About
Aqua World is a small but densely stocked fish and aquarium store on Manchester Road in Ellisville, MO, and it has earned a reputation as one of the best places to buy fish in the St. Louis area. Reviewers regularly call it the cleanest fish store they've visited, and that care shows in the livestock: healthy, well-acclimated stock that tends to outlive the bargain fish from big-box chains.
The freshwater selection runs deep. Shoppers searching for African cichlids for sale near me, tetras, guppies and other livebearers, threadfin rainbowfish, or GloFish will find them here, alongside betta fish. Live aquarium plants are a genuine strength, with an extensive plant selection and fully planted display tanks that double as aquascaping inspiration.
The invertebrate section is a local favorite, stocking freshwater shrimp plus mystery and nerite snails thoughtfully organized by color so you can pick exactly the look you want. For saltwater keepers, the marine section carries clownfish and other saltwater fish, and pond hobbyists will find pond supplies for outdoor setups. On the dry-goods side, Aqua World stocks quality aquarium equipment, fish food, rocks and driftwood for hardscaping, and trusted brands including Seachem, Oase, and UNS tanks.
Owner Mike and the staff, with names like Kris, Greg, Gabby and John coming up again and again in reviews, are known for patient, judgment-free advice, whether you're upgrading from a 10-gallon starter or troubleshooting a backyard koi pond. Beyond the shelves, the team offers in-home tank maintenance and one-on-one consultation to help you plan and dial in a setup. Prices run a few dollars above the chains, but customers consistently say the healthier, longer-lived fish are worth it.
If you're looking for a fish store in Ellisville, MO or a knowledgeable aquarium store serving the St. Louis area, Aqua World is a local shop that delivers on livestock quality and honest guidance.
What they offer
Fish & livestock for sale at Aqua World in Ellisville, MO
Aqua World stocks invertebrates, shrimp, African cichlids, betta fish, livebearers, tetras, aquarium plants and freshwater, saltwater & pond fish for sale in Ellisville, MO. As an aquarium store serving Ellisville, MO, it also carries aquarium equipment and dry goods and offers tank maintenance and aquarium consultations.
- Livestock & products
- Live PlantsPlanted TanksInvertebratesShrimpAfrican CichlidsBettasLivebearersTetrasAquarium EquipmentDry Goods
- Services
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Immaculately clean tanks consistently praised as the cleanest in St. Louis
- Mystery and nerite snails organized by color for easy selection
- Strong freshwater livestock including African cichlids, threadfin rainbows, guppies, and bettas
- Extensive live aquatic plant selection with planted tank displays
- Home tank maintenance services available
From keepers
Customer reviews
“Wife and I stopped in today to pick up some plants and hardscape for an aquarium we are cycling. We had a lot of questions, and the gentleman that was helping us was very knowledgeable and polite. Wish I had gotten his name, but his customer service was top tier!”
— Zach Ozbourn5.03 months ago“Amazing selection of freshwater plants and fish. Customer service was great also.”
— Cody Wilson5.03 months ago“It’s a well-stocked and beautiful store. Their tanks are clean. They’re friendly. The plants we bought killed every shrimp in our tanks. They’re upside down and kicking. Metals or fertilizer got them. Watch out.”
— Kimberly Page2.04 months ago“These people really know their business well I have gone to them with any fish tank issues I have and they always direct me In the right direction.”
— Mike Wildhaber5.04 months ago“Fantastic!! Shopping here for now on. Even had the tools/forceps”
— Jon Smith5.04 months ago“Super knowledgeable extremely helpful”
— Michael McCutcheon5.0a month ago“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!”
— Alex Lucas5.03 months ago“Love this store. Great prices and great selection. Freshwater awesomeness! Knowledgeable staff. Would give 6 stars if i could”
— G M5.03 months ago“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!”
— Amazon Adventures5.03 months ago“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”
— Jean5.03 months ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (636) 391-0100 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Aqua World.