Aqua World in Ellisville, Missouri has built a loyal following among St. Louis-area fishkeepers by doing the basics exceptionally well: clean tanks, healthy livestock, and staff who genuinely care about what they're selling. Walk through the door on Manchester Road and the first thing you'll notice is how pristine the displays are — reviewers consistently call it the cleanest fish store they've visited.
The freshwater selection runs deep, from threadfin rainbows and African cichlids to glofish and guppies, with a saltwater section that includes clownfish and other marine species. Aquatic plants are a clear strength, displayed in live planted tanks that double as inspiration for customers looking to build their own setups. The snail and invertebrate section stands out for its thoughtful organization — mystery and nerite snails sorted by color rather than dumped into a single tank.
They carry shrimp as well, and while the variety isn't enormous, the quality is solid. Pond supplies round out the inventory for outdoor hobbyists. Equipment brands like Seachem, Oase, and UNS tanks line the shelves alongside rocks and driftwood for hardscaping.
Owners Michael and Stephanie, along with staff members like Kris and Greg, are frequently named in reviews for their patience and willingness to educate. One customer recounted learning about calcium supplementation for snails without any judgment; another credited the team with helping them go from a 10-gallon starter to a 65-gallon upgrade. The store also offers home tank maintenance services for those who want professional help keeping their setups dialed in.
99 — but customers overwhelmingly report healthier, longer-lived fish as the tradeoff. Multiple reviewers shared stories of replacing Petco fish that died within a week with Aqua World stock that thrived. For freshwater enthusiasts in the St.
Louis area, this small but densely stocked shop on a busy stretch of Manchester delivers where it counts most: livestock quality and honest advice.
Michael McCutcheon
30 reviews
Super knowledgeable extremely helpful
Alex Lucas
13 reviews
Bought 3 Threadfin rainbows. My first time in the store and I will definitely be making it my go to place. Very clean and nicely done tanks, a wide variety of stock. Very knowledgeable staff who was happy to help me! People have commented on the price being higher - any local/small business are going to run higher. Mostly because they don't carry the crappy sick, overbred, parasite infested stock that Petco/PetSmart has. They also carry quality over quantity it seems (even in equipment) so spend the $1-$3 more and buy local!
G M
89 reviews
Love this store. Great prices and great selection. Freshwater awesomeness! Knowledgeable staff. Would give 6 stars if i could
Amazon Adventures
19 reviews
Busy part of Manchester but the guy inside was very nice and helpful! We got a healthy, happy glofish that has been amazing as well as some plants and fish food. A bit pricey, we bought a few other glofish at Petco for $12.99, they are $16.99 at Aqua World but we love the one fish we did get from Aqua World. We bought two more fish so saving $4 a fish made it worth it but I love this store and will be going back when I am in that part of town and need fish supplies. The fish we got from Aqua World recognized his own kind and all 4 fish are getting along quite well. Happy and healthy with 20 gallons of space to thrive. Of course, the gold fish will have to be moved when it gets bigger. Thanks for reading!
Jean
When I first bought my fish, they were from Petco, right? And they died in under a week. SO I went here, and none of my fish have died ever since. I strongly recommend going here for fish and aquatic plants. Though the shop is small, there are a large variety of fish and aquatic plants. Please write reviews. This shop clearly deserves a better rating
Judianna Hall
24 reviews
By far the best fish store i’ve ever been to. Beautiful clean tanks. Great helpful staff and great prices. Bought a bunch of plants and african cichlids!
Jayoung Maeng
52 reviews
My daughter got her 6 guppies after her 4 guppies died from petco. They are very high quality, though a bit more expensive than Petco, it's worth it!
Maggie
7 reviews
Beautiful selection of fresh water & salt water fish! All the fish looked so healthy & happy in their enclosures! I'll definitely be back to get an aquarium.
Patti Matthys-Pearce
5 reviews
We’ve been customers for five years — they have high quality fish, plants, and products and have offered great service and advice for our 50 and 20 gallon tanks — highly recommend!
Olivia Feddersen
4 reviews
Highly recommended their fish look good quality, and their plants looked amazing , lots of variety to choose from and customer service was great
Note: Store information and services may change. Always call (636) 391-0100 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Aqua World.
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16063 Manchester Rd, Ellisville, MO 63011
February 7, 2026
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