Animal Instincts Aquarium and Pet Center

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.