About
The Pet Works is a freshwater fish store in downtown Olympia, WA, and one visiting Colorado hobbyist called it the most impressive shop he'd seen across multiple states. The heart of it is an aquatics department with over 100 live-planted tanks, nearly all brimming with life — the kind of selection that rewards repeat visits and makes the trip worth building a downtown Olympia outing around. If you're searching for freshwater fish for sale near me, the species selection here runs deep and unusual.
Alongside everyday community favorites you'll find tetras, including the hard-to-find blind cave tetra, plus a strong lineup of betta fish for shoppers who want more than the standard cup-on-a-shelf experience. Aquarium keepers hunting for live aquarium plants near me come for the planted-tank selection, and the staff — Tyler among them — guide customers through choices like Betta Botanicals with genuine enthusiasm rather than a sales pitch. The store also has a real following among invertebrate keepers: isopods and bioactive supplies are available in Olympia, WA for anyone building naturalistic, self-sustaining setups.
Beyond fish, The Pet Works keeps thoughtfully maintained reptiles, amphibians, and birds under one roof, with densely live-planted, appropriately sized enclosures that knowledgeable hobbyists immediately notice and appreciate. What sets the shop apart is care: the team clearly looks after the animals in its charge, and that philosophy shows in every planted tank and carefully built habitat. Practical touches round it out — a self-service dog wash station that multi-dog households rely on, friendly and knowledgeable aquatics staff, and a wheelchair-accessible space.
For freshwater aquarium keepers in Olympia and the wider South Sound region, The Pet Works is a destination fish store worth visiting in person.
What they offer
Fish & livestock for sale at The Pet Works in Olympia, WA
The Pet Works stocks betta fish, tetras, invertebrates, aquarium plants and freshwater fish for sale in Olympia, WA.
- Livestock & products
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Over 100 live-planted freshwater fish tanks with unusual species like blind cave tetras
- Exceptionally well-maintained reptile and amphibian enclosures with live plants
- Knowledgeable aquatics staff who guide product selections like Betta Botanicals
- Bioactive supplies for invertebrate and isopod keepers
- Self-service dog wash station available on-site
From keepers
Customer reviews
“I always leave this store saying “Wow, the staff are so kind”. Today TK was my cashier! They were so friendly and caring. Tk even threw in some samples for my boys!!”
— Madison5.0a day ago“Amazing pet store, very humane. I went there and I noticed that the betta all had their own tanks and that the sides were blacked out and they couldn't see each other, most pet stores are rubbish and put them in tiny containers, this place is awesome. I bought white cloud mountain minnows here and they immediately got comfortable in their new home, very good, healthy fish, and amazing prices. They have a huge fish section.”
— CHILDREN of the Nash5.0a week ago“So so bummed about the cories we brought home that had velvet (highly suspected, fast killer responding to treatment). Rarely had any issues with fish here aside from a minor parasite cleanse, but I really should have known better than to introduce to my main tank 😭. Wiped my entire tank of cories with three remaining of my almost 20, my betta, and one of my rasboras. So devastating.”
— sxghing2.0a week ago“Awesome little pet store! The animals are active and healthy, and the people actually know what theyre talking about! Fun little store to go back to :) thanks for the shrimps!”
— Kyazoh5.02 weeks ago“This is the best pet shop in Olympia and Lacey!”
— Rachael Callaghan5.02 weeks ago“The staff was really nice and helpful, very knowledgeable. And soooooo much cool stuff!”
— John Axe5.02 weeks ago“Very nice pet store very well.Equipped has lots of fish reptiles to choose from with a great dog washing station”
— Josh Ferrell5.03 weeks ago“they in fact DO NOT HAVE IT ALL. spent an hour driving all the way there for them to tell me they don’t carry any saltwater fish. i was then told i should’ve called before driving. even though it’s advertised as such. they even have saltwater fish as imagery to insinuate they have them.”
— Ian Fuhr1.03 weeks ago“This pet store is just incredible. The staff are so nice, really generous with their time, and so knowledgeable about every animal and product. They helped me find exactly what I needed, and you can tell they really care about the pets and their owners. I’ll definitely be coming back!”
— Sarah Klutz5.04 weeks ago“Friendly staff. Always extra helpful. Great environment!”
— Alexzondria Strong5.0a month ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (360) 489-0134 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting The Pet Works.