About
Granite City Aquaria is the kind of focused, family-owned fish store that central Minnesota hobbyists will happily drive past three closer pet shops to reach. Tucked into St Cloud, MN, it does one thing — freshwater aquatics — and does it with a care that shows in every clean, thickly planted tank. Walk in and you'll find healthy bettas, corydoras, fancy guppies, and a rotating wall of live plants grown on-site, alongside cherry shrimp, snails, axolotls, frogs, and harder-to-source oddballs like the L114 leopard cactus pleco that regulars still talk about.
5-gallon planted nano to a 35-gallon community build. The staff — Alex and Crowley among them, plus a young employee reviewers repeatedly call "super knowledgeable" — take real time to walk newcomers through cycling, plant-and-fish compatibility, and stocking choices. " What earns the loyalty is the honesty.
They won't sell a sick fish, and they post a sign on any tank with a health concern so you always know what you're bringing home. When one family brought in goldfish that had outgrown their space, the store took the fish in to rehome them and steered the kids toward species that would actually thrive in the room they had — even talking directly to the young owner. You'll also find locally made fish food, natural driftwood and rock, substrate, filters, and complete package setups for sale here, plus water testing and a trade-in program for old fish and tanks.
Prices are fair, the plants run a touch higher because they're homegrown and healthy, and the focus never wavers. For freshwater keepers near St Cloud, this is the local fish store to beat.
What they offer
Fish & livestock for sale at Granite City Aquaria in St Cloud, MN
Granite City Aquaria stocks shrimp, betta fish, axolotls, invertebrates, rare and hard-to-find species, livebearers, catfish, plecos, aquarium plants and freshwater fish for sale in St Cloud, MN. As a fish store serving St Cloud, MN, it also carries fish food and aquarium equipment and offers aquarium consultations, water testing and aquarium setup.
- Livestock & products
- Live PlantsShrimpBettasAxolotlsInvertebratesRare SpeciesLivebearersPlanted TanksCatfishPlecosFish FoodAquarium Equipment
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Neocaridina cherry shrimp in many colors, plus bettas, corydoras, fancy guppies, axolotls, and frogs — all freshwater
- Live plants grown on-site, with harder-to-source species like the L114 leopard cactus pleco
- Honest sourcing: won't sell a sick fish and posts a sign on any tank with a health concern
- Hands-on staff (Alex, Crowley) who help newcomers cycle and design a first tank
- Water testing, complete package tank setups, and a trade-in program for old fish and tanks
From keepers
Customer reviews
“Great staff! They wont sell you a sick fish and always willing to help!”
— Matt Berger5.02 weeks ago“I love this place and wished I had found it sooner. I got a healthy Betta and corydoras one day and then kept going to get plants and food. They have a nice selection and always kind and take the time to answer questions. Their very informative and will try to help with setups. I'll be a continuing customer for all my fish needs. Highly recommend.”
— Geralynn Ryckman5.03 weeks ago“So kind! I was blown away by their knowledge and true care for the well-being of fish. We took in some gold fish that needed a home, and turns out; they need a way bigger tank than we have space for. Granite City Aquaria offered to take the gold fish and bring them to a more suitable home- while showing us fish that would be content in the size tank we have room for. My son’s heartbreak was saved and he felt so good knowing the fishies he had grown attached to were going to a home where they’d be happiest. I also appreciated that they talked directly to my son, as they were HIS fish. 10/10. Thank you!!”
— Laura Ellavsky5.04 weeks ago“Wouldn't sell me any fish unless I bought 6 or more of 1 kind”
— Jamie Todd1.04 weeks ago“Stopped in for the first time this evening! Absolutely fantastic store. The young man helping us was SUPER helpful and knowledgeable. I will absolutely be back soon!”
— Jenna Erickson5.0a month ago“Amazing service. The workers were very knowledgeable and helpful.”
— Di Meihua5.0a month ago“A very nice, friendly young man helped us and checked us out, even walking back in just minutes before closing time. We had stopped to see if they had what I was looking for, and they did. However, the weather was not nice, and we had a few things we needed to do before heading home that took longer than expected. We rushed over, and they still helped, as I said, just minutes before closing. I felt bad and apologized, but we live about an hour and 15 minutes away and don't get to St. Cloud much. Hopefully, we will be coming back more often now that I've found a place for my betta and his friends. I saw an awesome selection of different bettas and other fish! Neocaridina (cherry) shrimp in so many different colors—this was what we came to find. And I was super excited they had multiple colors.”
— Deloris Simonson4.02 months ago“Never heard of this place until about a month ago and I am super happy to have such dedicated and kind workers so close to home. Will be supporting for the foreseeable future.”
— ZERO WARNING5.02 months ago“The staff are very knowledgeable and helpful in what is good for your aquarium setup from plants to fish and everything in-between!”
— Dustin Opitz5.02 months ago“My kids and I had never been in prior to this visit. We were looking for some small fish to add to our 35 gallon. Great local store! The young man who helped us was very knowledgeable, took the time to answer all of my questions and gave us some well informed recommendations. Thank you!”
— Mark McCurry5.02 months ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call +1 320-296-5473 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Granite City Aquaria.