About
Tucked into the Dallas aquarium scene, The Big Little Fish Store lives up to its name — compact in footprint but surprisingly deep in what it offers. This is a shop that earns loyalty through the health of its livestock and the genuine care its staff puts into every tank on the floor. Reviewers consistently note how clean and organized the space is, with beautiful displays that reflect a real love for the hobby rather than a warehouse mentality.
The freshwater selection leans toward quality over quantity. Customers have found Electric Blue Texas cichlids, peacock cichlids, red jewel cichlids, and lemon Oscars — one reviewer noted they were the only store in the entire DFW area carrying a particular Oscar specimen. The saltwater side holds its own too, with corals and marine fish drawing dedicated hobbyists.
Live plants like hornwort are well-maintained and thriving, and invertebrates like assassin snails are available for those managing tank ecosystems. What sets the store apart is how the staff engages with customers. The manager has a reputation for diagnosing tank problems on the spot, walking people through setups and helping troubleshoot issues with patience and expertise.
Multiple reviewers mention a tattooed staff member who goes above and beyond — polite, informative, and the kind of person who makes you want to come back the next day for things you didn't know you needed. The store has even taken in fish from customers who could no longer care for them, giving a beloved pleco named Dave a new home. There are honest trade-offs.
The physical space is small, and the freshwater tropical selection isn't the biggest around. A few customers have had frustrating interactions with one particular staff member. But the overwhelming sentiment across hundreds of reviews is that this Dallas shop prioritizes doing right by its fish and its customers.
If they don't have what you're looking for, they'll order it. Loyal clients have been coming back since 2019 — and that kind of retention says everything.
What they offer
Livestock, services, water
- Livestock & products
- Services
- ConsultationTank Setup
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Exceptionally clean and organized store with beautiful aquarium displays
- Hard-to-find cichlids including Electric Blue Texas, peacock, red jewel, and lemon Oscars
- Healthy live plants and invertebrates like hornwort and assassin snails
- Both freshwater and saltwater fish plus corals in stock
- Manager known for hands-on tank problem diagnosis and setup guidance
From keepers
Customer reviews
“Wanted to get into saltwater fish and start my first tank, made the mistake of coming here first, waited around for someone to finally come into the main area of the shop to help me with wasn’t a problem at first so I could look and start getting an understanding of what they had to offer. The problem came when he finally came out to talk to me, I’m assuming this is the assistant manager or something the way other people on here have described but I continued anyway telling him how I was brand new and wanted to start a small-medium size tank to start learning. He then points to a 3k tank and said “size is relative some people think this is small” like guy come on let’s realistic for a second in your life. I just finished explaining how was brand new and wanting something basic to start out to learn what I’m doing to see if I even fully enjoy it first he then goes on to explain to me. Why shouldn’t start out small why should have to buy the most expensive things in that I just be wasting my time starting out with a 20 to 40 gallon tank beyond that they didn’t have much selections for tank only some old used tanks for overpriced they only had two selections of small tanks, which were only about 15 gallons max highly recommend. Do not go to the store unless you’re just going to pick up a fish that you see interesting I would suggest North Dallas aquarium. They are very knowledgeable. I went there next. They got me set up with a full tank everything I needed. They had a wide selection of tanks filters all in one tanks with everything anything you could need there.”
— Michael1.03 weeks ago“It was my first time visiting this shop and im impressed with the collection they have and the outstanding customer service 👌”
— diver 1 sea5.03 weeks ago“They were so kind and professional.”
— Just Alexander5.03 weeks ago“Outstanding service, fish, and products!”
— Michael Cowan5.0a month ago“The manager is great and his team is great but the assistant manager thinks he’s is too good for the customer. I walked into the store and he said you don’t want to see me and and walked away from me and I had to stand there and wait until the other staff member was free up from the customer he was working with. That would make any customer feel welcome. Do I want to go back and send my money in that store? I know I might only be a small customer but I’m into my hobby. I have four fish tank and kicking around starting the fifth one. Maybe I should go to Fish Gallery Boutique. They are a lot closer.”
— Rick Carter1.03 months ago“Great place but a smaller selection of fresh water fish.”
— Caroline Pinkston4.04 months ago“Very knowledgeable staff!”
— Melanie McGaha5.05 months ago“Got helped today by some skinny dude with tattoos. Super polite, respectful, informative and went above and beyond. Because of him I will be back tomorrow for more stuff. He kicked ass”
— Hanz Zarate5.05 months ago“First time I walked in today had this dude with tattoos help me. Super super super polite, excellent customer service. And made me want to come back tomorrow for more stuff I probably don’t even need. This place definitely gots my business. Respect”
— Hanz Zarate5.05 months ago“very clean and friendly location! all the aquatic life looked healthy and well taken care of.”
— ali5.06 months ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (972) 863-7519 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting The Big Little Fish Store.