About
Animal Ark has been an American Fork, UT institution for decades, the kind of independent shop longtime customers say they've trusted since they were kids. It's a full-spectrum pet store at heart, with reptiles, birds, spiders, and small mammals, but its freshwater fish section earns steady praise from Utah County aquarium hobbyists and is well worth a stop. Reviewers are consistently impressed by how healthy the fish look, and the tanks stay noticeably clean.
Visitors regularly mention there's none of the usual pet-store smell, every enclosure is clearly labeled, and the animals look genuinely cared for. For fishkeepers, you'll find goldfish, cichlids, community fish, and bettas for sale in American Fork, UT, alongside live aquarium plants and frozen foods like brine shrimp and bloodworms. Shoppers searching for axolotls near me have found them here too, with one recent customer happily bringing one home and noting staff answered every question.
The store also occasionally takes in mature fish for adoption and resale, a practice the local fishkeeping community appreciates. What people rave about most is the staff. Ryan comes up by name again and again, patient and genuinely enthusiastic, whether he's walking a first-time goldfish owner through proper care or helping a hobbyist sort out plants and supplies before they ever buy a fish.
Team members like Zack, Elisa, Tracen, and Jessica earn the same kind of praise for taking real time with questions instead of rushing a sale. Pricing is another genuine draw, especially on feeder insects, where Animal Ark undercuts the big-box chains. The selection also covers aquarium equipment and bioactive vivarium supplies, though a hard-to-find specialty filter part might occasionally send you elsewhere.
Add in Moto, the resident cockatiel mascot with more personality than most people, and it's easy to see why this clean, welcoming American Fork fish store keeps earning loyal regulars across its 850-plus reviews.
What they offer
Fish & livestock for sale at Animal Ark in American Fork, UT
Animal Ark stocks cichlids, betta fish, goldfish, axolotls, aquarium plants and freshwater fish for sale in American Fork, UT. As a fish store serving American Fork, UT, it also carries fish food and aquarium equipment and offers aquarium consultations.
- Livestock & products
- Services
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Freshwater fish for sale including goldfish, cichlids, community fish, and bettas, with reviewers praising fish health
- Live aquarium plants and frozen foods like brine shrimp and bloodworms
- Staff, especially Ryan, repeatedly praised by name for patient, knowledgeable fishkeeping guidance
- Axolotls available alongside the freshwater section
- Exceptionally clean, well-maintained tanks; occasionally adopts and resells mature fish
From keepers
Customer reviews
“Ryan was awesome and helped us get everything er needed for a lizard set up. Great customer service!”
— Chynna Cummings5.02 weeks ago“Very recently my partner and I bought three rats. We named them pip, minky, and baby. Before we could take them home they needed a dose of antibiotics for diarrhea. When we took them home they said they were shocked baby was even eating solid foods and she was very clearly smaller than the other two. She had been sneezing since we got her. The rats lived in a well cleaned cage with lots of entertainment and enrichment activities. Everything seemed fine except that since the beginning baby had been non stop sneezing. A few days ago minky was running around playing with us seemingly normal and happy. The next day out of no where she was extremely lethargic and heavy breathing. She passed that same night. We checked on the rats the neck couple of days and once again baby is still sneezing but active. Pip is also still active. 2 days after minky had passed pip was experiencing the same symptoms of minky. We took her to an emergency vet. She had to be euthanized that night. They suspect that animal ark sold us baby with her being the original carrier of pneumonia. She had been sneezing since day one. Baby has now seen a vet and is on antibiotics. She went from living a happy life with her two sister to being the last remaining rat within the span of two days. If you’re thinking of purchasing rats here make sure they are 1, old enough to be in the care of you and 2 not sick. This has cost us hundreds of dollars in vet. Not only has it cost us so much money it’s also cost us so much emotional damage. We loved these rats and did the best we can. I wish we could say animal are did the same.”
— P1.03 weeks ago“After a bad pet store experience a week earlier (Mark's Ark) where all the advice we got was poor, this was such a relief. They talked to me for a long time, put me on a wait list for a female rat (from a breeder, the way it should be), and called back in a few days. They were patient with us, and Elisa let us meet the rats so we could pick one that seemed to have the right temperament. The store is clean, well stocked, and the animals all look healthy. But most importantly, the team is lovely, insightful, patient, and full of love for little friends, furry and scaly alike. Our new ratty is integrating well, and she came with a one week health guarantee (no guarantees or returns of any kind at the other place). I won't go anywhere else in Utah now.”
— Erica LL5.0a month ago“I got my first gecko here and Ryan was very helpful and patient with all my questions”
— Stehle Shaw5.0a month ago“We got our cute axoltl here. They answered all my questions.”
— Hillary Blaisdell5.02 months ago“The only local pet store I actually trust. These guys have been around since I was a kid and have always had very knowledgeable staff and a unique selection of animals that are well cared for. Shout out to Ryan, he helped me with both birds and fish during my most recent visit.”
— Al T (bigal0001)5.02 months ago“Best pet store in the State”
— Phil Bernier5.02 months ago“Friendly Staff and Great inventory definitely the best pet store in the area. Zack was extremely welcoming. Very sincere, knowledgeable and eager to answer my questions. I don't know what he's getting paid, but it's not enough.”
— Parker Cannon5.0Edited 2 months ago“*Edit to add* I reached out after their response, and the manager was very nice and understanding. She offered a reasonable solution for the issue. I appreciated it very much. This is a neat pet store with some unique reptiles. I saw they had 3 Kenyan Zebra Skinks available so I went to meet them because they are in my top 3. First time was fine, you can tell the staff really loved these guys. They were so excited to talk about them and interact. I went back so my daughter could meet one and that’s the first time someone mentioned an issue with them. The really nice and well informed guy helping me (wish I caught his name, has a Schneiders Skink), mentioned that one had a necrotic tail. He also said he wasn’t sure why 2 had been placed together because they had been acting aggressive towards each other. I inquired about buying one outright and then coming back in a couple days to pick the animal up, but they have a strange holding policy so I decided to risk it and come back. 2 days later I was back to get the little guy, but he had been sold… I inquired about the other 2. Apparently they had not been separated and one was in the back because of a wound caused by a fight. That left the little guy with the tail problem. This employee said it was growing back (also really nice and helpful). Their tails grow back black, so I thought that made sense. I got the little guy (He’s such a cool lizard) a little over a week ago. Made him a vet appointment and turns out, I get to give him antibiotic shots in his tiny doll arms for the next 2 months and spend $1100 on a tail amputation. Poor guy hates to see me coming. Immediately runs to his hide, haha. In hindsight, I think I should have at least been offered a discount on him since they knew there was a problem. The staff are great, the store is cool, they have a really good selection of rocks and branches, and I do love my now almost $2000 zebra skink. Just wish they were a little more transparent about how bad his tail really was. (Picture of my absolute unit of a skink with said tail issue for reference. No wonder his poor brother didn’t fair well in a tussle.)”
— Rena4.0Edited 2 months ago“Went in on Wednesday for a 75watt ceramic heat emitter, they only had 60w and 150w, but told me they’d get their shipment the following day (today) and would have a 75w CHE, so I waited and came back the following day. They didn’t have a 75w like I was told, only 60w, 100w, and 150w. I asked for their recommendation because I didn’t want to wait any longer and ended up getting a 100w for $40. I was told if it was broken I could exchange it and they have a 2-year warranty, so I bought it without a second thought. Went home, realized my current CHE wasn’t actually broken, and went back to return the one I bought. They informed me they don’t do returns/refunds on bulbs, even though I had been in to buy it 20 minutes prior. I go online and see most 100w CHE’s are selling for the $15-$25 range. Now I’m stuck with a CHE I don’t need, with the wattage I didn’t want, paid almost double for it, and made a useless second trip to the store because I wasn’t informed they don’t do returns on bulbs. I did notice on my way out that they have a sign stating they don’t do refunds on bulbs, but it’s about knee level at the register and quite difficult to see. The people are very nice, but I’m very frustrated with this experience :/ even if they had just told me the first time they don’t refund bulbs, I would’ve at least not made a second trip and wasted my time.”
— Amari S.3.02 months ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (801) 763-8200 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Animal Ark.