Fish Room

Fish Room in Cary, North Carolina is a local aquarium shop that stocks a broad inventory spanning freshwater, saltwater, and pond fish alongside a solid selection of live plants and aquarium equipment. Reviewers frequently praise the variety on offer — tanks lining the walls hold everything from kuhli loaches and shrimp to a show-stopping huge pleco that draws attention from visitors. The plant selection earns particular compliments for quality and value, with customers noting they walk away with generous portions at fair prices.

The staff at Fish Room generally earn high marks for being helpful and knowledgeable without being pushy. One customer recounted how an employee guided them through fish and shrimp purchases, and when a kuhli loach didn't survive the transition, the store offered credit toward a replacement — the kind of customer-first approach that builds loyalty. Most reviewers note that the tanks appear clean with rarely a dead fish in sight, suggesting the shop maintains reasonable husbandry standards across their freshwater and saltwater systems.

That said, Fish Room isn't without its critics. Some customers have raised concerns about fish health post-purchase, with reports of fish dying within the first week. The betta display has drawn pointed criticism — the fish are kept in very small bowls, and signage suggests customers can maintain them that way at home, which runs counter to widely accepted care guidelines recommending at least five gallons with filtration and a heater.

At least one visitor also felt certain tanks appeared overcrowded. For Cary-area aquarists looking for a one-stop shop with a diverse fish and plant selection, Fish Room delivers a convenient local option with competitive pricing and genuinely engaged staff. Just exercise the usual caution: inspect fish closely before purchasing, ask questions about recent arrivals and quarantine practices, and be prepared to provide proper setups at home regardless of in-store display conditions.