About
Columbia Pet Center is the kind of local pet store that earns its loyal following one tank at a time. " They came back and changed their mind. The fish selection is genuinely extensive, covering everything from otos to shrimp to invertebrates, all housed in well-maintained, clearly displayed tanks.
Multiple reviewers specifically note that the fish they've purchased here arrive healthy and disease-free, which says a lot about the store's husbandry practices. The staff earn consistent praise, and individual employees stand out. A reviewer recently called out Izzy by name for going elbow-deep into six different tanks to carefully fill a stocking list, even spotting an oto that didn't look right and swapping it out proactively.
That kind of attentiveness builds trust, especially for serious hobbyists — one customer has been returning regularly while revamping a 125-gallon aquarium and calls the team genuinely knowledgeable every visit. Beyond fish, the store stocks a lively menagerie: birds, bearded dragons, chameleons, guinea pigs, rabbits, and a pig-nose turtle holding court in a large display aquarium in the back. New reptile owners have found patient guidance here, with staff walking them through setup and care at prices reviewers call genuinely fair.
Columbia Pet Center also carries a solid range of supplies and accessories — food, equipment, and everything needed to keep freshwater and saltwater systems running. It's the kind of place where the owner has been known to grab a snow shovel and help dig a customer's truck out of the parking lot (which, fair warning, can get tight on busy days). For fishkeepers and pet owners across Columbia, this store has become a every-few-weekends habit — and the anticipation of seeing what new stock has come in keeps people coming back.
What they offer
Livestock, services, water
- Livestock & products
- Services
- Consultation
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Extensive freshwater and saltwater fish selection with healthy, disease-free stock
- Staff like Izzy personally inspect fish before selling and swap out any that don't look 100%
- Saltwater and freshwater invertebrates and shrimp available
- Diverse live animal selection including birds, reptiles, rabbits, and a display pig-nose turtle
- Knowledgeable staff who guide new reptile and fish owners through setup and care
From keepers
Customer reviews
“Amazing and friendly staff I love coming here simply to check out all the amazing pets they have on display. Of you can't find something or you just need help the owner is very helpful with tips and tricks for pet care One thing I disagree with is they do not handle the reptiles (snakes specifically) which means thier tendency to aggression will be more likely and them being a pet you can show off to people is extremely unlikely I prefer being able to hold my snakes and carry them around, my nieces and nephews hold my snakes so they must be well tempered and in order for that to happen they need lots of human interaction.”
— Rainbow Wolf5.05 days ago“This place was outstanding. All aquariums were well displayed. Variety of fish was amazing. Staff were so nice. And this place was packed when we got there. Parking area was not that great. But worth the wait I suppose.”
— Anna Harnden5.05 days ago“Very helpful, very knowledgeable, I'll be going there for now on”
— Casey McMillan5.0a week ago“I've recently switched from PetSmart and started shopping at Columbia Pet Center. Today confirmed that I made the right choice. Not only are they polite and helpful everytime I come in, but today the owner (i assume) and employees came out to the parking lot to help me after I got my truck stuck in the snow. These guys came out unprepared for the weather (I am sure they were freezing their butts off) with snow shovels, cardboard, and elbow grease. They managed to get me out of the snow and never once complained or acted put out by helping me. Genuinely good people. Support your local business and kind people.”
— Brianna Farrell5.0a week ago“apparently gave this 2 stars for being mostly fish a few years ago. there are a lot of fish but that's not a bad thing. there's a good variety of other animals, too.”
— Celia Lehman5.0Edited 2 weeks ago“Stop in for turtle food, staff very nice.”
— Alex Grant4.03 weeks ago“Friendly, was hard for me to find live feeders for my snake but they have them”
— Cassandra Ferra5.03 weeks ago“I come here every 2 weeks for alive mice for my ball python. Love visiting and seeing all the animals (guinea pigs,fish,birds,rabbits..)”
— Geralyn Buckland5.0Edited a month ago“Super friendly and helpful people”
— Hallie Crawford5.0a month ago“This was a very poor experience. I asked for female mice they said I can't guarantee gender. I asked if when they come out and I see a male can we switch it out because I colonize my mice he said yeah. So he brings them out and goes it's gonna be extra to gender after bringing them out . They should be all girls check. So I look see 4 males off the bat. Then see one of the males has a massive tumor. He goes oh yeah and carries him across the store by his tail it broke my heart. Then brings me out a replacement by her tail. I know these are feeders but have compassion so I was charged extra when I gendered my own mice. Very disappointing.”
— Stephanie Harrington1.0a month 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.