About
Tucked into the small town of Cannon Falls, Minnesota, Aqualand Aquarium Center has earned a devoted following that stretches well beyond its zip code. Customers drive from Rochester and even the Twin Cities to browse tanks that reviewers consistently describe as some of the cleanest they've ever encountered in any fish store, anywhere. This isn't hyperbole — the care is visible the moment you walk in.
Female bettas swim in community tanks rather than languishing in cups, planted show tanks are beautifully aquascaped, and the livestock looks vibrant and healthy across the board. What sets Aqualand apart is its freshwater selection, which punches far above what you'd expect from a small-town shop. Customers report finding scarlet badis, dwarf rasboras, sparkling gouramis, and species they'd searched for across dozens of Minnesota stores without success.
The rare fish offerings draw serious hobbyists, while common community species are equally well-cared-for and fairly priced. Live aquatic plants are a particular strength — water lettuce, ADFs (African dwarf frogs), and a rotating variety of aquarium plants consistently get praised for their health and quality. The staff, including the frequently mentioned Cindy and the deeply knowledgeable owner, are patient and genuinely passionate.
Multiple reviewers describe extended, helpful conversations about tank setup, fish compatibility, and care. One customer needed a special-sized aquarium that wasn't in stock at Cannon Falls, so staff arranged to have it brought from the Minneapolis location — that kind of personal service defines the experience here. Aqualand also stocks their own in-house fish food, which regulars call a great deal, along with a solid selection of decorations, aquariums, and dry goods.
The store operates as a family-run business with a second location in Minneapolis, giving them buying power and variety that independent shops this size rarely achieve. For anyone in southeastern Minnesota tired of corporate pet store fish departments, the drive to Cannon Falls is absolutely worth it.
What they offer
Livestock, services, water
- Livestock & products
- Services
- Tank SetupDeliveryConsultation
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Exceptionally clean tanks praised by nearly every reviewer
- Rare freshwater species not found at other Minnesota fish stores
- Female bettas kept in community tanks rather than cups
- In-house fish food at competitive prices
- Beautifully planted and decorated show tanks
From keepers
Customer reviews
“Thanks for set up perfect and very clean Love this selection as well”
— nick almen5.0a month ago“Huge variety of unique freshwater fish at a great price. Nicely decorated and planted show tanks, which you don’t always see in fish stores. The fish looked so happy in their tanks that I almost didn’t wanna take any home! Lol. You can tell the fish are very well cared for. Most of the female bettas are kept in community tanks vs cups which I greatly respect. Will be returning.”
— Kiara Reps-Kahrhoff5.0Edited 2 months ago“This store has a wide selection of plants and aquatic species, and the aquariums are well kept and the fish look healthy. The gentleman that helped me was very personable and knowledgeable. He helped answers all my questions and I got some awesome plants and ADFs! Definitely would recommend and will be back for any fish/plant needs in the future.”
— Savannah Such5.04 months ago“We have gone to all the fish stores, and this is the cleanest and most cared for! They’re all big fishes, Paisley❤️🐟”
— Dayla5.06 months ago“Might be the cleanest most well kept fish store I have ever been to. Every tank was perfect. The young fella behind the counter was friendly .”
— CourtnRob5.07 months ago“Great selection for our small town. Perfect one stop shop for you next family addition.”
— Alyssa Ries5.09 months ago“We had the most fantastic experience here! First of all, Cindy is SO KIND and SO KNOWLEDGEABLE with fish! She was an absolute pleasure to talk to and was very patient with us while we picked out quite an assortment of fish. (We have multiple tanks) On top of an awesome employee, I was shocked to see so many rare fish! I have been to dozens of fish stores across Minnesota and this place had fish I have always wanted but have never seen in person until now. On top of that, they had some of the best prices I've seen for fish, common and rare. I was blown away by the quality of the fish. Everyone looks so healthy! Was also impressed with the wide variety of decorations, aquariums, and other products! They also have a very fair exchange policy. I am beyond impressed with this store and will 100% be back. Highly recommend this place for any fish enthusiast!”
— Nyx Pellett5.011 months ago“Great little fish shop with a lot of aquarium plants and a good selection of fish and knowledgeable staff”
— Adam Ness5.0a year ago“They have a large selection of beautiful healthy fish and the owners are very knowledgeable. Definitely worth an hour drive or more.”
— Sam Ryssman5.0a year ago“Great store with beautiful tanks!”
— GARY POWELL5.0a year ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (507) 757-1144 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Aqualand Aquarium Center.