About
Sierra Fish & Pets is a family-owned, mom-and-pop aquarium store tucked into the Uwajimaya parking lot in Renton, WA, and its aquatics department is what keeps local fishkeepers coming back every couple of weeks. The freshwater selection runs deep and refreshingly unusual: an entire wall of cichlids (predominantly African varieties) shares the floor with livebearers like guppies and mollies, Cory catfish, silver flying foxes, bettas, and bargain ghost shrimp at roughly 75 cents apiece. Regulars come specifically for the oddballs — gobies, knife fishes, bichirs, and hillstream suckers turn up alongside the staples, so if you want unusual freshwater fish for sale in Renton, WA, this is one of the few independent shops that reliably stocks something you won't find at the big chains.
Live aquatic plants are a genuine strength, with fresh shipments arriving regularly and prices most reviewers call fair. The saltwater side is smaller and currently being built out — expect corals, a moderate range of marine equipment, and brands like Red Sea, API test kits, and CaribSea rock on the shelves while that section keeps growing. The staff are the real reason people drive in from across the south Sound.
Alyssa in the fish room is named again and again for patiently walking newcomers through complete tank setups — sand, filter, stocking, water care — and Chance earns the same kind of praise for knowing his stuff without ever pushing the pricier option. Several first-time hobbyists credit the crew with getting their first aquarium up and running successfully. Beyond fish, Sierra is a true all-creatures shop: reptiles and feeders, birds, rabbits, and small-animal supplies fill the densely packed aisles.
It's cluttered and old-school rather than polished, but for Renton-area aquarists who want healthy livestock, knowledgeable help, and shrimp, plants, and rare fish you can pick out in person in Renton, WA, Sierra Fish & Pets rewards the visit.
What they offer
Fish & livestock for sale at Sierra Fish & Pets in Renton, WA
Sierra Fish & Pets stocks cichlids, African cichlids, livebearers, catfish, betta fish, shrimp, invertebrates, corals, aquarium plants and freshwater & saltwater fish for sale in Renton, WA. As an aquarium store serving Renton, WA, it also carries aquarium equipment and dry goods and offers aquarium consultations and aquarium setup.
- Livestock & products
- CichlidsAfrican CichlidsLivebearersCatfishBettasShrimpInvertebratesCoralsAxolotlsLive PlantsRare SpeciesAquarium EquipmentDry Goods
- Services
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Entire wall of African cichlids alongside livebearers, Cory catfish, bettas, and 75-cent ghost shrimp
- Rotating oddball freshwater stock — gobies, knife fishes, bichirs, and hillstream suckers
- Strong live-plant department with regular fresh shipments at fair prices
- Saltwater section being built out, stocking Red Sea, Aqua Illumination, API, and CaribSea gear
- Standout staff — Alyssa and Chance known for patient, no-pressure tank-setup help
From keepers
Customer reviews
“Every time I come here the staff is so amazingly helpful. Not in the way where they can show you where something is but they can tell you how to properly care for the animal you are shopping for! This store keeps a variety of items and honestly saves me from having to order stuff online. Even though they are a bit of a drive for me I’ll always come here rather than closer more commercial stores. The staff really makes sure to take the time to explain and advise when asking a question, and not in a “buy the more expensive item” way.”
— Jessica Barajas5.03 hours ago“Always friendly, always helpful..”
— nicos dad5.0a week ago“There is a good variety of exotics here, but the reptiles, amphibians, and some fish are in poor condition. Dirty tanks and enclosures. To be more specific, The bettas tank were pittifully small and had zero enrichment or places to hide and rest. Several tanks were borderline filthy and had dead fish floating throughout them. The horned Pac-Man frog was in a tiny travel container, which in it of itself may not be a problem if there was proper enrichment or hides inside. All it had was filter foam to sit on and a bit of cloudy water. The reptiles all seemed to be in very poor condition. Specifically, a male Red Sided Skink, which looked to be likely wild caught, had protruding hips/pelvic bones and extremely dull coloration. It was very clearly not a healthy animal. To wrap it off more generally, the birds enclosures were covered in poop, though they at least had some enrichment. The rabbits seemed to have pretty decent enclosures. all the fish tanks were dirty with cloudy water, and overall the store just felt messy and had an odd odor. Overall I would not purchase an animal from here. They had a good stock of supplies and tanks to buy, but the care provided to their animals was very poor.”
— Mikayla Welke1.0a week ago“I have come here a couple times to buy some fish supplies and I also traded my school of Congo tetras for credit! Always had fairly good service. Unfortunately they completely let me down today, I called yesterday and was told I could trade my blood parrot for some credit and to come in today to get that done. I did a courtesy call ahead of time to make sure they knew I was coming soon. I had already put my fish in the travel tank and gotten everything ready to say goodbye to him and give him a new home since he’s growing out of mine! When I called to make sure they knew I was coming I was told “well we can’t really trade the fish for credit but you can donate it if you want” I got frustrated immediately because I already had everything ready to go and was told differently yesterday. When I asked why I was not able to trade for store credit he went silent. I then stated to him that I was frustrated for being told to come in today when I live 50 mins away and if I wouldn’t have done a courtesy call that would’ve been an issue when I showed up. He then told me he would give me $8 for the fish who’s at least worth 15 at 1/3 the price. I’m sorry but why would I drive 50 mins away to do that. I’m left feeling upset and disappointed. Probably won’t be coming back or recommending this place to anyone.”
— Shaina Griffin1.02 weeks ago“They always have exactly what I need!”
— Debbie Tvedt5.0Edited 4 weeks ago“They have feeder rats for my snake. They have rabbits to see and an extensive selection of fish. Their reward point system was very nice when it was operational, I hope it gets fixed.”
— dragon9872305.0a month ago“They have been stellar at helping get my daughters aquarium up and running. Very kind and knowledgeable.”
— Connor T5.0a month ago“This is my Favorite Local Ma ND Pops Go To Pet Store i love all the peeps there! They work so well with me and always are friendly and helpful. Ive gotten quite a bit of my favorite Pet Kritters There and have been getting my pet supplys there for years now. I highly recommend going here and adoring there epic kritter selection. My Favorite Place to visit every week.”
— Steven Neeb5.0a month ago“Staff has always been nice, and I've gotten a couple of my aquariums here and a lot of my fish/shrimp. My first batch of plants I got here didn't do so well, but I came back a different day and got more that looked way healthier and they've been great ever since. This is not a Petco/PetSmart. Yes it can be a bit dirty but that's never bothered me because the people and prices create an environment I love to shop in!”
— Jacob Woodbury5.0a month ago“The staff is very helpful and knowledgeable. They have a big selection on supplies for your fish. They also have a wide selection of fish. You can find different types of fish that you don't see everyday. I will definitely be coming back anytime I'm in the area. It's worth going to.”
— Shawnee Knight5.0a month ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (425) 226-3215 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Sierra Fish & Pets.