About
Exotic Aquarium has earned a devoted Twin Cities following for one thing above all: bettas you won't find at the big-box stores. The small St Paul shop stocks Thailand-imported bettas in varieties that keep hobbyists coming back — giant bettas, wild bettas, and the eye-catching 24k strain among them. Recent visitors call the selection "10/10" and "great price for bettas," and one longtime customer reports buying over 15 here that are all still thriving.
If you're hunting for rare bettas for sale in St Paul, MN, this is the shop locals tend to name first. But bettas are only part of the story. The store carries cichlids, multiple strains of fancy guppies, mollies, multicolor shrimp, discus, and goldfish, alongside an ever-rotating lineup of uncommon species you don't see every day.
Live plants are stocked too — one recent shopper picked up Java fern and got patient, informative help choosing it for a new fishkeeper in the family. A regular sums the place up as "one of my favorite spots when it comes to supporting my aquatic hobby," praising the range of bettas, cichlids, and guppies and fish that appear healthy and well cared for. The owner — a young Hmong entrepreneur who built this business himself — is the heart of the place, known for honest advice without pressure, fair pricing, and helping customers walk out with full setups of tank, rocks, and food.
A visitor this week found the store clean and the fish in good condition and shape. A few practical notes: the space is small and parking takes some hunting (pull around back), and hours can vary, so it's smart to call ahead or check their social media before you head over. Because betta stock turns over with each new shipment, it's worth inspecting any fish closely before you buy.
For freshwater enthusiasts after imported bettas, rare guppy strains, or vibrant cichlids available in St Paul, MN, this exotic fish store rewards the regulars who keep showing up.
What they offer
Fish & livestock for sale at Exotic Aquarium in St Paul, MN
Exotic Aquarium stocks betta fish, cichlids, livebearers, shrimp, discus, goldfish, rare and hard-to-find species, aquarium plants and freshwater fish for sale in St Paul, MN. As a fish store serving St Paul, MN, it also offers aquarium consultations.
- Livestock & products
- Services
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Thailand-imported bettas in rare varieties including giant, wild, and 24k strains
- Variety beyond bettas: cichlids, fancy guppies, mollies, multicolor shrimp, discus, and goldfish
- Live plants like Java fern with patient help for new fishkeepers
- Young Hmong owner known for honest advice, fair prices, and full tank setups
- Small shop with rotating stock — call ahead and inspect fish before buying
From keepers
Customer reviews
“It was very clean and the fish were in good condition and shape”
— Aaron Lee5.03 hours ago“Store stank of dirty tanks. Was barely greeted and offered no help. Music blasting. Stacks and stacks of betta tanks I could not access because of staff(?) blocking the area with their bodies. Weird, unfriendly vibes.”
— L D1.04 weeks ago“10/10 bettas, great experience, great price for bettas. 100% worth it for the bettas”
— Sunny Xiong5.0a month ago“Go to this store, they have very nice Bettas and are in good price, go check it out on Thursday.”
— Isaac Vang5.0a month ago“This shop is a good shop because it’s a Hmong guy and this is great”
— Spencer Lo5.0a month ago“they give good service”
— Fujdhd Dbbdbd5.0a month ago“Picked up a couple of stunners who I can only assume were part of a new shipment. However, there were multiple deceased bettas across several holding containers. Some even beginning to grow fungus (columnaris/cotton mouth) if that wasn’t already the reason they had passed with several other bettas on their way out and some still alive in the shipment bags from a day or two ago when Exotic had posted about receiving a shipment. As an avid betta keeper, I was not impressed and won’t be bringing my business back around…the employer (owner?) was actively working around the bettas when we came in and never pulled any of the dead ones. He instead went around to where the mystery snails are and was scrolling through social media on his phone.”
— Kenzie Holmberg1.0a month ago“Not the biggest selection Ive seen but also saw a lot of dead fish and just a lot of sickly looking fish. Won’t be back. Person there seemed nice but not the greatest place to get fish. Also the place just smelled foul.”
— Michelle Lynn2.0a month ago“Drove across town to this shop. Shop is on a corner white bear Ave and case. No sure where to park. Went around back of building into an alley. No signs of parking anywhere. Decided to just park behind the shop/apartment. Walked back out front to the front door and had a sign on it that reads “be back in 30 mins” door was locked. Called the number went straight to voice mail. What a bizarre experience”
— James1.02 months ago“I got Java fern and another plant. The man working was really nice and informative to my grandma(new fishkeeper) and my cousin about fish and plants. Parking is a little tricky. But all in all, really nice fish store”
— Alex5.03 months ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (651) 500-4760 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Exotic Aquarium.