About
Gittler's Aquarium & Aviary is a long-running, locally owned pet and fish store in Johnstown, PA, that the area has relied on for decades. Beyond its rows of aquariums it stocks birds, reptiles, small mammals, and hard-to-find pet supplies, but for aquarists the draw is the freshwater livestock: bettas, tiger barbs, neon tetra, and other community tropicals are available in Johnstown, PA, alongside live aquatic plants and the tanks, filters, and accessories you need to get a setup running. Shoppers searching for freshwater fish for sale near me will also find live feeders here, including crickets, red worms, and meal worms, plus prices that regulars say undercut the nearest chains.
The store's best moments come from its people. Recent visitors describe friendly owners and helpful staff: one called the atmosphere and vibe "absolutely amazing," another said the crew is "always helpful and always super nice," and several recall an older gentleman walking them through an entire new-tank shopping list, carrying items to the counter while a second employee helped them browse plants. Staff also offer informal advice on feeding and tank care and will take special orders for fish they don't normally keep, such as cherry shrimp, if you leave your name on their order sheet.
Gittler's reputation, though, is genuinely divided, and prospective fish buyers should walk in informed. A steady stream of reviews, including several from 2026, raise recurring concerns about a strong ammonia odor, tanks that need cleaning, and fish that arrived sick or didn't thrive. The fairest read is the one many longtime customers reach themselves: a deep, affordable selection of aquatic creatures and supplies that this corner of Pennsylvania's limited options make worth a look, paired with a firm recommendation to inspect any livestock closely before you buy.
For Johnstown aquarium keepers, this fish store remains a stop worth visiting with open eyes.
What they offer
Fish & livestock for sale at Gittler's Aquarium & Aviary in Johnstown, PA
Gittler's Aquarium & Aviary stocks betta fish, tetras, invertebrates, aquarium plants and freshwater fish for sale in Johnstown, PA. As a fish store serving Johnstown, PA, it also offers aquarium consultations.
- Livestock & products
- Services
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Decades-old, locally owned Johnstown pet and fish store with a deep tropical-fish selection
- Freshwater livestock including bettas, tiger barbs, and neon tetra, plus live aquatic plants
- Live feeders on hand: crickets, red worms, and meal worms
- Competitive prices that regulars say beat the nearest chain stores
- Friendly owners and staff who help with new-tank setups and take special orders
From keepers
Customer reviews
“Absolutely amazing, great atmosphere and vibe 👍”
— Andrew Buchkoski5.02 weeks ago“On Saturday 5/15/26 I stopped into Gittler’s and purchased some neon tetra & a dwarf frog. During the conversation with the woman, we were discussing my tank & the substrate & plants I have in it. She was very nice & informative. I mentioned how I’d like to get some Cherry Shrimp for my tank. She explained that they don’t really carry them due to their tanks not having a soil substrate, etc. However, she mentioned that she could see if they have them on their order sheet, find out how much they are, & find out how many I want based off the price. She asked me to leave my name & phone number on file & the name of the item along with a rough quantity & they would call me with the information. We also discussed how they normally place orders on Sundays & deliveries are on Tuesdays, so I would have to come pick them up shortly after they are delivered do they won’t die; she didn’t want to put them into their tanks. I was okay with this. She walked me up front & explained everything to the younger man there. I never heard from him or anyone else, so I decided to call on Tuesday, 5/19/26 at 11:25am to make sure I didn’t need to come pick up anything since I never heard from them. The younger man said he never put the order in but will call me before he does to go over the details. I received a call today Tuesday, 5/26 at 1pm while at work & was told my shrimp are in. It was the younger man. I told him that I never received a call to discuss the price or the quantity I wanted to get. He said he ordered 6 & he’d sell them to me for $20. I was fine with the price, but explained I was working; no one ever contacted me to let me know. I was concerned if they’d be alive since the woman specifically said she would not put them in their tanks. He told me he could put them into a separate bowl until I came to get them around 3:45pm. I get there at said time. The young man is at the counter & I explained I was there for the cherry shrimp. He grabs a bag off the counter & puts it down in front of me. I pick it up to inspect the shrimp & they all appear to be dead. There was one slightly moving. None of the others moved at all even when I gently tapped the bag. I asked when they were put in the bag & he said “Just a few minutes ago.” I asked if they were alive upon arrival, because they aren’t moving beside one. Well that set him over the edge. He immediately was cold & rude staying he specifically ordered them in for me. I told him you never called until today. I even followed up with you a week ago & was given no ETA. They were left in that bag & he was try to sell them to me dead. I know he was lying when he said they were just put in that bag. Never will I give another penny of business to this place.”
— Jennifer Claycomb1.0a month ago“Entrance smelled heavily of smoke, entire store reeked to high heavens of ammonia. Multiple dead and rotting betas with burnt fins, when we spoke to the cashier, dude was obviously drunk and could barely handle a conversation. Was slurring his words.”
— Haley Portmess1.0a month ago“The place is extremely unclean. The animals are living in poor conditions”
— Alexander Babal1.02 months ago“The last few times I've been here, the smell throughout the whole place has been horrendous. Not just a fishy smell, hard to describe but it's REALLY REALLY BAD, to the point where I had to get out of there because I was getting nauseous. I have a pretty strong stomach, so it takes a lot to make me feel physically sick. Dead fish left in the tanks to rot, filthy cages - I'd rather support a local business than a national chain but I stick to Petco now. The stock looked OK, not terrible but definitely not great. It was nowhere close to closing time but all of the aquarium lights were off. The only two employees I saw sat at the register and didn't seem to engage with the customers. Really disappointing - I'm no fan of Petco, but it's far better than this. At least it's clean and doesn't smell bad enough to make me sick.”
— EvenNote Emerald1.0Edited 2 months ago“Always helpful and Always super nice!!! I love coming here for my pet needs!!”
— Cassandra Hook5.02 months ago“Absolutely disgusting. Absolutely Neglected. Anyone who hobbies fish would agree. It's absolutely a disgrace.”
— Keauna Hiner1.02 months ago“Bought fish from them and it gave my tank the Ich and they said they can’t do nothing a will do nothing .”
— Zeph Francis1.02 months ago“dead animals in cages, some to the point of having ACTUAL MOLD on them.”
— Alissah Sandoval1.03 months ago“Place is gross and filthy, dead animals in cages”
— Ryan Panfil1.03 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.