About
" Rows and rows of tanks hold hundreds of freshwater species, and the store is dimly lit in a way regulars find comforting, with a pleasantly marshy smell that lets you know you've walked into a serious aquatic operation in Minneapolis, MN. Lynda, the resident mata mata turtle, has become a local celebrity, and plenty of visitors stop in just to say hello and watch the fish for an hour. Freshwater is Aqualand's heart.
The live plant tanks earn "top tier" praise, and the aquascaping selection of driftwood, bonsai pieces, and floating plants runs deep, so planted-tank hobbyists have plenty to dig through. You'll find everything from community tropicals to bettas, shrimp, and parrot cichlids for sale here; one recent shopper happily walked out with a pair of panda parrots. A small saltwater corner keeps clownfish and damsels for anyone dipping into reef keeping, though freshwater is the real draw.
What keeps people coming back is the pairing of huge variety with genuine care. The staff, including longtime hands like Mike and John, are warm, patient, and happy to guide newcomers and seasoned curators alike. The fish look healthy in clean holding tanks built for enrichment, and the hard-goods wall is stocked with filters, pumps, and tanks that shoppers say are tough to track down anywhere else.
" More than one local who toured the Twin Cities' best shops landed on Aqualand as their number one. For anyone hunting healthy livestock and premium gear available in Minneapolis, MN, this old-school, independent aquarium store remains a destination worth the drive.
What they offer
Fish & livestock for sale at Aqualand Aquarium Center in Minneapolis, MN
Aqualand Aquarium Center stocks invertebrates, shrimp, betta fish, cichlids, aquarium plants and freshwater & saltwater fish for sale in Minneapolis, MN. As an aquarium store serving Minneapolis, MN, it also carries aquarium equipment and dry goods and offers aquarium consultations and equipment repair.
- Livestock & products
- Services
- ConsultationEquipment Repair
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Enormous freshwater selection with hundreds of species across rows of tanks
- Top-tier live plant and aquascaping section with driftwood, bonsai, and floating plants
- Resident mata mata turtle named Lynda is a longtime visitor favorite
- Deep hard-goods inventory of filters, pumps, and hard-to-find tanks
- Warm, knowledgeable family-run staff who help newcomers and even do on-the-spot equipment fixes
From keepers
Customer reviews
“I brought in a fountain pump that was only working once and a while. That's why I got it at a cut-rate price. The good folks at Aqualand took one look at it. Cleaned it... which this floor model desperately needed and now the pump works fine! Great customer service. And honest too!!!”
— Heidi Stennes5.0Edited a week ago“Great fish store. There aren't many local shops like this around since the two on 66th in Richfield closed ages ago.”
— P Collins5.02 weeks ago“Beautiful tank set up. The tanks are clean and all the fish look happy and healthy. Great selection of premium products you don’t find in your average small town aquarium shops.”
— Cait DeMoss5.0a month ago“Awesome place to shop staff is very friendly and helpful.Good selection of fish”
— Peter Gondorchin5.0a month ago“The whole staff is friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. I often need guidance and these folks are always happy to share their expertise. Many thanks!”
— Jules Plonski5.02 months ago“I’ve been shopping here for a few months as I’ve gotten into the hobby. This store is really cool and the staff is pretty friendly and helpful. Big selection of healthy fish, equipment, aquascaping items. Worth a visit just to look at also the fish too.”
— Mitchell Templeton5.03 months ago“Awesome aquarium store. One of the best in the city!”
— R Lee5.03 months ago“Great staff, friendly and helpful. Lots of selections.”
— Debbie Warren5.0Edited 3 months ago“It's been over 20yrs since returning back to this place since getting in and out of the fish hobby. What a lovely place to look around and shop. The fish selection is huge and there is something for everyone. There is also a very large selection of hard goods as well. The staffs (02/24/26 - I forget the names) there were warm and welcoming. Will definitely be returning and visiting their sister site. (bought 2 panda parrots)”
— Kung Yang5.04 months ago“Friendly and knowledgeable with competitive pricing for most things. Clean store with LOTS of fish to enjoy and choose from in holding tanks that offer enrichment for the fish. You can tell they care. I love this fish store!”
— Jason Belkengren5.0Edited 4 months ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (612) 825-5666 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Aqualand Aquarium Center.