About
In Austin, Texas, Fish Whisper is essentially one man's two-decade love affair with aquariums turned into a thriving service business. That man is Mason, the owner-operator who has built a fiercely loyal clientele—some going back 17 or 18 years—through hands-on expertise and genuine devotion to aquatic life. Fish Whisper's bread and butter is saltwater reef tank design, installation, and ongoing maintenance.
Mason has built a reputation for tackling complex custom setups, like fitting the right sump and protein skimmer combination into an antique furniture base for a 90-gallon reef tank, or orchestrating the installation of a high-end Red Sea MAX S700 G2 system from scratch. He handles everything from coral placement and lighting configuration to dialing in precise saltwater chemistry and dosing levels. Clients consistently report vibrant coral growth, crystal-clear water, and fish that thrive for years under his care.
But Mason's expertise isn't limited to saltwater. He set up an axolotl tank for one family, walking them through the meticulous care requirements that kept their pet healthy. He's also maintained freshwater setups in offices for over a decade.
His service visits cover the full spectrum—topping off auto top-off systems, cleaning protein skimmers, frozen food feedings, minor dosing adjustments, and thorough glass cleaning. What comes through most clearly in nearly every review is the relationship. Mason treats each client's tank as if it were his own.
When the devastating 2021 Texas freeze wiped out one longtime customer's entire stock, Mason was there to help them start over. He makes house calls promptly, communicates proactively about maintenance schedules, and responds quickly to emergencies. Fish Whisper operates more as a premium aquarium service provider than a traditional retail shop.
If you're in Austin and want a saltwater reef centerpiece or need someone reliable to keep any tank running at its best, Mason's decades of hands-on experience and personal investment in every tank he touches make Fish Whisper a standout.
What they offer
Livestock, services, water
- Livestock & products
- Services
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Owner Mason has maintained client tanks for up to 18+ years with fierce loyalty
- Specializes in custom saltwater reef tank design, installation, and ongoing maintenance
- Handles complex builds including Red Sea MAX S700 G2 setups and custom furniture-fitted reef systems
- Expert coral placement, lighting configuration, and saltwater chemistry dosing
- Also services freshwater tanks and specialty setups like axolotl habitats
From keepers
Customer reviews
“I love Fish Whisper!!! They always do an amazing job and keep my fishes happy and healthy. Always on time, service with a smile! 10 out of 10 would recommend!”
— Amy Tarkington5.0a week ago“Mason is the best!!! He has been taking care of our fish for 18 years now and is dependable and awesome!!!”
— Katie Beebe5.02 months ago“Very much large variety of exotic water friends as well as tanks and equipment for the tanks love it here and kids would like it just as much”
— Phanmll5.02 months ago“17 Years of Impeccable Service from Mason (Fish Whisper) has been the Best choice I’ve made! My Salt Tank has never looked better due to the incredible help I’ve had from Mason at Fish Whisper! If you're looking for someone to help you maintain your saltwater aquarium, you should definitely contact Mason! I’ve had the pleasure of working with Mason for 17 years, and I can say without hesitation that he is the reason my tank is not only surviving—but thriving. All of my Coral and fish are extremely happy, and it shows with how fast they’ve grown. With Mason’s help the water in my tank consistently measures at perfect levels, and the fish he has provided over the years are always in excellent health—vibrant, active, and long-living. The corals are flourishing under his care, showing colors and growth that I was not achieving working on my own. Its amazing to see how happy everything in my tank is. All of this is due to the care he takes in helping me select the proper equipment for my tank, placing the coral in the tank where they will thrive, selecting and setting the proper lighting in the tank, and using his knowledge of salt water chemistry to set the proper dosing levels to balance the water. Thanks to Mason, my saltwater tank has grown and flourished to become a nice centerpiece in my home. I can’t recommend Fish Whisper highly enough!!!”
— Linda S.5.04 months ago“I got into saltwater aquariums with no idea what I was doing. I was referred to Mason and he was so much help! Definitely recommend him!”
— Jose Sanchez5.04 months ago“I bought a new tank with zero instructions how it worked. I called Mason, The Fish Whisper, and he came to the house in a couple of days and got the tank up and running and went over how it worked and he even placed the decor. He did a great job at a fair price, and he will be my first call if I need any help in the future.”
— Randy Stewart5.05 months ago“I just purchased a top of the line red Sea MAX s700g2 Aquarium... Mason came highly recommended from where I bought the aquarium and after many conversations he was the right man for the setup! What I appreciated most was his quick responses and doing everything he said he would do. He showed up per our schedule and immediately knew everything that needed to be done from top to bottom and made this a fantastic experience..... I absolutely plan on using him for monthly maintenance and highly recommend him for any system design or set up your looking at doing. Please feel free to contact me with any questions anytime. Spencer Burback”
— Spencer Burback5.05 months ago“Mason is the best. He loves what he does and treats your tank like it is his own!”
— Janna Elliott5.05 months ago“Mason is great to work with! Very knowledgeable and helpful with any task and question I need. Highly recommend!”
— Saine Wong5.08 months ago“Mason did an absolutely fantastic job setting up our axolotl tank which we have now learned is an extremely meticulous fish to maintain. Without Mason I don’t think our little guy Jeff would still be here. Thank you so much for the immediate help and the immense amount of knowledge you bring to assist in any scenario! Thank you so much again!!!”
— Cindy5.08 months ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (512) 922-5077 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Fish Whisper.