About
Gittler's Aquarium & Aviary is a long-running pet store in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, that has served the community for decades with a broad inventory spanning tropical fish, birds, reptiles, small mammals, and pet supplies. The store carries freshwater fish including bettas, tiger barbs, and various tropical species, along with live aquatic plants and accessories for setting up new tanks. Staff members have been praised by some customers for being knowledgeable and helpful — one reviewer described how a gentleman walked them through their entire shopping list for a new fish tank, carrying items to the counter while another employee helped them browse plants.
Pricing is frequently cited as a draw, with many customers noting that Gittler's offers competitive or lower prices compared to chain pet stores, along with occasional discounts. The store also stocks specialty items like Nutrasource dog food that can be hard to find elsewhere, and sells live feeders including crickets, red worms, and meal worms. However, Gittler's reputation is sharply divided.
A significant number of reviewers report serious concerns about animal care and store cleanliness. Multiple customers describe dirty tanks with visible algae buildup, dead fish left among live ones, and a pervasive unpleasant odor throughout the store. Several reviewers reported purchasing fish that were visibly sick with ich or that died within hours of being brought home.
Concerns about smoking inside the building — particularly harmful to the birds the store keeps — have also been raised repeatedly. For Johnstown residents looking for freshwater fish supplies, live feeders, or affordable pet food, Gittler's does offer selection and pricing that the area's limited retail options make hard to ignore. The store's decades of operation speak to a loyal customer base.
But prospective fish buyers should carefully inspect any livestock before purchasing, and the store would benefit enormously from improved tank maintenance and animal husbandry practices to match the helpfulness its best staff members provide.
What they offer
Livestock, services, water
- Livestock & products
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Long-running Johnstown institution with decades of community presence
- Competitive pricing on fish, supplies, and specialty pet food
- Broad freshwater fish selection including bettas, tiger barbs, and tropical species
- Live aquatic plants available
- Sells live feeders: crickets, red worms, and meal worms
From keepers
Customer reviews
“Went awhile ago, pets look sickly, the place stinks, and the fish tanks were completely dirty and green, couldnt even see the fish. Id give a 0 start review if i could”
— Jay Gery1.04 weeks ago“Some good prices if u don't want 2 run 2 Petco. Stinky though & I wouldn't buy any fish there.”
— Janna Shotts4.04 weeks ago“Immediately "welcomed" with the smell of cigarettes & ammonia. I shrugged it off. What I cannot shrug off is the unsightly & deplorable state these animals are in. Half the Betta fish are dead, all but 1 Hermit Crab was dead, no water to be found for them. Cobwebs galore. Tanks dark & filthy with fish swimming around decomposing carcasses. I mean... these animals should be seized. They need rescued. This place makes Petco look like a dream. I'd love to support a small business but I cannot give this place my money in good faith. I cannot believe it's been open for so long.”
— Erica Bailey1.0a month ago“Went in for the first time tonight to get some stuff for my new fish tank. Both gentleman that helped me were kind, the older gentleman was even sweet enough to help me find everything on my list since I had no idea where anything was and even took the stuff to the counter for me while the other gentleman helped me look at plants. Will be back, great selection as well”
— Kirstie Totter5.0a month ago“Like it for some things but they didn't have what I needed when I called they said they had it run up the mountain and they didn't have it.”
— Alesia Hadix3.0a month ago“The prices may be the only good thing about this buisness. As I myself own birds, I watched a gentleman LIGHT A CIGAR inside the building. For birds in particular (which they have many of!!!!) this can and will kill the birds eventually. As for all the other wildlife in this store I can only image what the secondhand smoke is doing to these animals. The store is dirty, cages are dirty and living conditions are generally poor for the animals. The only reason I would even consider adopting an animal from this place would solely to just get the animal out of such a deplorable environment. It’s absolutely heinous.”
— Taven Vernau1.02 months ago“Unfortunately this place is dirty nasty concerning. Most of the animals look sickly and we have no idea how long they have been there. It’s stinks like one giant cat litter box. None of the animals were clean. Dead fish in tanks with live fish. LIME SCALE and RUST on tanks! Inside of a lot of tanks so dirty you can’t see the fish. Also other dead animals left with other animals. Why? I feel so awful for all the animals there.”
— Dony Hanna1.02 months ago“This place is absolutely VILE. As soon as you walk through the doors you’re hit with a nauseating smell. Visibly dirty and run down, and most of the staff ignored me. The fish are okay, but the reptiles were in horrible condition, clearly sick and nearly emaciated. A lady who worked there saw me looking at the poor bearded dragons and rudely told me that “pictured aren’t allowed…” I wonder why. There was one in there that was either dead or hanging on by a string. They were keeping king snakes in bins in the ball python tanks! All around horrible. You couldn’t bribe me to spend money at that place. Those poor animals, I felt awful leaving them all behind.”
— Vi Rose1.03 months ago“Great place. I get crickets there every week.”
— dj benning5.04 months ago“Aside from the God awful smell this is a cool store. Lots of different things for pets like lizards, geckos, etc. They sell fishing bait too: red worms and a few different sizes of meal worms. They also have a good selection of things for fish. Prepare to plug your nose though. 👃🏼”
— Kayla Fenchak5.04 months ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (814) 536-2525 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Gittler's Aquarium & Aviary.