About
Exotic Aquatics has spent more than 16 years becoming one of the most trusted aquarium stores in Plano, TX, and a fresh wave of reviews shows why DFW fishkeepers keep making the drive. Walk in and the first thing regulars mention is the absence of any pet-store smell. The tanks are spotless, brightly lit, and arranged more like curated exhibits than retail rows, with both freshwater and saltwater systems on display.
The freshwater side is the heart of the shop. Aquarists come for a lush, constantly rotating wall of live plants, from common stems to rarer species, and reviewers single out the staff's genuine grasp of plant biology, lighting, and nutrients rather than a quick upsell. You'll also find neocaridina shrimp, bettas, neon tetras, snails, and an eye-catching anubias or two, and the store's Peacock cichlids, including OB, sunshine, and albino morphs, have sent customers home with healthy, full-grown fish.
Discus and other higher-end livestock are available in Plano, TX for keepers ready to level up. On the saltwater end, the corals and marine fish keep this firmly in aquarium-store territory. What people rave about most is the team.
Newer reviews give special shoutouts to Robert and Jaylyn for patiently fielding a million beginner questions, while Andrew, Meredith, Josh, and Gareth turn up again and again for hands-on tank setup and aquascaping help, scaping hardscape, gluing plants to driftwood, and dialing in filtration in a single visit. Shelves are stocked with Seachem and UNS gear plus any medication you might need. One tip from the regulars: plants and popular fish sell out fast, so aim for a Thursday or Friday restock day.
Prices run a touch above the big-box chains, but for the cleanliness, the survival rates, and the real expertise, most Plano fishkeepers consider it the best aquarium store around. If you're searching for healthy freshwater fish, corals, or live plants for sale near me, Exotic Aquatics is the local stop worth making.
What they offer
Fish & livestock for sale at Exotic Aquatics in Plano, TX
Exotic Aquatics stocks corals, betta fish, shrimp, discus, African cichlids, tetras, aquarium plants and freshwater & saltwater fish for sale in Plano, TX. As an aquarium store serving Plano, TX, it also carries aquarium equipment and fish medications and offers aquarium setup, aquascaping and aquarium consultations.
- Livestock & products
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Spotless, brightly lit store with healthy freshwater and saltwater displays
- Standout live plant wall, from common stems to rarer species, plus neocaridina shrimp and anubias
- Hands-on staff (Robert, Jaylyn, Andrew, Meredith, Gareth) help with tank setup and aquascaping in-store
- Peacock cichlids, bettas, neon tetras, discus, corals, plus Seachem and UNS supplies on hand
- Restocks Thursday and Friday, so popular plants and fish sell out fast midweek
From keepers
Customer reviews
“Me and my wife has been to the store several times at this point. The entire staff have been very friendly and helpful and always willing to point us in the right direction. We would like to give a special shoutout to Robert and Jaylyn. We have interacted and harassed these two the most and they have been a pleasure to interact with even if we have asked them a million questions each, they’re always willing to guide us through what ever issues we are having and have made getting into the fish keeping hobby as stress free as it can possibly be. We cannot thank them enough.”
— Keenan Tall5.0a day ago“Good selection of fish. My only complaint is customer service. Spent $200 on a discus just a find that it had a hole in the head parasite two or three days later. It takes 30 days usually for it to show. It's a sign that they're not diligent on deworming their fish. Came in for medication and asked if I could get a discount on it. The girl at the front desk says she's not allowed to give discounts but she could ask a manager. It's a $12 medication so I just bought it and left because im not gonna go out of my way for someone to actually care and take action. I prefer to support local fish stores instead of online, but I probably wouldn't look at higher-end fish at the store in the future. I knew the fish were a little overpriced for the size and genetics but was hoping by paying a little extra I could of avoided all this.”
— Hunter Clift2.05 days ago“Outstanding local shop for aquarium enthusiasts. They maintain a fantastic variety of aquatic plants, from common varieties to rarer species, all in excellent condition. What sets them apart is their staff’s expertise—they actually understand plant biology, lighting, and nutrient requirements rather than just trying to make a quick sale.”
— Junnaid Javed5.0a week ago“Knowledgeable staff, and a hot spot for local enthusiasts or beginners looking for help. I only wish they were in stock of their plants and certain fish on all days of the week, but their stuff sells out pretty fast. I recommend going on a Thursday or Friday, which is the day they typically restock. Early Saturday could work too. It can become slim pickings on other days.”
— Nunia Busines5.02 weeks ago“Absolutely fantastic experience, a very well knowledgeable team, who are more than willing to help and give tips for your tank at home. Thank you guys!”
— TheChaosRaven5.02 weeks ago“The people that work there are very nice, helpful, and knowledgeable.”
— Wyetta Horine5.03 weeks ago“While the supplies and selection are wonderful, there are planaria in the shrimp tanks :(”
— DynablineCorqui3.03 weeks ago“This place is awesome! They have so many choices , from tanks, to fish to plants. The staff is always friendly and helpful (especially Andrew).”
— Matthew Ickes5.04 weeks ago“Very professional and knowledgeable staff and they have a great selection of fish”
— Duty Mo5.0a month ago“Outstanding customer service and great collection of fresh and salt water fish. I bought a huge anubias plant, it's gorgeous 😍.their neocaridina shrimp collection is outstanding 👌”
— diver 1 sea5.0Edited a month ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (972) 519-9559 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Exotic Aquatics.