About
American Aquatics has carved out a loyal following as the go-to aquarium store in Lubbock, Texas, earning repeat visits from hobbyists who drive from as far as Midland to browse their stock. The store carries both freshwater and saltwater fish, and reviews consistently praise the breadth of selection — from longfin neon tetras and African dwarf frogs to figure 8 puffer fish, super red bristlenose plecos, black dragon catfish, and axolotls. The saltwater side features corals at reasonable prices and the staff to help you set up your first reef tank.
The live plant section is a particular draw, with enthusiasts timing visits around Thursday and Friday to catch new arrivals. Neocaridina shrimp, mystery snails, and guppies fill out a freshwater invertebrate selection that keeps planted-tank hobbyists coming back. The store also stocks hard-to-find accessories — snail catchers, micro sponge filters for around five dollars, and multiple types of filtration options that reviewers say you won't find at competing shops.
They sell used fish tanks alongside new equipment, and offer RO water for purchase. Staff members Mark and Chris come up repeatedly in reviews as genuinely helpful and willing to spend time explaining saltwater setup details, refractometer calibration, and water chemistry. The store offers water testing and has helped customers troubleshoot everything from cycling issues to equipment selection.
Prices are displayed directly on the tanks, a small touch that reviewers appreciate, and the overall pricing is considered competitive for West Texas. The store isn't without its critics — a strict 24-hour return policy has frustrated some customers who experienced fish health issues after purchase, and the dry goods selection is acknowledged as limited, though still the most extensive in Lubbock. Display tanks throughout the store showcase impressive setups that inspire visitors and demonstrate what's possible with the livestock and equipment available on the shelves.
For aquarium hobbyists in West Texas, American Aquatics delivers genuine variety and hands-on expertise that's hard to replicate online.
What they offer
Livestock, services, water
- Livestock & products
- Services
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Extensive freshwater plant selection with new arrivals every Thursday/Friday
- Saltwater setup assistance including water testing and refractometer calibration
- Unique stock including figure 8 puffers, axolotls, and black dragon catfish
- RO water available for purchase
- Hard-to-find accessories like snail catchers and micro sponge filters
From keepers
Customer reviews
“Really lovely place! We buy several fishes from here”
— Kisbelyd Schnaufer5.0a week ago“Staff are extremely helpful answered every question we had about a future set up and was finally able to set up and get our son an axolotl! Thank y'all so much!”
— Shannan Perez5.03 weeks ago“They sell used fish tanks how cool is that?”
— Rue Sakirkin4.0a month ago“Found everything I needed.great variety. Thanks guys!”
— Donna Trevino5.03 months ago“best fish store in lubbock best prices best selection and phenomenal customer service Mark in there all the time great guy get all my fish from him and will be only getting my fish from him”
— Jackson Elam5.04 months ago“LOOK AT THE OTHER LOW REVIEWS BEFORE GETTING FISH HERE! I’m not the only one getting sick fish and having a terrible experience with the return policy. The staff are nice but three days after getting $150 of fish they got ich and all died. I called the store and ofered to bring a water sample to show my water is good as i tested it before putting fish in and once tbey got sick. They told me they only do a 24 hour policy… thats terrible customer service. Fish can have internal parasites that dont show externally for a week, also I had bought the rest of their longfin neon tetras that showed signs first, so of course none of their fish in the shop would have it right now! Other stores in town have a 14 day policy for this reason. Take your money where they will value your bussiness.”
— Bethany Chapman2.05 months ago“Great place to get snails also”
— Jason Wiedenmeyer5.05 months ago“Mark is an awesome guy and has been around for some time. They have great deals on both freshwater and marine fish. Highly recommend!”
— Michael Elizondo5.07 months ago“Mark has really helped me with setting up my first salt tank. He explains everything in detail and makes sure I know what Im doing. He has tested my water a couple of times and explained how to recalibrate my refractometer. Look forward to buying more fish soon.”
— Josh s5.07 months ago“Top-notch fish store for both freshwater and saltwater! Staff is friendly and very helpful and knowledgeable. Bonus: we found Nemo!”
— Starnes Edits5.08 months ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (806) 407-5259 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting American Aquatics.