Pet World & Aqua Shoppe has earned its reputation as Rochester's go-to aquarium destination through an old-school formula: healthy fish, vibrant live plants, and staff who genuinely care. Walk through the doors and you'll find a sprawling, immaculately kept store where rows of tropical freshwater and marine tanks line the walls — each one looking like a deliberate display rather than an afterthought. Reviewers consistently note the cleanliness, and it shows in the quality of livestock on the floor.
The store quarantines fish in-house before putting them up for sale, a practice that sets it apart from big-box competitors and gives customers real confidence in what they're bringing home. You can pick up honey gouramis, brilliant rasboras, and a rotating cast of tropical species, or ask the team to special-order something specific. The live plant section has earned particular praise for consistently healthy, snail-free specimens alongside driftwood and aquascaping supplies.
Staff members like Corey and Adam are name-dropped repeatedly in reviews — and for good reason. Corey has been known to spend 30 minutes diagnosing a customer's tank problems, testing water on the spot and walking through solutions step by step. Adam draws similar praise for his deep knowledge of fish, plants, and equipment.
These aren't scripted interactions; multiple reviewers describe learning things they never found online. The store also sells aquariums and stands, with employee Margie noted for guiding customers through setup purchases. Beyond aquatics, Pet World stocks small animals — hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, ferrets — plus birds, reptile supplies, and one of the area's best selections of live feeder insects, from dubia roaches to hornworms.
It's a full-service pet store with an aquarium shop's soul. Locally owned with a sister store nearby, Pet World & Aqua Shoppe is the kind of place where regulars stop in weekly — sometimes with their dogs in tow — and newcomers leave wishing they'd found it sooner.
christopher Brown
22 reviews
Love this place
Ron Tronnes Jr
80 reviews
01/21/2026 update Picked up some beautiful honey gourami and brilliant rasboras today. All healthy and doing well so far. 11-07-2025 Met Margie and purchased an aquariumin and stand today. Thank you for all your help.
Eva Rizzo
5 reviews
Love the people great atmosphere and have a lot of knowledge about the fish
Mark Proper
29 reviews
Incredible store! You can tell the employees take pride in their work, and seem very knowledgeable. The fish options are wonderful!! Every tank looked happy and healthy. Will absolutely be back!!
joker black
73 reviews
I love this place
Sam Hunt
10 reviews
I've been going to pet world for about 5 years now but as of 2025 management needs to step up. I'd love to change this review back to my usual opinion of them but I'd need to see: 1. The holding policy clarified. One day they told me an animal can't be held for pickup. The next time they said they'd write NFS on it and wait for the manager to call back. The animal sold in the meantime. 2. I have left an in-person call-back number twice now because the manager would not pick up their phone when I had a specialty question. I have gotten no communication. 3. The voicemail of the store to accept messages. There's not a posted and the answering machine is full. I wish I didn't have to complain publicly to interact with the business but here we are. I love shopping local but if it keeps up like this I'll be ordering online.
Piper Bauman
20 reviews
The staff is always so kind and fun! They have good selection and they have the best live bugs compared to the other pet stores.
Sarah Pavlina-Whelehan
10 reviews
Super knowledgeable staff. Fish are very healthy
Anika Menkov
I got my first mantis a couple months back. All the flies in the tupperware I've been feeding her from died. I was looking to switch to dubia as regular feeders, get some mealworms as treats, and pick up a second heater for my mantis tank. Pet World is large, beautiful, and well-kept. It is the nicest pet supply store I have ever been in. Even if you're not a big fish guy, the tanks are fun to look at, full of aquatic plants and the like. Employees were all super knowledgable, friendly, and helpful. There was a wide selection of live feeder insects (fruit flies, mealworms, dubia roaches, pinhead and normal crickets, hornworms, and maybe a couple more I can't remember). The employee who got my feeder insects gave me instructions for their care and answered all the questions I had. No complaints from my mantis either, who currently has her belly full of roach.
Rebecca Murray
23 reviews
I have been looking for a local Specialty Aquarium Store (big box store fish are always sick or die and are relatively boring). Went here on a recommendation. Had very low expectations. THIS IS NOW MY NEW GO TO FISH SHOP!!! I am soooo happy I went and checked them out. My dog and I are there ATLEAST once a week getting fish, plants or supplies. Fish are healthy because the owners insist on quarantining them in house. You can ask for specific fish to be ordered. The varieties are awesome. The plants are vibrant and snail free. The sales people are all akin to Fish Biologists because I thought I knew a lot..these people make me look like a novice!! They are so knowledgeable without being condescending, take the time with you and let you drone on about your set ups lol Love this place!! And my little Annie that I bring with me is starting to warm up to the guy's and fish too 🐕 Thank you for all you do and adding a little magic to our lives every week.
Note: Store information and services may change. Always call (585) 225-8700 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Pet World & Aqua Shoppe.
Phone
(585) 225-8700Website
petworldrochester.com/Address
2833 Ridge Rd W Ste 25, Ridgemont Dr, Rochester, NY 14626
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2833 Ridge Rd W Ste 25, Ridgemont Dr, Rochester, NY 14626
February 7, 2026
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