About
Tucked into Concord, North Carolina, Missing Link Aquatics & Exotics is a locally owned shop that blends a serious freshwater and saltwater fish selection with an exotic pet inventory that includes snakes, chameleons, bearded dragons, tortoises, hedgehogs, and birds. It's the kind of place where owner Jason will spend six months tracking down a long-fin super red bristlenose pleco for a loyal customer — and where staff members like Emma, Bridget, and Jacob remember your tank setup and steer you away from fish that won't work in it. The freshwater selection draws people from as far as Mooresville and beyond, with reviewers consistently noting the variety goes well beyond what big-box chains carry.
Guppies, mystery snails, assassin snails, and an assortment of species that customers describe as "random" and unexpected fill the tanks. Aquatic plants are a real strength here — one customer drove 25 minutes specifically for duckweed and left with seven generous handfuls for four dollars. Hardscape materials and tank maintenance supplies round out the planted-tank offerings.
There's also a saltwater section, though some customers have expressed hope it will expand further. Pricing is a consistent highlight. Multiple reviewers call costs reasonable and budget-friendly, especially for the quality and variety on offer.
The staff is regularly praised for honest, knowledgeable advice — the kind where they'll talk you out of a purchase if it's wrong for your setup rather than push a sale. The store has been undergoing renovations, which some visitors note makes the space feel unfinished, and a handful of reviews raise concerns about animal enclosure cleanliness. But the overwhelming consensus from nearly 300 reviews is that the team genuinely cares about the animals and their customers.
For anyone in the Cabarrus County area looking for freshwater fish, live plants, or an exotic pet with personality, Missing Link earns the trip.
What they offer
Livestock, services, water
- Livestock & products
- Services
- Consultation
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Owner Jason personally sourced a long-fin super red bristlenose pleco over six months for a customer
- Generous portions of aquatic plants like duckweed at budget-friendly prices
- Wide variety of freshwater fish beyond typical big-box store offerings
- Knowledgeable staff who provide honest advice about tank compatibility
- Exotic pets including snakes, chameleons, bearded dragons, tortoises, and hedgehogs
From keepers
Customer reviews
“Love going to missing link! Everyone is so kind, helpful and knowledgeable. We have gotten 3/4 of our snakes from there and they have the best temperaments. You can tell they’re well taken care of and handled with love and care.”
— Monica Eguino-Leon5.0a month ago“Good prices, friendly and tolerant staff. I have small kids who are hard to control... but great experience in the shop”
— Joshua Lawson5.02 months ago“We absolutely loved our visit to this pet shop! They were kind enough to donate some tadpoles to our class, and while we were there we got to meet so many adorable animals. My kids held some parakeets (I couldn’t because I’m allergic to bird dander 😭), and we all got to pet the sweetest guinea pigs, a hedgehog, and even a tortoise! Every animal looked healthy, happy, and well cared for, and all the enclosures were spotless. The staff were incredibly friendly and helpful the entire time — you can tell they really love what they do. I almost brought those guinea pigs home with me! 😂 We can’t wait to come back once the construction is finished. 100000% recommend this place — we’ll definitely be returning!”
— Amy Dalton5.02 months ago“Best reasonable price found. Verity of fish, not your petsmart or petco Actually have random fish. Visited location and made purchases Nov-09-2025.”
— Carl Hedgepath25.02 months ago“Great customer service, great energy and all-around great vibe. They looked out for me when they charged me four dollars for about 7 handfuls of duckweed thank you so much missing link I greatly appreciate your generosity. They definitely made the 25min drive worth it and i will definitely be back very soon :)”
— Brett Robbins5.03 months ago“Nice little store”
— Kelsey Netting5.03 months ago“Great people, very helpful and friendly. They have some great choices you don’t find in most places.”
— joe Holbrook5.03 months ago“Absolutely a wonderful place, I love the environment and care the workers have for their customers and all the friends that come and go through them; definitely worth checking out!”
— Logan Miller5.03 months ago“Great service & very knowledgeable compared to a couple places we have been to. We were surprised to see the extensive variety & sizes of fish available at Missing Link Aquatics, and pleased to see them at such reasonable prices. We look forward to going back to purchase more than the few fish we acquired today. We recently moved to NC and weren't sure where to go but their website/FB link helped with our decision to check them out. With that said, if you're new in town/state or just looking for anything exotic or for your aquatic needs/wants, I suggest giving this place a try. #LetsGuide aquatics #aquarium #saltwater #freshwater #turtles #fish #driftwood #plants #amphibian #aquariumlighting #aquariumfilter #heatlamp #exotics #Concord #cabarruscounty #Midland #Locust #Kannapolis”
— Vicki D.5.04 months ago“Friendly service”
— nestor melendez5.04 months ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (704) 956-2136 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Missing Link Aquatics & Exotics.