About
Art of Aquaria has quietly become one of the most talked-about names in the St. Louis aquarium scene, and it earns that reputation by doing things its own way. The first thing regulars notice is how clean and well-organized everything is.
One recent visitor who had toured every fish store in town wrote that this was the only one that didn't carry the usual moldy, odd smell, with tanks that are immaculate and stocked thoughtfully rather than overcrowded. The heart of the store is aquascaping. Reviewers call it "Saint Louis' premiere aquascaping headquarters," and the centerpiece is a dedicated hardscape room where you can lay out driftwood and rocks, much of it sourced locally, and design a layout before buying a single piece.
Pair that with a live plant selection hobbyists repeatedly describe as the best in the area, and it's easy to build an entire planted tank from the substrate up in one trip. Livestock is a genuine draw too. The shrimp selection of cherry, blue dream, and crystal shrimp is regularly called the best in the metro, and the tanks hold colorful community fish, Bolivian rams, plecos, and the kind of unusual, harder-to-find tropicals you won't see at the big chains.
There's freshwater and saltwater livestock plus corals for sale in St. Louis, MO, which makes this as much an aquarium store as a planted-tank specialist. Can't find a particular species?
The staff will track it down and stock it for you. What ties it all together is the people. Customers single out team members like DJ for being knowledgeable, patient, and genuinely passionate about the hobby, happy to walk a first-timer through cycling and compatibility or talk shop with a longtime keeper.
Free water testing, fair pricing, and a relaxed, no-pressure vibe round out a store that is clearly run by folks who keep tanks themselves, and that sensibility shows in every detail from livestock health to the carefully chosen inventory.
What they offer
Fish & livestock for sale at Art Of Aquaria in St. Louis, MO
Art Of Aquaria stocks shrimp, invertebrates, corals, rare and hard-to-find species, aquarium plants and freshwater & saltwater fish for sale in St. Louis, MO. As an aquarium store serving St. Louis, MO, it also carries aquarium equipment and dry goods and offers water testing, aquarium consultations and aquascaping.
- Livestock & products
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Dedicated hardscape room where you can design driftwood-and-rock layouts before you buy
- Shrimp selection (cherry, blue dream, crystal) regularly called the best in the St. Louis metro
- Live aquatic plant inventory praised by reviewers as the best in the area
- Bolivian rams, plecos, and unusual hard-to-find tropicals plus saltwater and corals
- Free water testing and patient, knowledgeable staff like DJ at fair prices
From keepers
Customer reviews
“Went in with absolutely 0 clue of what I needed to get. Spoke with the employees and told them what I was trying to do and they helped me along every step of the way. They also have a very wide selection of fish, plants, decorstions, and all the other supplies needed and tanks are very well maintained. Would recommend this store 10 times out of 10”
— Jacob Sanders5.05 days ago“We have been shopping for nice unusual tropical fish for my wife’s aquarium. We have literally gone to every fish store in St Louis and they all stocked the same stuff. With every store we went to they all seemed disorganized and had that moldy/odd smell (not uncommon in the trade but still not pleasant), but this all changed when we went to Art of Aquaria. First impression was that it was extremely clean, very well organized, great pricing and did not smell like a normal fish store. We were impressed from the get-go. After seeing their selection of fish, plants, hardscape, terrarium plants we were blown away. The guy working was extremely knowledgeable and very friendly. Very satisfied customers and we will definitely return.”
— Brian Lindquist5.0a week ago“The staff were very helpful with which plants to choose for my new tank. Great place to go for beginners”
— Mollie Schwein5.02 weeks ago“Saint Louis’ premiere aquascaping headquarters! I browsed the entire store. Impressive inventory of tanks, filters, and everything I could want. Plant selection was good, looked very healthy. The incredible part of the store for me was the aqua scaping section. I couldn’t believe the variety and quality of materials they have in stock. Highly recommend a visit! Update: I have recently aquascaped and stocked a new tank. Everything in this tank is from Art of Aquaria, truly a one stop shop! The plants are healthy and beautiful. The fish and shrimp are also healthy and growing nicely.”
— mark5.0Edited a month ago“Nice people”
— Barbara Barrera5.0a month ago“Helpful staff, will return”
— LJ5.0a month ago“Dj was amazing, great selection, healthy stock, and knowledgeable and passionate about the hobby, my favorite part was the hardscape room. You can plan out and design hardscapes before purchasing your supplies, great find I haven’t seen one of these since I was in Japan. If you’re new to the hobby or an old pro, this is the shop to come to. Shop local, share the hobby! This is my new spot!”
— Jeff Arkulary5.0a month ago“Great and knowledgeable service”
— Jason Cebrian5.02 months ago“Great experience, lots to choose from and very nice and helpful staff.”
— Robert Hunt5.02 months ago“My favorite aquatic store. Very friendly and reasonably priced. If you cant find a specific plant or animal, they will find and stock it for you! Honestly a hidden gem. I wish I had more money to spend here.”
— Lillie5.03 months ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (314) 282-0257 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Art Of Aquaria.