About
Bubble Aquatics & Exotics is the independently owned answer to the big-box chains in Danville, VA — a multi-species shop where freshwater and saltwater fish tanks share the floor with reptiles, birds, tarantulas, small mammals, and unusual feeder insects. For aquarium hobbyists, the draw is a curated rather than cavernous fish selection: longtime customers rave about the beautiful bettas kept here, making this a genuine spot to find healthy bettas for sale in Danville, VA without driving to the next city. One planted-tank keeper searched everywhere before finally tracking down red root floaters at Bubble — exactly the kind of hard-to-find live aquarium plant this shop is known for stocking.
What sets this aquarium store apart is owner Ashlyn, whom customers describe as one of the most knowledgeable animal people they have ever met. Whether you are choosing a betta, a snake, or a quaker parrot, she walks you through the specifics of care and follows up afterward — several reviewers mention the detailed husbandry advice that came home with their purchase. If something is not on the shelf, the team will often track it down and order it in.
A layaway program lets shoppers put a deposit on animals and supplies and pay it off over 30 to 60 days, an unusual courtesy for a small neighborhood pet shop. Alongside the aquariums, keepers searching for freshwater and saltwater fish near me will also find snails, feeder rats, and frozen feeders for fish and reptiles, plus on-site pet grooming from staff that regulars single out by name. Experiences with cleanliness and tank clarity can vary from one visit to the next, so it is worth calling ahead — but for Danville, VA residents who want hands-on expertise and locally sourced livestock instead of a chain-store counter, this fish store remains a distinctly local option with a passionate owner behind it.
What they offer
Fish & livestock for sale at Bubble Aquatics & Exotics in Danville, VA
Bubble Aquatics & Exotics stocks betta fish, invertebrates, aquarium plants and freshwater & saltwater fish for sale in Danville, VA. As an aquarium store serving Danville, VA, it also offers aquarium consultations.
- Livestock & products
- Services
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Beautiful, well-kept bettas and hard-to-find live plants like red root floaters
- Both freshwater and saltwater fish in an independently owned Danville shop
- Owner Ashlyn gives detailed, follow-up care advice on every purchase
- Layaway program — deposit and pay over 30 to 60 days on animals and supplies
- Snails, feeder rats, and frozen feeders plus on-site pet grooming
From keepers
Customer reviews
“I don't like leaving negative reviews, but we were saddened today after visiting the store. When we walked in, the staff member said "sorry the cages are dirty!" All the bird cages were filthy - lots of poop, filth, etc were present in almost all bird cages, on their perches/swings, and there was minimal selection. Although prices were slightly higher, and it would be worth it to support a local place, I couldn't in good conscious purchase an animal from here, knowing it wasn't taken care of.”
— Christiane Britton2.03 weeks ago“1:30 on a Thursday, no one here. Door says open at 1:00.”
— Frank King1.03 weeks ago“This place is wonderful, great service.. very kind and offers lots of advice!! Thank you so much”
— Taniya Walker5.02 months ago“Ashlyn is so knowledgable and kind! I purchased a snake and she has gone above and beyond with support. The baby is in great health and has amazing temperament, something that only comes from years of attentive love and care. Rarely do you find this kind of attention to detail when purchasing reptiles. I highly recommend this store, above and beyond! An amazing experience all around :)”
— Alexa5.03 months ago“Very nice and knowledgeable. We love the rats we got”
— April Davis5.03 months ago“I believe that a fair score of this pet store would be 2 stars. When you walk through the door you're welcomed by the pungent aroma of what I can only describe as hot piss bottles that have been sitting in the sun on a hot summer's day from someone who doesn't drink nearly enough water to have properly functioning kidneys. There's a crowded entrance and aisles with one employee working at a time in the maze of stacked high supplies and closely bundled bodies viewing the terrariums you squeeze past. High prices for what appears to be sickly animals with mites in the rodent section and suspected Metabolic Bone Disease in the reptile section unable to lift their heads. Where do I begin with this pet shop? Sickly appearing animals, murky appearing aquariums, potent urine smell, high prices, crowded, understaffed, appears to be financially hurting. I'm very fair in my rating of 2 stars. From my education of what healthy animals and good animal husbandry looks like, these are my opinions of this pet store.”
— Summer Hoover2.0Edited 4 months ago“This is a great lil pet shop! I took my Grandchildren to get them a Hamster and they made sure we had everything we needed for our lil girls, we even got adoption papers for them.”
— Donna King5.04 months ago“Ashlyn and Angela are the best!! They really show that they actually care about their animals. Me and my boyfriend recently purchased a bunny from them and Ashlyn gave us so much more information then we could have possibly thought about asking. I highly recommend this business :)”
— Mallory5.0a week ago“Im sorry, but I was disappointed in not a good verify of fish,and it was dirty when I walked in. All the tanks were dirty. I was scared to buy any fish here. I drove a distance to go,I was excited to go til I walked in. I had to go to my normal fish store. I was very disappointed.”
— June B2.02 weeks ago“I believe that a fair score of this pet store would be 2 stars. When you walk through the door you're welcomed by the pungent aroma of what I can only describe as hot piss bottles that have been sitting in the sun on a hot summer's day from someone who doesn't drink nearly enough water to have properly functioning kidneys. There's a crowded entrance and aisles with one employee working at a time in the maze of stacked high supplies and closely bundled bodies viewing the terrariums you squeeze past. High prices for sickly animals with mites in the rodent section and Metabolic Bone Disease in the reptile section unable to lift their heads. Where do I begin with this pet shop? Sick animals, murky aquariums, potent urine smell, high prices, crowded, understaffed, financially hurting. I'm very fair in my rating of 2 stars. EDIT: THIS WAS NOT MY FIRST TIME IN THIS PET SHOP AS I GAVE THEM A CHANCE AT A FIRST IMPRESSION AND A SECOND CHANCE TO CONFIRM OR DENY IMPRESSIONS. I EXPRESSED MY CONCERNS TO THE OWNER BOTH TIMES TO WHICH THEY WERE DISMISSED. EVERYTHING THAT I'VE STATED WAS VISIBLE TO THE NAKED EYE AND COULD ONLY FOOL THE UNTRAINED EYE OF SOMEONE UNFAMILIAR.”
— Austin Androgynous2.0a month ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (434) 857-5382 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Bubble Aquatics & Exotics.