Alien Aquatics

Tucked into Roanoke, Virginia, Alien Aquatics is a father-and-son operation that has earned a fiercely loyal following across the region — with customers driving 45 minutes or more to shop there. Owner Brian Fuller, his father, and their small team run the kind of aquarium store where the tanks are spotless, the fish are healthy, and nobody tries to sell you something you don't need. The shop serves both the saltwater and freshwater sides of the hobby with genuine depth.

Coral enthusiasts will find a solid and growing collection — the store has been expanding its reef offerings, including a coral display. Freshwater keepers can browse healthy gold rams, live plants, and a well-stocked medication and chemical section. Live black worms and copepods are available for those who feed live foods, and the shrimp selection has drawn planted tank hobbyists looking for quality invertebrates.

Axolotls are a crowd favorite here too — customers rave about the adorable specimens, and the store clearly takes pride in sourcing healthy animals. Bettas get special attention at Alien Aquatics. Brian's father is known for walking first-time betta owners through the entire setup process, opening tanks and explaining each component with patience and warmth.

That hands-on consultation style runs through every interaction at the store — Brian will tell you straight which fish work together and which don't, and he's helped numerous customers troubleshoot sick tanks and plan their first planted setups. The store stocks driftwood, aquarium supplies, and the essentials for both reef and freshwater systems. If something isn't on the shelf, they'll order it.

Prices may occasionally run higher than big-box alternatives, but the health of the livestock and the caliber of advice make the difference obvious. Alien Aquatics also gives back locally, sponsoring community events like the local fishing rodeo. For Roanoke-area aquarists who want clean tanks, honest guidance, and fish that actually thrive when they get home, this is the shop worth building a relationship with.