About
Aquatics & Exotics in Cincinnati, OH is the kind of aquarium store that turns a quick errand into an afternoon. Walk in and a massive shark tank anchors the back of the shop, and visitors crowd around for the Saturday shark feedings around 2 PM, a spectacle that draws kids, longtime hobbyists, and curious first-timers alike. One recent visitor came away listing freshwater and saltwater fish, starfish, corals, and invertebrates, while other regulars point out the grouper, parrots, and turtles you simply won't find at any big-box chain in the Cincinnati area.
The freshwater side runs deep. Serious keepers single out the cichlid selection, and one collector with more than 40 tanks calls it their go-to spot for every hobby need. You'll also find plecos (an albino pleco went home with one happy couple), live plants, and community fish.
If you're after cichlids for sale near me or hunting saltwater corals and anemones available in Cincinnati, OH, this is one of the most stocked rooms in the Cincinnati-NKY area, right down to a prized $400 MBU puffer and other rare species for collectors who chase the unusual. What keeps people coming back is the staff. Sky, Dom, Trevor, Jason, and Denise come up by name across hundreds of reviews, knowledgeable, patient, and genuinely happy to teach.
Sky once diagnosed a fish disease from a short video clip and corrected a customer's planting technique so a struggling plant could finally thrive. The team offers aquarium cleaning, tank setup, maintenance, and hands-on consultations, and reviewers consistently describe the tanks as clean with healthy, well-cared-for stock. The selection is huge and the advice is real, which is why so many regulars call Aquatics & Exotics one of the best aquarium stores in the area, even if the prices run a touch higher, it's a trip worth making.
Stop in on a Saturday, catch a shark feeding, and let the staff steer you toward fish that will actually thrive in your setup.
What they offer
Fish & livestock for sale at Aquatics & Exotics in Cincinnati, OH
Aquatics & Exotics stocks cichlids, corals, anemones, invertebrates, plecos, betta fish, pufferfish, rare and hard-to-find species, aquarium plants and freshwater & saltwater fish for sale in Cincinnati, OH. As an aquarium store serving Cincinnati, OH, it also carries fish medications and offers tank maintenance, aquarium setup, tank cleaning and aquarium consultations.
- Livestock & products
- Services
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Massive shark tank with Saturday shark feedings around 2 PM
- Standout cichlid selection praised across the Cincinnati-NKY area
- Freshwater and saltwater fish plus corals, anemones, starfish, and invertebrates
- Knowledgeable staff (Sky, Dom, Trevor, Denise) known for fish-disease and plant-care guidance
- Aquarium cleaning, tank setup, maintenance, and consultation services
From keepers
Customer reviews
“This place has a variety of freshwater and saltwater fish, starfish, corals, invertebrates. They also carry aquarium supplies and are very helpful and knowledgeable in answering questions. You can even watch the shark being fed on Saturdays and I believe it's 2:00 p.m.”
— Lesa Dean5.0a day ago“This kind of hurts to come and write. I mulled it over and the whole experience just didn’t sit right with me. In the last 2 months or so I have been to this store at least 6 times, I have driven 3 hours to Columbus just to walk around a fish store, every day it’s another fish place. So I’ll let you all decide how much weight this holds. I went in with my boyfriend yesterday, we were actually looking for an api test kit and some ramshorns snails. Naturally we had to check everyone and everything out. In particular there was a tank of mixed sized Oscar’s. Several of the smaller ones were missing faces. One didn’t even have a full mouth a chunk was bitten out of the corner of his face. Gross they should be removed but whatever maybe yall missed it. I walked to the betta area. Now last time this was really taken care of. No cups they were all in their own small tanks which was nice. Water was clean they all looked healthy. However yesterday I was almost brought to tears. There were probably 20 or so cups and maybe 5 were clean. I bought a cleaner cup from petsmart, let that sink in. Anyway I kept looking, I have no problem rescuing a betta. Well after I skimmed past the DEAD betta growing ALGAE I found one who’s fins were curling, color was really dull but he was gorgeous. He was $20. I walked to the counter to make an offer. They have a $400 MBU puffer surely they won’t mind someone taking a betta they aren’t caring for right? Wrong. I stood at the counter for a few mins waiting for someone to acknowledge I needed help. Asked the young man if they would take $10 instead of $20 since they were not healthy fish. He looked like I just offered $10 for that $400 puffer. The look on his face while he processed what I just said. He told me he can’t answer that and I needed to ask the young woman. I asked her and got the same response. A scowl and a “oh my god that’s blasphemy” she said she can’t do that because he is a big healthy betta. I laughed and said this water and those cups are gross. He is not healthy and I didn’t want to leave him sitting next to a dead betta. She goes :o there is no dead bettas! They all just ate this morning!! Ma’am? Someone covered him with blue tape. The cup was moved. He has been dead for days. So you’re telling me you haven’t fed the bettas for days?? I love the owner. But you need to replace some of your employees. If the bettas can’t properly be cared for, maybe they shouldn’t be there in the first place. The cups were so full of junk I had to use my flashlight to even see the damn fish.”
— Brittany Wright1.0a week ago“Denise is the best! So friendly and courteous. Very helpful.”
— Lisa Inman5.03 weeks ago“Extremely knowledgeable, the selection is HUGE, employees are friendly and eager to help. Pricing is a bit higher than other places but definitely worth the trip.”
— Ashley4.0a month ago“First time here took my son to see some fish and he love seeing the different kind of fish and the staff was very friendly”
— Face law4.0a month ago“Amazing atmosphere cool fish, and the workers were nice”
— Olivia Mccloud5.02 months ago“Great selection and excellent staff.”
— Jackie Highlander5.02 months ago“Knowledgeable, friendly and eager to teach and share. Stop out at 2 pm on Saturdays and you can even watch them feed the sharks”
— Tim C (Gil1980)5.03 months ago“Saturdays they feed the sharks. Call them, it's cool. Oh and they have an incredible selection of fish and stuff. They have corals and anemones too. 5 outta 5.”
— Ryan Hoskins5.03 months ago“Great place to visit. Jason and his staff are extremely friendly and helpful from start to finish and always pleasant on the phone. One of the best if not the best aquarium stores in Cincinnati Mt Healthy area. Go check out the 15,000 Gallon Shark Tank. Great Place 5 plus Stars from Big Rob”
— ROB Davis5.04 months ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (513) 521-5500 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Aquatics & Exotics.