About
Salty Fish Aquariums has spent nearly a decade earning a reputation as one of the best aquarium stores in San Antonio, TX, and the modest storefront hides just how much is packed inside. Step through the door and the space opens up into a sprawling, family-owned shop stocking both saltwater and freshwater livestock in real depth — vibrant coral frags and reef fish alongside one of the city's deepest selections of South and Central American cichlids, plus bettas, mudskippers, and even the tiny starfish that regulars love to point out. The live plant section has become a genuine draw.
Customers regularly mention that the aquatic plants for sale here are healthier and better priced than the big-box stores across town; one recent visitor walked out with four plants and two large pieces of spider wood for a new aquascape. A dedicated scape table — a sand platform where you can test hardscape layouts before buying — sets Salty Fish apart, and the shelves back it up with low-iron rimless tanks, Eheim heaters, Fluval filter media, and other quality dry goods. Caridina shrimp, hard to find elsewhere in San Antonio, turn up here too.
What keeps people driving across town is the staff. Names like Nathan, Lauren, Evelyn, and Riley come up again and again — they run free water tests, walk first-timers through betta care, troubleshoot sick fish on the spot, and explain sump and substrate choices without pressure. One customer credited Riley with building a custom 210-gallon tank and stand, ready for pickup in three days with daily update calls along the way.
Custom tank orders are available, and the pricing consistently earns praise as among the best in the city. For anyone setting up a first betta tank or stocking a reef build, Salty Fish delivers a rare mix of deep inventory, fair prices, and genuine expertise. Whatever you're after — cichlids, corals, or shrimp for sale in San Antonio, TX — it rewards a trip in person.
What they offer
Fish & livestock for sale at Salty Fish Aquariums in San Antonio, TX
Salty Fish Aquariums stocks corals, reef fish, cichlids, betta fish, shrimp, invertebrates, aquarium plants and freshwater & saltwater fish for sale in San Antonio, TX. As an aquarium store serving San Antonio, TX, it also carries aquarium equipment and dry goods and offers water testing, custom tank builds, aquarium consultations and aquascaping.
- Livestock & products
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Dedicated sand scape table for testing hardscape layouts before you buy
- One of the few San Antonio stores stocking hard-to-find Caridina shrimp
- Deep South and Central American cichlid selection, plus corals and reef fish
- Custom tank orders — a 210-gallon build was ready for pickup in three days
- Free water testing and low-pressure guidance from staff like Nathan, Lauren, Evelyn, and Riley
From keepers
Customer reviews
“Super helpful!”
— kane20seven5.0a day ago“Was refered to this place to buy some aquarium plants. The selection is huge and prices are cheaper then petco or petsmart. They carry so many fish. The building is way bigger in the inside. Definently gonna have to come back. I left today with 4 aquarium plants and 2 large pieces of spider wood.”
— Nick Jones5.02 weeks ago“Great Folks”
— Alvin Byas5.02 weeks ago“Cool and amazing Fishes and 1mm tall star fish 🤣 but overall 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐”
— Carlos Imperial5.03 weeks ago“Dead fish and shrimp in multiple tanks, id would never buy fish here.”
— Dluxx731.0a month ago“Love this place super fun to go look and have some good deals.”
— Tactical_Fish5.02 months ago“My kids and I really enjoy this store. Well priced aquatic plants better than other stores. Very nice and definitely worth a visit.”
— Alexis Anderson5.02 months ago“Best fish store in the area.”
— Dani Black5.03 months ago“This place would be the best aquarium store in San Antonio , but the owners wife is intolerable to a lot of customers.”
— Amanda Perez2.04 months ago“Shout out to Riley at Salty Fish. It truly is the best Aquarium store in SA. Thank you all for having a place like this!”
— Oseas Gomez5.04 months ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (210) 656-3474 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Salty Fish Aquariums.