About
Scales Tails - Aquatics Emporium & Pet Store is a family-run, mom-and-pop shop in Joplin, Missouri that pairs a working fish room with a broader pet store stocked with reptiles, birds, and feeder animals. On the aquatics side, regulars come for freshwater fish for sale in Joplin, MO — bright bettas, hardy goldfish that reviewers call some of the best around, and live aquarium plants that customers say keep thriving months after they bring them home. You'll also find axolotls, terrarium tools, fish food, and décor, plus feeder crickets and worms that locals repeatedly name the most affordable in town.
The draw for many loyal customers is the people. Staff member Tammy is singled out again and again for patient, in-depth reptile and fish-care advice, and Bobby Bawl has been thanked by name for great service. The owner is known to slow the checkout line on purpose, making sure you leave with every resource you need for the pet you're taking home — hands-on guidance you simply don't get at a big-box chain.
One recent visitor summed up the feeling as "almost like home," and a steady stream of snake and reptile keepers swing by for live mice, crickets, and a visit with the shop's large pet iguana. In fairness, opinions on Scales Tails are genuinely split. A persistent thread of reviews describes a strong ammonia smell on entry, algae in some tanks, and cramped conditions, and the store's no-photos policy has drawn its own scrutiny.
Others describe friendly help, healthy fish and reptiles, and fair small-business pricing. The experience clearly varies with when you visit. If you're shopping for goldfish, bettas, or budget-friendly feeders and want a locally owned alternative to the chains, this Joplin, MO fish store is worth a walk-in to judge the selection and conditions for yourself.
What they offer
Fish & livestock for sale at Scales Tails - Aquatics Emporium & Pet Store LLC in Joplin, MO
Scales Tails - Aquatics Emporium & Pet Store LLC stocks goldfish, betta fish, axolotls, aquarium plants and freshwater fish for sale in Joplin, MO. As a fish store serving Joplin, MO, it also carries fish food and aquarium equipment and offers aquarium consultations.
- Livestock & products
- Services
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Feeder crickets and worms repeatedly called the best-priced in Joplin
- Freshwater favorites for sale: healthy goldfish, bright bettas, and long-lasting live aquarium plants
- Patient, in-depth fish and reptile care advice from staff like Tammy and Bobby Bawl
- Family-owned mom-and-pop shop with fair small-business pricing versus big-box chains
- Owner takes time at checkout to make sure you leave fully prepared for your pet
From keepers
Customer reviews
“Awesome place Awesome people when you Go in store here its a total experience one worth not forgetting its almost like home”
— Joshua Silvers5.0a week ago“The only thing this store has going for it is cheaper aquarium materials. The smell is horrific, the enclosures are disgusting, the reptiles looked almost dead. The birds looked filthy. The place needs shut down and the people who own it need to reconsider owning a pet store until the correct care and dignity can be given to each and every animal there because it is abuse. I am all about supporting small businesses rather than chain businesses. Do you remember Noah's ark? This place makes Noah's ark look like a sanctuary. Im not one to judge, maybe the owners just need some assistance or extra knowledge. The prices of the supplies is much better than chain stores I applaud that, the care to the animals just needs work.”
— Shae Enderle1.0a month ago“This mom n pop shop are amazing 👏 🤩 they are very knowledgeable and have a variety of reptiles.. love stopping by to get our live mice and crickets from them. If your looking for a reptile or just need some feeders they are your stop. They also have a variety of fish, birds, and even a large iguana to pet. We really enjoy going here.”
— Samantha5.0a month ago“I will NEVER shop here again. Bearded Dragons are in horrible condition. I got 2 from them both have scales rot. Which im sure the rest that were with also have it since it's contagious. So be aware!!! 1 of my beadies is also missing part of his tail. Not to mention multiple beardies I saw were missing parts of their body(tail, toes, ex.). When asked about it only answer I got was "oh, we dont know which one is doing it." I feel sorry for every animal in this store. It needs shut down.”
— Hailey McElroy1.02 months ago“If I could give 0 stars I would. This place is infested with flies, mites, & the animals have parasites. It’s truly heartbreaking how someone can run a business like this & have NO empathy for the animals. Whatever you do, stay away from this place unless you have hundreds of dollars to care for the animals because of the neglect they have endured. They don’t clean tanks, feed the animals properly, treat them for any illness. They don’t care if endangered fish or animals they have just die, they leave them in the tank for weeks. Truly sickening. I pray this place is shut down.”
— Ashley Jones1.02 months ago“Scales Tails is a fantastic place to purchase healthy fish, reptiles, and birds. They are very helpful and knowledgeable in every area of aquatic and reptile pets. The prices are fair for a small business. It is sometimes slow to check out if others are in the store because the owner wants to make sure you have all the resources available for your pet. I recommend to my friends to stop by and look.”
— Owen5.0Edited 2 months ago“If I could give a no stars I would. I went in for bugs because I saw their Facebook posts about having some and when I went in I wanted to immediately leave. The smell alone was horrible but the animals inside were so much worse. They had fish tanks full of fish and axolots mixed together. Parrots in small cages. But the worst I saw was the reptiles. No lights, no heat, the bedding they were in was full of poop as well. The worst was a golden tegu that had its toes rotting off. The owner tried to tell me that they got the little guy that way but I don't fully believe her. They said they will fix him up and sell him in a few months. If I could I would have taken him that day but they weren't selling him yet.”
— Sade Cannon1.02 months ago“LOVE it here”
— Kiera Ross5.03 months ago“Oh the smell....I couldn't do it to even look around. Nice people but the smell is atrocious”
— Sara Mowbray1.03 months ago“This place is terrible, the first thing when you walk in is the smell, it was so bad we were covering our noses the entire time, the fish and other animals where poorly treated, and some of the fish were dead. I DO NOT RECOMMEND COMING TO THIS PLACE.”
— Brayden Bunch1.03 weeks ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (918) 977-0270 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Scales Tails - Aquatics Emporium & Pet Store LLC.