About
Aqua-Rama Pet Center has been a Fayetteville institution for decades, surviving even a fire that destroyed its original location. The current shop on the outside doesn't look like much, but step inside and you'll find room after room of aquariums stocked with freshwater and saltwater fish, along with reptiles, birds, and small mammals. For aquarium hobbyists in the Fayetteville area, it remains one of the few local options with a genuinely broad selection of livestock and fish supplies under one roof.
The freshwater selection is the store's bread and butter, with tanks spanning common community fish to more specialized species. One customer successfully purchased micro shrimp here, drip-acclimated them at home, and later reported baby shrimp — a testament to the store carrying viable invertebrate stock. They've also stocked axolotls, ghost knife fish, and a variety of bettas.
On the saltwater side, the selection is more modest but present. Fish supplies and dry goods round out the aquarium section. The store's history runs deep — multiple reviewers mention shopping here for 25 years or more, and the elderly owner has been at the helm for decades.
Several staff members earn praise for being friendly and knowledgeable, willing to advise on care requirements and able to special-order animals not currently in stock. One reviewer noted the staff's helpfulness in recommending fish and answering questions about different species. That said, Aqua-Rama's reviews paint a complicated picture.
Alongside loyal customers are pointed complaints about animal health — reports of ich in fish tanks, mites on snakes, and concerns about reptile husbandry. Dead fish in display tanks and overcrowded reptile enclosures appear in multiple reviews. The store clearly has the bones of something special, with its massive variety and long community roots, but prospective buyers should inspect animals carefully before purchasing.
Cash is recommended, as credit card fees run high. For Fayetteville fish keepers, the sheer inventory of freshwater livestock and aquarium supplies makes it worth a visit — just go in with eyes wide open.
What they offer
Livestock, services, water
- Livestock & products
- BettasShrimpAxolotlsDry GoodsAquarium Equipment
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Decades-old Fayetteville institution with deep community roots
- Wide variety of freshwater fish, including bettas, ghost knife fish, and micro shrimp
- Carries aquarium supplies and fish-keeping dry goods
- Small saltwater fish selection alongside extensive freshwater stock
- Staff can special-order animals not currently in stock
From keepers
Customer reviews
“I bought fish from them on January 20. My daughter asked to buy the sparkly fish. We asked the staff about sparkles on the fish. The staff said the fish would keep them forever. The sparkles turned out to be ICH. I have lost several fish since to include a Ghost Knife that was over ten years old. I get that people have a bad day and may have not recognized that the fish was ill. How ever the Representative has been working there for many years. This transaction showed me that they do not care about the animals in their care. There is no way for them to make it right. Please do not shop at their store. I believe they knew that day what they were doing was selling me a sick fish and didn't care that they did so. It is just shameful.”
— aaron thomas1.06 days ago“Good variety but prices were kind high and most of the reptiles were improperly kept and underweight”
— Ashley Worthington1.02 weeks ago“The staff is always so helpful and they have a large variety of fish, lizards, birds, spiders and snakes.”
— Amber Estep5.0a month ago“Cool selection nice staff”
— Jon Jacobs5.0a month ago“If i could rate no stars i would. Their husbandry and handling are absolutely infuriating. You have snakes that require humidity on aspen substrate with stuck shed due to the insufficient humidity, animals that are severely underweight living in enclosure too small and over packed. It seems as if the store focuses on having a large variety of animals while their staff dont seem to be competent on the care for them. The owner is an elderly man who has owned the business for decades and it doesn’t seem like hes the one managing it. The store would truly be phenomenal if the staff were educated on their trade and cared for the animals.”
— Juan Cruz1.02 months ago“Prices are pretty high”
— Magan Hendershot3.02 months ago“Greta place to get our feeders for our snake. Have bought several pets including lizards, snakes, tarantulas, and fish. from them great deals and knowledgeable. The staff knows the animal care for all animals they sell. They can help advise on reptiles, birds, and amphibians. Huge selection to choose feommand they can order just about anything they dont have on hand.”
— Samantha “Aliceismad106”5.02 months ago“Drip acclimating the micro shrimp just to be safe. I heard they can withstand different PH, love algae, and biofilm buildup. Just gotta keep the water quality consistent and not clean it so much because they don't like sudden changes and could kill them. Crossing my fingers I do this right because this will be my first time handling these kind of shrimp. 2 hours of Drip acclimating they went in. They're grazing like nothing happened. So far so good. Edit: they produced baby shrimp!”
— No Nuhuh5.0Edited 2 months ago“Surprising little aquarium with many different types of fish and other pets for sale.”
— Jun Li5.02 months ago“Wide selection of pets to choose from.”
— Wavy Dakidd5.03 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.