Fin & Feather Pet Center, Inc.

Fin & Feather Pet Center has been a Richmond institution for decades — some customers have relied on this Lakeside neighborhood shop for nearly 30 years. While it bills itself as a general pet store, aquarium enthusiasts in particular will find plenty of reasons to make the trip. The fish room stocks a rotating variety of freshwater species, including cichlids and bettas, along with a solid selection of live aquatic plants that keeps hobbyists coming back regularly to see what's new.

One of Fin & Feather's standout features is its dedicated pond shop, located right next door to the main store. Koi keepers throughout the Richmond area swear by it, praising the health and vibrancy of the koi they've purchased and calling it their only source for pond fish and water garden supplies. If you're maintaining a koi pond, you'll find everything from fish to full pond equipment under one roof.

Inside the main store, the aquarium supply section is notably well-stocked with medications — a detail that matters when you're dealing with a sick tank and can't afford to wait for online shipping. Customers have praised being able to pick up hospital tank supplies, treatments, and frozen fish food all in one visit. The selection of tanks is worth checking too; deals on setups like 75-gallon tanks have drawn buyers from outside the immediate area.

The staff tends to be a highlight, with several reviewers noting employees who spend real time answering questions — one customer described a 30-minute consultation about snake ownership with a staff member named Ian. The team clearly skews toward animal people who enjoy talking shop, whether the subject is community tank stocking, reptile temperaments, or koi pond care. Fin & Feather isn't flashy or Instagram-curated.

It's a lived-in, long-running local pet store with real depth in freshwater fish, pond supplies, and the kind of personal service that keeps Richmond hobbyists driving past the big-box chains.