About
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.
What they offer
Livestock, services, water
- Livestock & products
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Wide variety of freshwater, saltwater, and pond fish under one roof
- Strong live plant selection praised for quality and value
- Impressive display pleco that draws visitor attention
- Staff described as helpful and non-pressuring with good product knowledge
- Store credit offered when fish don't survive the transition home
From keepers
Customer reviews
“They have a variety of fish and equipment to start your aquarium adventure.”
— long bach5.02 weeks ago“Nice local shop with all the supplies you need for fresh and salt water aquariums, live plants and fishes.”
— Aleksandr Filipidis5.03 weeks ago“I love their selection, rarely see dead fish in the tanks! The plants are also very nice, I got a really good quantity for the price!! Employee that helped me was very helpful and educated and helped me! Not sure if they have driftwood or stone if they do I will definitely come back! Edit: bought fish yesterday from there and shrimp and they all seem to be okay!! One kuhli didn’t make it but they were kind enough to give me credit to get another!! Also they have a HUGE Pleco!!”
— LSMolinaro5.0Edited 3 weeks ago“I don’t own fish but I feel very bad for the ones in this store they seem super overcrowded”
— Holeen Caprioli2.0a month ago“Fish were sick. Seems like they don't care about their customers.”
— Peter Piper2.0a month ago“I was going to buy supplies here but I was pretty disappointed by how the Betta fish are treated. They are kept in bowls barely the size of a fist, and a sign states people can buy it to keep in one of those tiny bowls. Betta fish need a minimum of 5 gallons for long term care, along with a heater and filter. Their health suffers when kept in the wrong temperature or size tank.”
— Cate Russell2.0a month ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (919) 535-3107 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Fish Room.