About
Highland Tropical Fish & Bird Haven in White Lake, Michigan is one of those rare family-run shops with genuine history — tracing its roots back to an original location off Woodward in Royal Oak before putting down permanent roots in White Lake. Walking in, you'll find rows of clean, well-maintained freshwater fish tanks stocked with tropical species, white bristlenose plecos, shrimp lobsters (the tiny, oddball kind that longtime customers can't resist), and striking white and blue lobsters. The store primarily focuses on freshwater fish, though they do carry some saltwater stock and have staff like Josh who can walk you through koi pond questions with patience and real expertise.
The fish side is only half the story. The bird section is a destination in its own right, housing everything from baby cockatiels to mature parrots, with a full wall of bird seeds, toys, and grooming supplies. They offer bird boarding at reasonable daily rates — one customer boarded their blue and gold Macaw for a month and came home to brighter plumage, less feather picking, and new vocalizations.
Nail trims, beak trims, and flight feather clipping round out their bird care services. Bob and the rest of the staff are consistently praised for their knowledge. Customers dealing with cloudy tanks have walked out with solutions that worked within an hour.
The store also stocks reptiles including chameleons, tortoises, and leopard geckos, making it a broader animal lover's stop than the name suggests. Prices are generally considered fair, though a few items run higher. The selection could be larger on the fish side according to some, but what they carry is healthy and well-cared-for.
7 rating, Highland Tropical has earned a loyal following — some customers have been visiting since childhood, returning decade after decade for feeder fish, stocking tanks, or just soaking in the atmosphere of a place that genuinely cares about the animals it sells.
What they offer
Livestock, services, water
- Livestock & products
- Services
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Family-run shop with roots tracing back to Royal Oak — decades of community trust
- Clean, well-maintained freshwater tanks with shrimp lobsters, plecos, and unique finds
- Bird boarding services with grooming including nail trims, beak trims, and wing clipping
- Knowledgeable staff like Bob and Josh who help with everything from cloudy tanks to koi pond care
- Also carries reptiles including chameleons, tortoises, and leopard geckos
From keepers
Customer reviews
“Very reputable and healthy fish source for your tank and your fish tank needs. Bob that works there is very knowledgeable and will help you whether you are new to the tropical fish world or a more advanced person he will have the answers that you’re looking for.”
— Kimarie DuFort5.0a month ago“Bought my daughter a pekasomething great deals and told me everything I needed to know good place for birds 🐦”
— Antonio Silva5.0a month ago“These guys are super knowledgeable in their pet care! I go here anytime I am in need. Was struggling with a cloudy tank/ only took a 5 minute talk with the fish staff to set me in the right direction! Within an hour of being home, these were my results! The care they put into their work is outstanding, highly recommend Highland Tropical for everyone's pet needs!”
— Zachary Putnam5.02 months ago“We get all our fish from here. Good selection of freshwater fish. Friendly service always ready to answer our questions.”
— Alan Yeeski5.02 months ago“They get you in and out very efficiently. Been going there for years. I get their bird seeds and toys. They do my bird's nails. They are wonderful people. They're very ineligible. Highly recommend them.”
— Lisa Cash5.02 months ago“I can only speak about the bird side. The staff is very knowledgeable, I ve been taking my parrot there for nearly 20 years. You can board your bird with them for a very reasonable price daily fee. They handle all needs short of vet issues. But beak trims, nails, flight feathers.”
— Devon Cozart5.02 months ago“Great selection of tropical fish and supplies. They're very knowledgeable and the prices are fair.”
— melissa fromm4.03 months ago“Great store, great environment. Has almost everything you need”
— Brendon Reynolds5.0Edited 4 months ago“I’ve bought all my cockatiels I’ve owned over the years from them which I would rate the birds they sell 5stars but whenever I’ve tried to sell them the babies my mated pairs have had they want to low ball or want the babies for free”
— Jessi Minda2.04 months ago“Beautiful aquarium. Customer service is best not mentioned. Will not be back”
— cor ick1.04 months ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (248) 698-9090 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Highland Tropical Fish & Bird Haven.