About
Tucked into Madison Heights, Michigan, Chris's Pet Store has quietly built a devoted following among metro Detroit's freshwater aquarium community. Owner Chris runs a tightly curated fish room where the emphasis is squarely on livestock health and variety — and it shows. Tanks are consistently described as immaculate, and the fish inside them look like they've been thriving, not just surviving.
The freshwater selection leans heavily into nano and schooling species that can be maddeningly hard to source elsewhere. Chili rasboras, celestial pearl danios, galaxy rasboras, rummynose tetras, cardinal tetras, and sterbai corydoras are among the species reviewers have called out by name. Chris also stocks what loyal customers call "guaranteed oddballs" — rare and unusual species you won't stumble across at chain stores.
The invertebrate game is strong too, with cherry shrimp and feeder snails like ramshorn and Malaysian trumpet available at fair prices. Live aquatic plants and hardscape materials round out the planted tank supplies, and Chris has been known to pull from his personal aquascaping collection to help customers lay out their first tank. Beyond the livestock, Chris has earned a reputation as a walking encyclopedia.
Multiple reviewers describe extended, passionate conversations about care, tank cycling, and species compatibility. He was spotted selling cardinal tetras at Aquashella in Dallas, which speaks to his reach beyond the local scene. Freshly hatched baby brine shrimp are occasionally available — a detail that nano fish and puffer keepers will appreciate.
The store also carries reptiles, including crested geckos, alongside fish food, accessories, and dry goods. The vibe is personal and unhurried — this is a one-on-one kind of shop where Chris remembers what you're working on. One consistent caveat: the posted hours aren't always reliable, with multiple visitors reporting closures during listed business hours.
Calling ahead before a long drive is wise. But when the lights are on, Chris's Pet Store delivers one of the best freshwater experiences in southeast Michigan — healthy fish, fair prices, and genuine expertise that's hard to match.
What they offer
Livestock, services, water
- Livestock & products
- Services
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Exceptional nano fish selection including chili rasboras, celestial pearl danios, and galaxy rasboras
- Immaculately maintained tanks with some of the healthiest freshwater fish in metro Detroit
- Live aquatic plants and hardscape materials with personalized aquascaping advice
- Quality invertebrates including cherry shrimp and feeder snails at fair prices
- Owner Chris is deeply knowledgeable and known for extended, helpful consultations
From keepers
Customer reviews
“They have a pineapple conure that is living in filth. They may not specialize in birds and this is a pet of theirs but it gives no excuse for the bird to be poorly maintained. The bird has mounds of poop on the perch and a disgusting bottom tray. Birds have extremely sensitive lungs and cannot be exposed to such squalor. If you want to call yourself a pet store, do better. The entire store smells disgusting like bird poop and I would not buy anything from there if this is how they decide to keep their own pets.”
— Jenna Wells1.05 days ago“Google & maps state it’s open 12-7. Came on a Tuesday @1:30 and it was closed after driving 30 minutes….so days/hours should be updated?”
— Carly Lambert1.03 weeks ago“Love stopping in to see what Chris has! great fish room”
— Anthony Coppola5.0a month ago“My wife and I came in looking for hardscape for a planted tank, a couple weeks ago. Not only did we find everything that we were hoping for, Chris even went and grabbed a ton more small pieces of hardscape from their personal scaping collection and talked about how they'd suggest arranging the pieces in our tank (this is our first tank and it was much appreciated). I can't wait to come back in once our tank is cycled to pick up livestock, because every tank looked lively and well cared for. This is an absolute gem of a local fish store and I look forward to many years of visiting!”
— Kyle Apsey5.02 months ago“Very friendly and knowledgeable. Chris is awesome. He is super helpful.”
— Z K5.04 months ago“Nice to support a local business, helpful owner and good selection”
— John Waldrop4.04 months ago“awesome little pet store for tour fresh water aquarium needs. Very personal and helpful. Definitely will make this my go to shop going forward.”
— Geo B5.05 months ago“Best fish in Michigan. I got two sterbai Cory’s and they are my favorite addition to my tank. 10/10 recommend”
— alch quigley5.06 months ago“Chris saved my life once. Love the fish too”
— Daniel Blondell5.06 months ago“Amazing fish store 12 out of 10 the owner was very friendly and extremely knowledgeable. The store was immaculate. Every tank was so clean and breathtaking breaming with life. They were gorgeous. Each tank a Fish utopia.and an owner who’s incredibly passionate about their fish I love too see it. Lots of cool fish of all sizes and some reptiles they also sell live aquatic plants!”
— Hunter Thomas5.06 months ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (586) 343-3519 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Chris's Pet Store.