About
Tucked into Fort Dodge, Iowa, The Fish Room is a father-and-son operation where owner Tom has built a loyal following through honest advice and genuinely healthy livestock. This isn't a polished chain store — it's a working fish room where the person selling you a cichlid can also diagnose why your tank's parameters are off and send you home with exactly what you need, nothing more. The freshwater selection is the backbone here, spanning goldfish, cichlids, bettas (including striking Black Orchid varieties), pea puffers, and koi.
One customer's 20-cent goldfish was still thriving seven years later — a testament to the stock quality. There's also a growing saltwater section, and a traveler passing through on the way to Nebraska found Instant Ocean priced below big-box competitors. The store has been expanding its planted tank and micro tank offerings, including harder-to-find plants like duckweed.
One of the most charming details reviewers mention repeatedly is the koi feeding experience. Kids line up to toss food to the big koi while parents browse the aisles, and it's clearly become a local tradition. Multiple families describe it as the highlight of their visit.
Beyond fish, The Fish Room carries reptiles — bearded dragons, chameleons, Russian tortoises, Asian house geckos — along with feeder crickets and frozen fish food. Supplies and dry goods are stocked at prices reviewers consistently call more economical than competing pet stores in the area. Tom's willingness to take in overgrown fish that have outgrown home tanks speaks to a genuine care for the animals, not just the sale.
Several reviewers specifically call out his honesty: he won't upsell you on equipment you don't need, and he'll walk you through proper tank setup and fish compatibility before you leave. For Fort Dodge aquarists who'd otherwise face a 90-minute drive to Des Moines or Ames, The Fish Room is the real deal — local knowledge, fair prices, and fish that actually survive the trip home.
What they offer
Livestock, services, water
- Livestock & products
- Services
- Consultation
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Family-owned shop run by Tom and his son with deep fish health knowledge
- Koi pond where kids can feed the fish while parents browse
- Black Moors, pea puffers, Black Orchid Bettas, and other uncommon finds
- Prices competitive with Amazon and significantly lower than big-box pet stores
- Carries duckweed and expanding planted tank and micro tank selections
From keepers
Customer reviews
“Best fish store in fort dodge Iowa.”
— Robert Joens5.0a week ago“Front entrance was locked.open sign was on but door locked???3:30 pm thurs.”
— Kurt Musland1.0a month ago“Awesome service here! Loved it.”
— Nathan Harrold5.02 months ago“Very helpful, friendly family run business. They are knowledgeable about all types of fish including cichlids, what fish do well together, how to start a proper tank. Also have any supplies needed.”
— Brady Pearson5.05 months ago“Mid”
— Beau Warland2.06 months ago“Helpful”
— Jacob Waldrop5.0a year ago“The young man that waited on us was very knowledgeable”
— Doug Smith5.0a year ago“Dirty tanks, maggots, dead crickets and mold in a tree frog display. Dead fish in multiple tanks that look like they haven’t been cleaned in some time. I wouldn’t recommend getting anything due to conditions, anything you do purchase will probably have an infection. Really sad to see the conditions and should be cruelty.”
— Kyle Seger1.0a year ago“Has a little bit of everything out can get it. Super honest about everything and don't sell you more than you'll need.”
— Jason Liska5.0a year ago“Great place for reptiles and fish. If u need a place to take too big of a fish they will take all the fish you have. Great place and very understanding”
— Kate Boston5.0Edited a year ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (515) 571-4975 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting The Fish Room.