptile keepers drive out of their way to purchase. You'll find rabbits (including beautifully groomed Angora breeds), birds, small mammals, tarantulas like Mexican Fire Leg specimens, and snails for freshwater cleanup crews. One reviewer compared the experience to visiting a small zoo.
The store looks deceptively small from the outside but opens up considerably once you're inside. Everything is clean and well-maintained, and there's a free rewards program worth joining even for occasional visitors. The staff's strength is in patient, knowledgeable conversation — they'll answer tank environment questions, recommend compatible species, and send you home with advice that actually works.
For Fall River area aquarists building their first reef or their fifth community tank, this is the local shop that keeps earning return trips.
What they offer
Livestock, services, water
- Livestock & products
- Services
- ConsultationWater Testing
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Acclaimed as the best saltwater fish store in the Fall River area with stunning coral frags
- Hand-selected freshwater and saltwater fish with an unusually diverse species selection
- Family-run for decades with deeply knowledgeable, no-pressure staff like Anna and Shawna
- Full reptile room with gut-loaded feeder insects for bearded dragons and geckos
- Live aquatic plants and a wide range of invertebrates including snails
From keepers
Customer reviews
“Always reliable and awesome customer service. We keep coming back! Thank you for all the high quality feeder bugs and high quality workers! We love Animal Instincts!”
— Mich5.02 days ago“Girls are always polite and willing to help...always an awesome experience”
— Bill Redhawk5.0a week ago“OMG!! Shawna is a GEM. Best customer service I had in a loooong time!! Highly recommended. Friendly and knowledgeable!!”
— Thiago Monteiro5.0a month ago“My dad always came here when I was a kid for his all his reptiles needs and fish needs over the years and now I’ve rescued a bearded dragon myself and I’ve done my research on my own but any questions I have Anna has answered and helped me with great advice tremendously the owner is really nice as well he gave me a great deal on some hides to upgrade my beardies tank I get my insects there I love that they are gut loaded for my bearded dragon if you want a pet store that is knowledgeable caring and knows what their doing you’ve found it here at Animal Instincts I’ll be back in a few days for more roaches 🪳 🫶🏻”
— Kelsie Medeiros5.02 months ago“They have awesome pets very friendly staff. Their pets are very healthy.”
— Giannis Kaitis5.02 months ago“Love this place”
— alisha bessette5.02 months ago“Love this store! Anna and Shawna are super nice and helpful. Anna gave me a ton of useful advice when we got our bearded dragon here and I come frequently for any of his needs. Great pet store”
— John Kinsman5.02 months ago“Excellent selection of fish, lizards and snakes.”
— b deacon5.03 months ago“I purchased a rabbit from animal instincts BEST BEST CHOICE EVER. She took only a couple of days to warm up and once she did ❤️ 😍 💖 THANK YOU ANIMAL INSTINCTS YALL ROCK”
— Brian Clark5.03 months ago“Very knowledgable staff. Friendly. Concerned about your fish tank environment and what is good for your situation. No pressure upselling. Highly recomend.”
— David Slivinski5.04 months ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (508) 673-6755 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Animal Instincts Aquarium and Pet Center.