Highland Tropical Fish & Bird Haven

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.