About
Champions Tropical Fish Room is a family-run freshwater fish store in Arlington, TX, owned and operated by Mona and Terri — two ladies recent visitors describe as patient, knowledgeable, and genuinely invested in their customers. The shop is packed wall-to-wall with tanks holding an exotic, hard-to-find selection that hobbyists drive across the DFW metroplex to see. Reviewers point to discus, freshwater puffers, axolotls, angelfish, and a deep cichlid bench — including Turkana jewel cichlids and geophagus "geo" cichlids — alongside community fish, corydoras, shrimp, and mystery snails.
If you're hunting rare or imported species for sale in Arlington, TX, this is the kind of place where you stumble onto something you won't find at a big-box pet store. Beyond livestock, the store stocks aquascaping staples that planted-tank and vivarium builders appreciate: driftwood, dragon stone, and hard-to-find floating plants, plus a range of affordably priced tanks in different sizes. One customer came in for dart-frog vivarium supplies and walked out with driftwood and stone, and the owners offered to track down a species they didn't currently have on the floor.
That willingness to source the unusual, paired with hands-on advice, is a recurring theme — several shoppers mention calling back for tips and trusting Mona and Terri to steer a first community tank or a centerpiece pick. Service is the headline in recent visits: words like friendly, welcoming, and unrushed come up again and again, and one regular noted consistent water changes keeping the fish healthy. Kids are welcome to look around and even net their own fish.
A few visitors do flag prices that run higher than other DFW shops and occasional upkeep concerns, so it's worth inspecting livestock before you buy and calling ahead to confirm hours. For an independent, owner-run shop with a genuinely unusual stock list and ongoing care advice, Champions remains a distinctive Arlington fish store worth a walk-through.
What they offer
Fish & livestock for sale at Champions Tropical Fish Room in Arlington, TX
Champions Tropical Fish Room stocks discus, pufferfish, axolotls, cichlids, angelfish, rare and hard-to-find species, shrimp, invertebrates, aquarium plants and freshwater fish for sale in Arlington, TX. As a fish store serving Arlington, TX, it also offers aquarium consultations.
- Livestock & products
- Services
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Family-owned by Mona and Terri, praised for patient, educational service and ongoing care tips after the sale
- Large exotic freshwater selection: discus, puffers, axolotls, angelfish, and cichlids like Turkana jewel and geophagus
- Stocks shrimp, mystery snails, corydoras, floating plants, driftwood, and dragon stone for planted and community tanks
- Owners will track down or source unusual species they don't currently have in stock
- Prices and upkeep draw mixed reviews — inspect livestock before buying and call ahead to confirm hours
From keepers
Customer reviews
“Good fishes 🐟 👏”
— Huy Truong5.02 days ago“I had a fantastic experience at this aquarium store! The staff member who helped me was incredibly patient and knowledgeable. She took the time to answer all my questions and guided me through the entire selection process without making me feel rushed. Highly recommend this shop for anyone looking for great customer service and healthy fish”
— Benjamin Puckett (Ben)5.04 days ago“If you live for a exotic fish, this is where you come nice selection”
— Rodney Jones5.0a week ago“Prices are ridiculous compared to alo other much nicer stores in DFW. Went there with my 9 year old niece twice during business hours, lady wasn’t there told us to wait 30 mins then called and said she wouldn’t be there for another hour plus. Finally go in to trade her a relatively expensive fish for an agreed upon trade for a fish and product. Get there after fishing out this guy out. She takes my fish dumps it in one of the tanks then had a change of mind and only willing to give me a fish worth less than half the value agreed upon after she’s already dumped my nice geo cichlid in her tank. Lied about prices to me saying “all Cory’s are $8” probably to just get me in the door and I get there and they’re all at least $20 for tiny little fish you get for $8 at Petco. On the phone the whole time while I have this fish with no O2 (wouldn’t even take the time to put it in a bag with oxygen insisted on putting it in the bag with the water I brought my fish in which is a 101 don’t cus she didn’t wanna take 2 seconds to bag it proper) and am trying to check out so I can get home and get this little overpriced fish in my tank. Snaps at me for putting my phone number into the chime rewards tablet when it prompted me to put in my info. Overall just miserable and rude lady that seems to know nothing about the trade. I mean cool to take a little kid or if you’re bored to go check out some fish. But if you wanna buy anything don’t waste your time it’s much more worth the drive and $$ to go to Keller farms or Texas aquatics or shoot even any run down Petco.”
— Jordan Urashi1.02 weeks ago“such a great store with so many kinds of fish! The staff was so friendly and helpful, I will definitely be returning soon!”
— emma.k5.02 weeks ago“Super nice place, has every species you’re looking for ! Very unique species and imported from all around the world. Very helpful staff and quick to help as well. Will come back!”
— amira5.02 weeks ago“Such beautiful fish here! Very knowledgeable, kind, helpful, and quick with service. Would and will come back!”
— Don BDO5.02 weeks ago“Went for one thing for a vivarium that's being built for dart frogs and walked out with more then what I went for... nice little aquarium shop that has great drift wood and dragon stone.. the lady also said if need be she can see about ordering the poison dart frogs for me Will be for more builds”
— jeff lech5.02 weeks ago“Lots of cool fish... and they even offered to order a species they didn't have”
— Luke Dalton5.03 weeks ago“This place is disgusting! Went in to buy an axolotl & walked right back out! The place smelled horrible! Everything I have researched has said to not purchase from stores like this! Very disappointed!”
— Michelle Wallace1.04 weeks ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (682) 248-3686 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Champions Tropical Fish Room.