About
Run out of a home setup in Virginia Beach, Homebred Aquatics is a small-scale breeder and aquarium service founded by Patrick David and run alongside his right-hand fishkeeper, Max. Patrick breeds fish and grows aquatic plants on-site, and the two of them have built a loyal Hampton Roads following one tank at a time. The praise is remarkably consistent: customers walk away stunned by how much they get for the price.
One shopper compared the plants she picked up here to the same species from chain stores side by side and found Patrick's far larger and healthier, noting he "did not hold back" on the portions. For hobbyists hunting freshwater plants, shrimp, cichlids, and unusual livestock for sale in Virginia Beach, VA, the selection doubles as Patrick's own breeding stock, all raised in well-kept tanks you can browse in person. He takes the time to walk you through water chemistry, cycling, and livestock compatibility, so most visits turn into a lesson.
As Alyssa, who admitted she "knew nothing about fish," put it, Patrick was "nothing but helpful" from the very first phone call. The other half of the business is hands-on service work, and it is where Homebred shines. Patrick and Max set up and maintain both freshwater and saltwater systems, moving 75, 120, and 220-gallon tanks, dialing in a Red Sea G2 200 MAX, diagnosing ich on a struggling reef, and transforming a tired dental-office tank into a coral-filled centerpiece.
" For Virginia Beach aquarists who want healthy livestock, expert reef and planted-tank setup, or reliable monthly maintenance from people who genuinely love the hobby, this aquarium store is hard to beat, with prices reviewers keep calling beyond reasonable.
What they offer
Fish & livestock for sale at HOMEBRED AQUATICS in Virginia Beach, VA
HOMEBRED AQUATICS stocks corals, reef fish, shrimp, cichlids, aquarium plants and freshwater & saltwater fish for sale in Virginia Beach, VA. As an aquarium store serving Virginia Beach, VA, it also offers tank maintenance, aquarium setup, aquascaping, tank cleaning, aquarium consultations and water testing.
- Livestock & products
- Services
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Home-bred fish and aquatic plants in generous portions at prices reviewers call beyond reasonable
- Full-service freshwater and saltwater tank maintenance, setup, and aquascaping from Patrick and Max
- Experienced moving large aquariums including 75, 120, and 220-gallon tanks
- Saltwater reef setup including Red Sea G2 200 MAX systems, plus ich diagnosis and treatment advice
- Hands-on education on water chemistry, cycling, and fish compatibility during every visit
From keepers
Customer reviews
“First time customer here & I will 100% be using these guys again! They are very knowledgeable, informative & professional. Max & David came out to service 4 fish tanks & even swapped one out for me. Very efficient & the service I received was phenomenal! I love my fish & these guys do too! Highly recommend for all your aquarium maintenance needs!”
— Natalie Coleman5.02 months ago“Very knowledgeable and great customer service.”
— True_Bang5.02 months ago“The gentleman was super knowledgeable and very kind and helpful!”
— Kalani Liles5.02 months ago“Patrick is extremely knowledgeable and helpful. I just started my first saltwater tank and he had an answer for all my questions.”
— Joseph Donatelli5.03 months ago“I knew nothing about fish and turned to Google and YouTube for answers. I stumbled about this business and gave a call. Spoke to Patrick, he was very helpful even off the first phonecall. I followed up with texts the next day and he was nothing but helpful. Gave me instructions on what to do and get. Have not gotten them yet or done anything, but I trust his advice based off just the conversation we had and all of the reviews I've read. I plan on going today to get what he told me to get and then I will come back and update when I have followed his process!”
— Alyssa Tilley5.04 months ago“Had a Great experience with Homebread aquatics. Very responsive, helpful and patient . Wouldn’t hesitate to use their services again”
— Michael Oliva5.02 weeks ago“Max was awesome and obviously super passionate about aquarium care. He really knows his stuff, we're super excited to keep working with y'all. Thank you so much!!”
— Catie M5.02 weeks ago“Moving large aquariums is… daunting. These guys know what they are doing. They had my 75 and 35 gallon aquariums packed up and dropped off in no time! An hour away. I didn’t have them stay and re set everything up (maybe i SHOULD have). They put the fish and plants all together in a dark container with air and heat. Everything stayed alive so far. This was definitely worth the cost (VERY reasonable) to get those tanks moved. Definitely recommend”
— Laurelyn Barnett5.02 weeks ago“Patrick did an outstanding job cleaning and setting up our saltwater aquarium. While there are no fish in the tank yet, the setup itself is stunning. The rock and aquascape selection he chose makes the tank look like a beautiful piece of the ocean—clean, natural, and perfectly balanced. His customer service was exceptional, and he worked quickly and efficiently while maintaining a very high level of professionalism. Patrick is extremely knowledgeable and took the time to explain the process, which gave us great confidence in his expertise. We were so impressed with his work that we’ve already committed to having him maintain our tank on a monthly basis, and we’re excited that he’ll also be helping us select the right fish when the time comes. Highly recommend Patrick to anyone looking for top-quality aquarium setup and maintenance.”
— M E5.03 weeks ago“I couldn’t be happier with the service! Patrick is incredibly knowledgeable and took the time to explain everything about my aquarium setup in detail. He was professional, friendly, and clearly passionate about fish care. My tank has never looked better, and I learned so much during his visit. Highly recommend to anyone looking for expert, in-home aquarium service — truly a top-notch experience!”
— Andrew Miller5.03 months ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (757) 690-4905 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting HOMEBRED AQUATICS.