About
Centreville Aquarium has become a fixture of the Northern Virginia fishkeeping scene, the kind of independent aquarium store that regulars drive past the big-box chains to reach. Owner Dave is known for training his team well, and recent visitors single out staff like David, Carlos, and Daniel by name for the patience they bring to every question. One customer who invested around $1,100 in a full Fluval system praised David and Carlos for walking him through equipment placement, water prep, and startup without ever rushing or overselling — exactly the kind of hands-on help a new tank build needs.
The freshwater side is the heart of the shop. You'll find healthy discus, schooling tetras, corydoras catfish, and dwarf crayfish, along with both Neocaridina and Caridina shrimp for nano-tank keepers — one recent shopper happily reported her shrimp already had babies. Live plants and natural hardscape rocks are available in Centreville, VA for aquascapers building planted layouts, and the staff genuinely enjoy talking through substrate, dosing, lighting, and filtration.
Looking for bettas, guppies, or beginner-friendly community fish for sale in Centreville, VA? They stock the everyday species alongside more exotic finds you won't see at a chain. The saltwater room is more modest but real, ranging from anemones to marine fish, and the team keeps a request list for hard-to-find species — one reefer scored a healthy African Flameback Angel at a great price after asking to be added.
Coral selection is limited, so it's worth calling ahead if reef livestock is your goal. A few honest notes: warranty windows are short, and weekends (especially Sunday) get busy with limited staffing, so expect a wait. Even so, the welcoming atmosphere, fair prices, and a knowledgeable crew keep families and serious hobbyists alike coming back to this Centreville, VA fish store.
What they offer
Fish & livestock for sale at Centreville Aquarium in Centreville, VA
Centreville Aquarium stocks shrimp, discus, invertebrates, corals, tetras, catfish, betta fish, livebearers, aquarium plants and freshwater & saltwater fish for sale in Centreville, VA. As an aquarium store serving Centreville, VA, it also carries dry goods and aquarium equipment and offers water testing, aquarium consultations and aquarium setup.
- Livestock & products
- Live PlantsPlanted TanksShrimpDiscusInvertebratesCoralsTetrasCatfishBettasLivebearersDry GoodsAquarium Equipment
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Owner Dave and named staff like David, Carlos, and Daniel give patient, hands-on guidance — praised even on full $1,100 Fluval setups
- Deep freshwater selection: discus, tetras, corydoras catfish, dwarf crayfish, plus Neocaridina and Caridina shrimp for nano tanks
- Live plants and natural hardscape rocks for planted-tank aquascaping, with help on substrate, dosing, lighting, and filtration
- Special-order request list lands hard-to-find saltwater species like the African Flameback Angel at competitive prices
- Independent shop with fair pricing that regulars pick over big-box chains; weekends (especially Sunday) can get busy with waits
From keepers
Customer reviews
“Nice fish store but some workers can be a piece of crap, I had to stand around for 10 minutes as some guy was talking to someone about his home issues and as I asked for service he went “ hold on I’m speaking right now””
— Jubal B3.06 days ago“Great customer service. Extremely knowledgeable and it’s the best fish store in the area. Cant recommend them enough”
— Qusai Zaher5.0Edited 4 weeks ago“I purchased a betta fish on the store’s recommendation. The betta killed two of my smaller fish. When I returned, they took my betta but refused to exchange it or take responsibility. In the end, I was left with no replacement and no refund, despite their own incorrect advice”
— amir sadeghi1.0a month ago“Awsome store...go check it out people”
— Emanuel benites5.0a month ago“The people who work here are so kind and knowledgeable! I’ve been there twice now - second time was with 4 very curious and excited children - the staff was so patient and answered all of their questions. I’m so excited to have found an independent store that is willing to help a newbie like me :)”
— Taylor Drzewicki5.02 months ago“I had an outstanding experience at Centerville Aquarium and wanted to specifically recognize David and Carlos for their expertise and professionalism. I came in to purchase a Fluval 32-gallon system along with a stand and ended up investing about $1,100 into a full setup. What really stood out wasn’t just the product selection—it was the level of support. The instructions that came with the tank weren’t particularly clear, but David and Carlos stepped in and walked me through the setup with precision and patience. They didn’t rush the process, didn’t oversell, and made sure I understood exactly what I was doing—from equipment placement to water prep and initial system startup. That kind of hands-on, knowledgeable guidance is rare, especially for someone getting into this level of aquarium setup. You can tell they know their craft and actually care about setting customers up for success, not just making a sale. If you’re serious about building a quality aquarium system and want people who truly understand what they’re doing, I highly recommend Centerville Aquarium—and definitely ask for David and Carlos.”
— Wade Gerencser5.02 months ago“Good customer service. knowledgeable and my shrimpies already had babies. 🤗 I definitely return”
— Danielle5.02 months ago“Very knowledgeable good selection of freshwater and saltwater fish and competitive prices. My daughter got her first fish there and she loves them.”
— N KB5.02 months ago“Great selection! Very helpful staff. Highly recommend!”
— Kim Stanton5.03 months ago“Wonderful staff, great fish, reasonable prices!”
— FRED WILLIAMS5.03 months ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (703) 266-2100 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Centreville Aquarium.