About
Tucked into Leesburg, Virginia, Vienna Aquarium & Pets is a family-run operation where owner Chris and his son Ryan have built a loyal following across the Northern Virginia aquarium community — some customers driving over an hour to avoid the box stores. This is a true dedicated fish shop, not a chain pet store with an aquarium aisle bolted on, and the difference shows in the quality of livestock and depth of expertise on offer. The store covers serious ground across freshwater, saltwater, and pond keeping.
Their koi selection is a standout draw, with beautiful butterfly koi and knowledgeable guidance on pond design and filtration systems. Cichlid enthusiasts will find species here that are hard to track down at typical retail outlets, and the betta selection includes eye-catching varieties like pearl white koi bettas. Cherry shrimp, blue crayfish, engineer gobies, guppies, and an array of live aquatic plants round out a diverse inventory that reviewers consistently describe as healthy and well-maintained.
What sets Vienna Aquarium apart is the consultative approach. Chris is known for walking customers through tank setup and ecosystem dynamics rather than just pushing product. Multiple reviewers note that he prioritizes helping people build stable, thriving tanks — a philosophy that extends to pond projects, where his expertise in filtration and water gardening has earned dedicated fans.
The store also partners with Capital Aquariums for mobile aquarium services, giving customers a path from initial setup to long-term maintenance. The shop carries a solid range of equipment, driftwood, rocks, and aquascaping supplies alongside the livestock. Reviewers have picked up powerheads, complete 20-gallon setups, and various hardscape materials.
Prices on livestock are generally seen as reasonable, though some equipment purchases have drawn complaints about markups, so it's worth comparing on bigger-ticket items. For aquarium hobbyists in the Leesburg area and across NOVA, Vienna Aquarium & Pets delivers the kind of personalized, knowledgeable service and healthy stock that keeps people coming back for years.
What they offer
Livestock, services, water
- Livestock & products
- Services
- ConsultationPond ServicesTank Setup
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Family-owned shop with over 40 years in the hobby, run by owner Chris and son Ryan
- Strong koi and butterfly koi selection with pond design and filtration expertise
- Diverse freshwater and saltwater livestock including cichlids, bettas, shrimp, and rare species
- Extensive live aquatic plants and aquascaping supplies including driftwood and stones
- Consultative approach focused on building healthy, stable tank ecosystems
From keepers
Customer reviews
“I discovered this store a few months ago when my kids were setting up their aquariums. The fish we were getting from the box stores kept dying so I was in search of a place that might have high quality fish. I'm glad I discovered Vienna Aquarium & Pets because their fish seem much healthier. It's a locally owned shop and the owner is there every time I go. He's super knowledgeable and has been instrumental in setting up the dynamics in our tanks.”
— Joseph Won5.0a month ago“Excellent advice! Convenient location and hours. Reasonable prices!”
— Jill Pivovarov5.02 months ago“My children love this place and I always find them knowledgeable and more worried about setting up a good tank than just trying to sell me something. Highly recommend”
— Keith Hughes5.03 months ago“Chris is the real deal when It comes to knowledge and solutions for koi ponds and water gardening”
— James Holt5.0Edited 3 months ago“The employees are kind and knowledgeable. There is a great selection of fish plants and equipment. We travel over an hour to go here for our aquarium supplies to avoid going to a normal pet store because we know this place has better quality selection and service!”
— Rebecca Guild4.05 months ago“Sold me neocaridina shrimp for $13 each (you can get them for 1/4 of that elsewhere). The owner encouraged me to not acclimate them properly, and also to dump the store aquarium water into my aquarium. He said not to "over drip" them. After acclimating them anyway, I noticed one was clearly infected with Cladosporium, which is a relatively common parasitic algae. When I brought this picture to the store the same day, the owner told me that was "just their legs" and also "could be a molt". He refused to do anything to remedy the situation. For other fish, maybe this store is ok; I don't know. Do not buy shrimp from this store.”
— Brian Howell1.07 months ago“It’s a basic LFS with some interesting stock. May go back for some driftwood but they had a type of cichlid I’ve been looking around for”
— Andrew Ball5.07 months ago“Absolutely the most useless website ever made. Won’t be stopping by if they’re as disorganized online as they are in real life.”
— Omar Toor1.08 months ago“Absolutely the best!!!”
— Ed Thompson5.08 months ago“Me and my uncle went there. The owner and his son are amazing people. They chose the best koi for us . If u want koi fish or any other type. JUST GO THERE”
— Hattem Allam5.010 months ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (703) 777-6196 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Vienna Aquarium & Pets.