








Northwest Seed & Pet is a Spokane institution — part garden center, part pet store, part community gathering spot. Housed in a sprawling space that feels bigger than you'd expect, the store blends conventional pet and garden supplies with an eclectic rotation of merchandise that keeps regulars coming back to see what's new. The aquatics department is a genuine draw.
Staff here have earned a loyal following among fishkeepers, particularly for their freshwater expertise. The live plant selection gets consistent praise — one regular buyer calls it "always top notch" — and the department team is known for giving solid, detailed advice on everything from betta care to planted tank setups. They'll test your water samples on-site and walk you through what's happening in your aquarium.
If you're building a planted tank in Spokane, this is a natural first stop. Beyond aquatics, the store maintains a menagerie of live animals — reptiles, small mammals, insects, and more — that draws families and curious visitors alike. Regulars mention saying hello to store mascots Gertrude and Ruby, and kids light up exploring the creature area.
The store also stocks a well-regarded natural pet food selection and sources fresh catnip from a local farm, a detail that speaks to their connection to the regional supply chain. On the garden side, Northwest Seed & Pet carries an extensive seed selection and soil amendments, plus specialty propagation products like Clonex rooting gel and Root Riot starter cubes. Soil testing kits round out the gardening offerings for those troubleshooting their backyard plots.
The staff experience can vary — the aquatics team and many floor employees earn high marks for warmth and knowledge, though some encounters have left customers wanting. Animal handling practices have also drawn criticism from a few reviewers. Still, the store's breadth, its deep roots in Spokane's pet and garden community, and those standout departments make it a place that rewards a visit.
Come for the aquarium plants, stay to wander the aisles and see what oddity catches your eye.
luke whipple
133 reviews
Good place to get pets and pet food and toys, not the same as it used to be
Melissa Sheffer
4 reviews
I had my husband go in on Friday night for fruit flies, I went to feed my jumping spiders Saturday morning and there were only 2 in the container we paid $19 for. No dead ones. No larva. Legitimately 2 fruit flies! I called this morning to see what could be done and was told nothing at all. I will make sure to never shop or recommend here again since they cant even back their products. I would have been satisfied if they even offered to take my name and exchange when they got more in instead of a refund. I was basically told too bad. $19 for an container with 2 ff and not even a good culture to start any is pretty upsetting
elizabeth fitzwater
42 reviews
Amazing selection for all gardening and pet needs! Attentive staff, and good prices. Its always a treat coming here!
Yaroslava
5 reviews
We visited this store today and were very impressed by the friendliness and kindness of the staff. They shared a lot of interesting information about the animals they have. The animals are well cared for. The store is clean, and everything is conveniently and comfortably arranged.
Tamera Bradford
10 reviews
Really crappy to see first hand how the rats/mice are treated. Grabbing them by their tail (which is extremely dangerous and harmful to them) just to sell it as live bait then watching the others curl up together in fear. Inhumane and absolutely disgusting.
Joseph Brickner
12 reviews
Cruel and indifferent to the animals they sell. It's an ok place for supplies you can't find elsewhere but actually sickening when you see them grab rats by their TAIL and flick them into boxes. Absolutely disgusting behavior and if you have another option definitely use it.
Abby
2 reviews
I always buy my aquarium plants from this store, their selection is always top notch! and honestly I don’t think the price is to crazy it’s reasonable for what you are getting. I am only ever here for anything aquatic and the staff in that department really know their stuff, even when they are busy they are very polite and quick about getting whatever you may need. If the store was closer to my home I definitely would be there every day hahah.
Vladimir Lebed
134 reviews
Nice and friendly receiving staff. Unloaded my truck with truckload of topsoil quickly and professionally.
Jessica Riffle
69 reviews
This was a great store. It os much bigger than the one off division. I do wish they had more of a selection for reptile supplies, outside of the wood it actually offered less than the smaller store. Overall though it was well put together and I like that most of the animal setups were proper. The only ones that had things in them that they shouldn't was the mice enclosure with the metal wheel( causes bumble foot and major injuries) and the chinchilla woth all the plastic items.( they will chew and ingest it, which can cause fatal internal blockages, dental damage, and choking.) Otherwise everything else was okay.
Danielle L
164 reviews
Have always had a positive experience here. The young man who worked in the aquatics area gave me some thorough answers about my betta so I returned when my betta stopped eating and appeared sick. There was an older lady working and I explained what my fish looked like and told her I had aready tested and cleaned the tank out but she told me to come back with a sample of water so she could test it.. I had called over the phone before heading to the store and she complained that I hadn't mentioned that or she would have told me to bring in the water sample. I told her I may have overdone the water change by replacing more than half of the old water rather than just the usual 20% and she told me now the water quality was compromised because I had "neglected my tank." At no point did I say that I had neglected cleaning my tank so that was an unnecessary, rude comment. I walked away with no solutions and imagine my betta will soon die from starvation :/
Note: Store information and services may change. Always call (509) 534-0694 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Northwest Seed & Pet.
Take control of your listing to update info and respond to reviews.
Claim This ListingFind on Map
2422 E Sprague Ave, Spokane, WA 99202
February 7, 2026
Verified Data
Information verified through Google Places API and community contributions.
Other aquarium shops nearby worth checking out