About
Aqua-Rama Pet Center is a decades-old Fayetteville fixture, a shop that survived a fire at its original location and rebuilt into the warren of fish rooms hobbyists know today. From the outside it doesn't look like much, but step through the door and you'll find room after room of aquariums — freshwater tanks running from everyday community fish to harder-to-find species, plus a smaller saltwater section — making it one of the few genuinely stocked aquarium stores in the Fayetteville, NC area. Freshwater is the heart of the place.
Longtime regulars have bought bettas, ghost knife fish, axolotls, and viable micro shrimp here; one shrimp keeper drip-acclimated a batch and later reported baby shrimp. If you're hunting bettas or freshwater livestock for sale in Fayetteville, NC, this is one of the deepest local inventories around, and the staff can special-order animals they don't currently have on hand. Aquarium dry goods and fish-keeping supplies round out the section.
The people behind the counter draw real warmth in recent reviews. " Several long-haul regulars say they'll make the drive just for the variety and the unchanged vibe. This is an honest, old-school operation rather than a polished chain, and the reviews are genuinely mixed — alongside the loyalists are pointed concerns about fish and reptile health, so it's smart to inspect any animal closely before you buy, and to bring cash since card fees run high.
For Fayetteville, NC fish keepers who want a broad, in-person hunt through tank after tank of freshwater livestock, Aqua-Rama remains a worthwhile stop.
What they offer
Fish & livestock for sale at Aqua-Rama Pet Center in Fayetteville, NC
Aqua-Rama Pet Center stocks betta fish, shrimp, axolotls and freshwater & saltwater fish for sale in Fayetteville, NC. As an aquarium store serving Fayetteville, NC, it also carries dry goods and aquarium equipment.
- Livestock & products
- BettasShrimpAxolotlsDry GoodsAquarium Equipment
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Decades-old Fayetteville institution that rebuilt after a fire at its original location
- Deep freshwater selection including bettas, ghost knife fish, axolotls, and micro shrimp
- Smaller saltwater section alongside extensive freshwater livestock
- Staff praised as honest and helpful, and will special-order animals not in stock
- Stocks aquarium dry goods and fish-keeping supplies
From keepers
Customer reviews
“The store was great and has really good prices on their pets and supplies.”
— Jason Brubaker5.0a week ago“I understand that pet store setups are often temporary, but “temporary” is not an excuse for neglecting basic animal welfare standards. The condition these animals are being kept in is beyond unacceptable. multiple species are being cohabbed, including species that do not even live on the same continent. (the sulcata & mountain horned dragons together? plz be so fr.) animals with different temperature and humidity requirements are being forced into the same enclosures or animals that are solitary are crammed into an undersized enclosure. all of the enclosures lacked the bare minimum. the animals had no proper hides, no foliage or clutter, and visibly dirty or inadequate water sources. keeping these animals in barren tanks with nowhere to hide causes constant stress. snakes in critter keepers with no heat source, a very sad boa with no foliage or climbing opportunities, multiple ball pythons crammed into one enclosure. the crested geckos appeared severely underweight with no food in sight and were being kept on inappropriate substrate. I also saw a bearded dragon being housed on aspen bedding, which is obviously unsuitable. a pixie frog in a tank that is mostly water despite them being terrestrial burrowers. still not over the sulcata and mountain horned dragons living together. multiple veiled chameleons in an enclosure that is far too small. iguanas on aspen, multiple to one enclosure despite the setup not even being a quarter of the size needed for a single iguana. EVERY animal had a disgusting water dish. even the feeders are treated with zero respect, living in tanks that you can smell before even getting through the front door despite them being halfway in the back of the store. proper husbandry information is readily available and these animals are entirely dependent on the people caring for them. this place is one of the worst examples of reptile care I have ever seen. the lack of basic husbandry, sanitation, species appropriate setups, and overall concern for animal welfare is beyond disappointing. I left feeling genuinely disgusted and deeply heartbroken for every animal currently housed there or any unfortunate enough to end up there.”
— Victøria Røse1.0a month ago“Those ladies are awsome.. honest amd down to earth.. first time fish owner and they helped me every step of the way!”
— Cindy Phillips5.0a month ago“Wide selection and great service”
— Michael F5.0a month ago“Staff always helpful.”
— V Ramir5.0a month ago“I went pretty early so it was less customer traffic, I was shopping for fish but the animals are being taken care of really well and it was a beautiful experience, the young lady who helped me out was very knowledgeable and helpful when it came to answering my questions, beautiful selection of pets to choose from 🤍🤍🤍”
— Darius Windmon5.0a month ago“The crested geckos and tokay geckos are in such bad shape I almost cried, I just walked out, no food for either of them they are literally starving them to death!”
— Tiffany Ackerman1.02 months ago“Horrible”
— Shamyra McKoy1.02 months ago“This is THEE ABSOLUTE WORST fish and animal keepers I've ever seen in my 46 years!! I'm so disgusted how most tanks have multiple fish wish all kinds of diseases! Give puffer fish dead just floating and getting moldy! There's roaches all over the place and the 3 females were all eating dropping hamburger and bread crumbs all over. Omg this place should be shut down! This is the exact reason people get out of the hobby because of people like this!”
— Jacob Melecio1.02 months ago“If you care about animals. Do not give your money to this business. It only makes them buy more animals to mistreat. Reptiles No husbandry, no hides, little to no substrate. Multiple snakes to an enclosure. No humidity or heat control. Many are showing signs of being very stressed and others are showing neurological issues. Small animals No hides, little to no substrate/bedding, too many animals in one enclosure or not enough animals in an enclosure. Empty, dirty food and water bowls. DO Not buy from here, they purposely do this to the animals in hopes that people who are empathic do rescue purchases. This helps the animal you are getting but it's not helping the ones currently in their care. You buy, they replace. Do not give your business to this store. Prices: expensive and overpriced for no reason. Small animal food is actually 20-40% higher here than it is at other pet stores like petsmart/petco. Animals are overpriced too. Guinea pigs cost $69.99, they cost $59 at petco, $49 at petsmart and 30 at other less reputable stores. Reptiles are overpriced to hell as well Advuce to the owners, not that you care, but if you're gonna overcharge for everything, atleast put the money towards the animals.”
— T W1.02 months ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (910) 868-3482 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Aqua-Rama Pet Center.