About
Exotic Tropicals has spent years earning its place as the go-to local fish store for Cookeville, TN and the wider Upper Cumberland, and a fresh wave of reviews shows the independently owned shop is as busy and well-loved as ever. 7 rating across more than 530 reviews, it draws aquarists who want clean tanks, healthy livestock, and staff who genuinely keep fish themselves. Freshwater is the heart of the store.
Hobbyists come in for cichlids, bristlenose plecos, and the prized ghost knife fish, and longtime customers report their fish living long, healthy lives after going home — the surest sign of careful husbandry. Planted-tank keepers can find aquatic plants, shrimp, snails, and moss for sale in Cookeville, TN, and one regular documented building out a 75-gallon setup with new fish added nearly every week, all sourced here. If you've searched for cichlids or plecos near me, this is the tank room locals trust.
The shop is also a full exotic-pet destination. Alongside the aquariums you'll find ball pythons, geckos, bearded dragons, tarantulas, and the live feeders — crickets, pinkies, and feeder rats — that reptile keepers drive across the county to restock. Recent visitors single out Zoey for patient, knowledgeable help at the counter, and one customer got to hold Janice, the friendly resident store snake, thanks to an attentive employee named Julianna.
Owner involvement runs through review after review: shoppers describe being greeted and walked through detailed care instructions personally, and one parent notes how a staffer always takes time to talk with her daughter, who has autism, about the animals. Recent reviewers also praise the competitive, fair pricing and a clean, well-stocked floor where aquarium equipment, fish, and plants are available in Cookeville, TN. For anyone in town keeping fish or reptiles, Exotic Tropicals remains the walk-in shop that earns repeat visits.
What they offer
Fish & livestock for sale at Exotic Tropicals in Cookeville, TN
Exotic Tropicals stocks cichlids, plecos, shrimp, invertebrates, aquarium plants and freshwater fish for sale in Cookeville, TN. As a fish store serving Cookeville, TN, it also carries aquarium equipment and offers aquarium consultations and water testing.
- Livestock & products
- Services
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Owner-operated with hands-on, personalized care instructions for every new pet
- Strong freshwater selection: cichlids, bristlenose plecos, ghost knife fish, plus shrimp, snails, and aquatic plants
- Top local source for live feeders — crickets, pinkies, and feeder rats
- Counter staff like Zoey praised by name; meet Janice, the resident store snake
- Clean tanks, competitive pricing, and healthy livestock noted across 530+ reviews
From keepers
Customer reviews
“Went there today looking for something to keep the algea down in a small fountain. The guy that was behind the counter was a real jerk. He asked me what kind of algea I had and I said "I don't know" he then barked "well I don't know either". I was then ready to walk out when he said that it is best to leave all the algea alone, that the water will be clearer with it in there. With that kind of logic should you let a swimming pool get totally green so that the water will be cleaner? What an idiot.”
— Clarence Champ1.03 days ago“Good people prices are high”
— Avert Johnson4.02 weeks ago“Fantastic buisness! The staff is friendly and very knowledgeable. Zoey is the man if you have any questions he's the man to talk to.”
— Jonathan Thomison5.03 weeks ago“Excellent service”
— Marianne Pierce5.0a month ago“Julianna/juliana (im not sure how you spell your name I’m sorry!!!). Such a sweet/helpful employee, she was observant enough to realize I was enamored with your store snake Janice and asked if I wanted to hold her. An experience I’ll never forget, let me know if Janice ever has some kids hahah. Such a sweet snake.”
— Jane Cunningham5.02 months ago“Employee are all really nice and super helpful”
— Michael S5.02 months ago“I absolutely love, love, love this store!!!! The owner and staff are top-notch . Their knowledge and customer support are amazing. I buy all my aquarium equipment, fish, and plants there. Everything is super healthy. The shop is clean, the selection is great, and the prices are very competitive and fair. I’ve never left there disappointed.”
— OneGypsyTraveler5.0Edited 2 months ago“Good selection of fish and a few other animals. The do need to clean they're tanks tho. Was hard to see some fish. Have mice, snakes, tarantulas and some other animals.”
— Kathy Jo Hunt4.02 months ago“We love the people at Exotic Tropicals. They are very knowledgeable and friendly. They also always do their best to help their customers make the best decisions for their pets, fish in my case. 10/10 totally recommend.”
— sara fultz5.02 months ago“Best pet store in Cookeville Tn”
— Saege Williams5.03 months ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (931) 528-1080 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Exotic Tropicals.