About
Monfort Aquarium & Pet has been drawing Cincinnati fish keepers from across the region — some driving 30 to 40 minutes each way — for its impressive breadth of both freshwater and saltwater livestock. This family-owned shop on the east side of the city stocks a deep selection of live aquatic plants, corals, and healthy fish that reviewers consistently praise for their bright, vibrant scales and overall condition. The freshwater side covers serious ground.
Customers have picked up everything from cichlids and lyretail mollys to swordtails, guppies, mystery snails, and ornate longfin bristlenose plecos. The planted tank section is robust enough that newcomers building their first aquascapes regularly leave with armfuls of greenery alongside expert guidance from staff like Tyler, Tom, and Dave — names that come up repeatedly in reviews. The saltwater department is equally compelling, with a gorgeous spread of marine fish and corals that one reviewer compared to visiting a zoo.
Multiple customers who started their first reef tanks here credit the staff's years of hands-on experience for getting them through the learning curve. Beyond livestock, Monfort carries tanks, hoods, filters, décor, and a notable variety of frozen and live feeder mice — making it a legitimate one-stop shop for multi-pet households. Prices land in the reasonable range for an independent store, and the quality of both equipment and livestock runs well above big-box chain offerings according to regulars.
What sets Monfort apart in the Cincinnati aquarium scene is the culture. Staff have been known to recommend competitors when they don't have a specific tank in stock, and they've taken in fish from customers who needed to rehome them before extended travel. The store is consistently described as clean and well-maintained, with tanks that reflect genuine care rather than just retail display.
For anyone building or maintaining an aquarium in the greater Cincinnati area, Monfort has earned its reputation through decades of straightforward, fish-first service.
What they offer
Livestock, services, water
- Livestock & products
- Services
- Consultation
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Extensive selection of both freshwater and saltwater fish with notably healthy livestock
- Strong live plant and coral inventory for planted tanks and reef setups
- Knowledgeable long-tenured staff including Tyler, Tom, and Dave who provide hands-on guidance
- Family-owned Cincinnati institution that draws customers from 30-40 minutes away
- Carries live and frozen feeder mice in hard-to-find size varieties
From keepers
Customer reviews
“Great place with an amazing selection of fresh and saltwater fish (aquatic plants and coral as well). Staff was very helpful and pack up my fish and aquatic plants well. Started going here when I started my first saltwater tank, will continue until my last.”
— S C4.03 weeks ago“They have beautiful planaria thomsai that they feed their shrimp to.”
— Chris Applegate1.0a month ago“Good healthy fish and the guys there were real helpful while we were picking out everything”
— Vaughn Bostwick5.0a month ago“Best fish store in the area! These guys know their stuff from years of experience. Great inventory and prices are equal to other independently small owned stores.”
— Natalie Palma5.03 months ago“My kids loved coming here… my daughter purchased 2 swordtails, within several hrs all the fish in her tank started getting sick. 24hrs later all of the fish in her tank started dying.. 30 hrs later ALL of her fish are dead.. and they wouldn’t even refund her because it was after 24hrs…”
— Dorothy Harlan1.03 months ago“Will not be purchasing here anymore. We got 2 hoods and a filter among some other things last time we were there and the hood came warped from the second we took it out of the box and the filter regularly stops working. Seems like they can’t answer the phone either.”
— Beca Hensley1.04 months ago“Great staff always helpful”
— Tangee Edmonson5.0Edited 5 months ago“New to the hobby and starting my first planted tank. They have a huge selection of live plants, fish (fresh and salt), corals, and all the supplies and decor you could want. Much higher quality than big chain places. The staff (Tyler helped me) are very knowledgeable and took the time to guide me through everything. Highly recommended!!!”
— Jeff Klenk5.06 months ago“Got my cichlids from here they’re doing amazing! Thank you guys”
— Joseph Ervin5.06 months ago“Tom and Dave are the best! Helpful and very knowledgeable!”
— Mark Hopkins5.06 months ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (513) 923-3369 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Monfort Aquarium & Pet.