About
Columbia Pet Center has been a fixture of Columbia, MO for decades — one reviewer remembers visiting as a kid 30 years ago and loves seeing it still running and doing well. This independently owned shop is best known for its wall of freshwater and saltwater aquariums, and locals treat it as their go-to aquarium store for healthy, well-cared-for livestock. Reviewer after reviewer reports that the fish they buy here arrive disease-free and keep thriving long after — one customer's blue-eyed lemon pleco is still going strong a year later, and another rounded out a community tank with platies, sucker fish, and shrimp that grew into a successful aquatic ecosystem.
The fish selection runs deep: otos, plecos, platies and other livebearers, plus a steady rotation of invertebrates and shrimp for sale in Columbia, MO, alongside driftwood, live plants, and all the equipment to keep a tank running. Whether someone is starting a first betta tank with live plants or revamping a 125-gallon build, the staff are the reason people keep coming back. Jeremy gets named again and again for walking customers through tank, lighting, and substrate choices; Izzy has gone elbow-deep in half a dozen tanks to fill a stocking list and quietly swapped out an oto that didn't look right; Lily and the rest of the small team earn the same warm shout-outs.
They run water tests, field a million beginner questions without ever making anyone feel silly, and steer customers toward ethical, well-founded care. There's far more than fish here, too. The shop keeps a lively menagerie — birds (including a staffer's shoulder-riding cockatiel), rabbits, guinea pigs, geckos and other reptiles, tarantulas, and a pig-nose turtle holding court in a big display aquarium in the back.
Prices beat the big-box stores, and regulars are proud to keep their money local rather than feed the internet billionaires. Parking gets tight on busy weekends, but the welcome inside more than makes up for it. For anyone hunting a local fish store near me in mid-Missouri, Columbia Pet Center is the shop Columbia keeps recommending.
What they offer
Fish & livestock for sale at Columbia Pet Center in Columbia, MO
Columbia Pet Center stocks invertebrates, shrimp, plecos, livebearers, betta fish, aquarium plants and freshwater & saltwater fish for sale in Columbia, MO. As an aquarium store serving Columbia, MO, it also carries dry goods and aquarium equipment and offers aquarium consultations and water testing.
- Livestock & products
- Services
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Deep freshwater and saltwater fish selection — otos, plecos, platies, invertebrates, and shrimp — that customers report arrives healthy and disease-free
- Staff like Jeremy, Izzy, and Lily guide beginners through tank, lighting, and substrate setup and run in-store water tests
- Live plants, driftwood, shrimp, and aquarium equipment for freshwater and saltwater builds
- Lively non-fish menagerie too: birds with a shoulder-riding cockatiel, rabbits, guinea pigs, reptiles, tarantulas, and a display pig-nose turtle
- Fair, big-box-beating prices from a proudly independent, keep-it-local Columbia, MO shop
From keepers
Customer reviews
“Everyone there is so kind! You can tell that they are knowledgeable and really care for their fish.”
— Emily5.0a week ago“I go there all the time and so does my mom! we love the people there especially the bird guy!! (that's just what I call him) he always has his cockatiel on his shoulder and always lets me hold him ! amazing prices aswell not too expensive. never had a bad time and I moved here 3-4 years ago and have been coming a couple months after I got here, its an amazing shop I definitely recommend. amazing service everybody's so talkative and answers questions accordingly”
— Katie Taylor5.03 weeks ago“They have a nice variety. I purchased a good piece of drift wood for my community tank yesterday. I bought a blue eyed lemon pleco from here last year that is thriving. The 3 star rating is because you almost need a respirator to shop. The smell is horrible. There are also a lot of dead fish in their tanks which is disappointing to see from a local store.”
— Netanya Dunivent3.0a month ago“Such friendly people here. Knowledgeable of all things. Amazing selection of fish. Lots of little birds, a rabbit, a guinea pig and some hamsters. Also they have tarantula and those hissing cockroachs and such. I went there as a kid 30 years ago and it's great seeing that it's still running and doing well!”
— Sierra Sevits5.0a month ago“We have been using Columbia Pet Center for several years now for a variety of things, pet bunnies & supplies, fish supplies, gecko supplies. Their small team is extremely knowledgeable and helpful. We trust that if we go in with questions they will point us in the ethical and well founded direction for all of our animals.”
— Kristen Ayer5.0a month ago“Great people and reasonable prices!”
— LeAnn Brown5.02 months ago“The staff at Columbia pet center are so helpful and kind! We started a fish tank last year with platies, sucker fish and shrimp and with the help of the staff and a million questions later, we have had a very successful aquatic ecosystem. Today we decided to live out my life long dream and get a snake! Jeremy helped us through the whole process from what kind of tank, to light bulb to substrate we needed for the tank. Although I did countless hours of research, there is nothing like being able to ask all the questions to someone who has first hand experience! I’m so thankful for their expertise!”
— Hunter Ladouceur5.02 months ago“I have driven by this place thousands of times and have never been inside until last week. We got a new puppy and I stopped in to see if they had a screw in anchor and leash for the pup. The staff was incredibly friendly, they had everything I would ever need for our puppy including toys, food, chew items. If you wanting to say no to the BOX stores or the internet billionaires, please keep your money local and shop Columbia Pet center!”
— Matt Gilbane5.02 months ago“Lily was great!!! Will definitely be back!”
— Josh Bray5.02 months ago“I’ve had nothing but great experiences at Columbia Pet Center. The staff there truly goes above and beyond, especially Jeremy and the rest of the team. They are incredibly knowledgeable and always willing to help, whether you’re dealing with a specific issue in your tank or just have general questions. It’s clear they genuinely care about both the animals and their customers. Every time I’ve purchased fish from here, they’ve been healthy and thriving—no issues at all after bringing them home, which says a lot about the quality of care they provide. It gives me real confidence knowing I’m getting strong, well-cared-for fish. If you’re looking for a local fish store with great customer service, expert advice, and healthy livestock, I highly recommend Columbia Pet Center!”
— amanda hague5.02 months ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (573) 499-4536 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Columbia Pet Center.