About
The Fish Bowl occupies a unique spot in Lubbock's aquarium scene as one of the city's dedicated fish shops carrying both freshwater and saltwater livestock. Walk in and you'll find tanks stocked with marine fish, corals, and freshwater species alongside reef essentials that reviewers say are hard to find anywhere else in town. Their cherry shrimp selection stands out — customers specifically praise the higher-grade fire red variety — and they stock species like figure 8 puffers and porcupine puffers that add character to the saltwater side of the store.
Preston, a frequently mentioned staff member, clearly has a passion for the hobby. Customers describe him offering tailored advice on betta care, handing over a jug of RO/DI water for transport, and happily demonstrating feeding time with the porcupine puffer. The store's resident guard dog, Fiona, adds personality to visits — though some shoppers find the canine presence more distracting than charming.
The shop carries Tidal freshwater filters and stocks the hardware basics for reef and freshwater setups, though the dry goods inventory isn't massive. Several reviewers note they carry items no other Lubbock store stocks, which makes The Fish Bowl a meaningful resource for local reefers building out their systems. They also offer in-home aquarium setup consultations, though follow-through on estimates has been inconsistent based on at least one customer's experience.
The Fish Bowl does have growing pains that potential visitors should know about. Irregular hours are a recurring frustration — multiple customers report arriving during posted business hours to find locked doors. Customer service experiences vary widely, with some feeling ignored while others rave about attentive, pressure-free guidance.
For Lubbock hobbyists looking for live coral, reef supplies, and specialty freshwater stock beyond what big-box pet stores offer, The Fish Bowl fills a real gap — just confirm they're open before making the drive.
What they offer
Livestock, services, water
- Livestock & products
- Services
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Carries both freshwater and saltwater fish in Lubbock
- Fire red cherry shrimp and higher-grade invertebrates available
- Reef supplies and coral selection for local hobbyists
- Staff member Preston known for personalized fish care advice
- Offers RO/DI water for customers
From keepers
Customer reviews
“Love the staff. My husband and I (mostly my husband) frequently visit to check out the new fish and corals. We will continue to support them. ❤️”
— Kat Rush5.0a day ago“Best place in Lubbock to get a fish”
— Jacob Key5.02 days ago“We live in Midland. There's only petco and one saltwater shop in odessa. We have bought fish by all three locations. All the fish we bought at the 2 locations in odessa are alive. More than half the fish we bought at The Fish Bowl have all died. Water perimeter are great. All the other fish are thriving.”
— daryl smith1.03 months ago“It's 2025 why are you still abusing fish?”
— Phillip McJunkin1.04 months ago“phenomal fish store great selection and even better customer service the two dudes in there always on point they answer all my questions very quick and great prices”
— Jackson Elam5.04 months ago“Great place to get your fish needs friendly staff and a really nice set up.”
— Brad Fann5.05 months ago“Great place & friendly owner who is very resourceful & helpful. I've purchased dozens of fish here with no issue & use their selection of Tidal freshwater filters with great success. I'd give them an extra star if I could!”
— King_Merit5.0Edited 5 months ago“We went in yesterday to make our first fish purchase with this store. We understand the value in supporting small so we wanted to give this business a chance in spite of the bad reviews on google. We spent my husband’s entire lunch break talking with the manager and telling him about our setup and how we’ve only ever purchased cheap fish for fear of losing money. We proceeded to spend a large amount on 3 fish. Our water levels were all great for fish. We ended up losing the most expensive of fish and he said our “levels weren’t good” even though the tank has been filtering for months completely empty and the levels were good. It’s a 55 gallon tank and we put 3 tiny fish into it. He stated that we should have told him we were “new” and he might have upsold us some stuff to counteract the ammonia levels. He also sold us an aggressive fish who was nipping at the other one and he refused to give full reimbursement for it. Please don’t shop here.”
— Ashton Mullen1.06 months ago“Way better than my first experience here.”
— Tabitha Chandler5.07 months ago“I won’t be returning to this place. The first time we visited, no one even acknowledged us, as far as I can remember. The selection was extremely limited—virtually no fish at all. On our second visit, we walked in only to find out they were closed, even though the door was left unlocked. The only thing the heavier-set guy said was, “We’re closed,” before escorting us out. Not exactly welcoming.”
— Josh s1.07 months ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (806) 683-0659 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting The Fish Bowl.