About
Tropic Waters Pet Center has been a fixture in Eau Claire, Wisconsin for years — the kind of place families grow up visiting and keep coming back to. Walk through the doors and you'll find an expansive freshwater fish section that spans multiple aisles, with different varieties sometimes spread across different areas. Rather than a frustration, many customers describe browsing the tanks as genuinely enjoyable, a treasure hunt through a wide range of species.
The aquatic plant selection is a standout. Reviewers consistently praise the variety of live plants and aquarium vegetation, and the store clearly caters to the planted-tank crowd. You can pick up cherry shrimp and a handful of plants in the same trip, building out a lush freshwater setup with locally sourced livestock.
The fish themselves arrive healthy and stay that way — multiple customers report zero losses after bringing fish home, a testament to the store's quarantine practices and overall livestock care. Fancy goldfish are a notable draw, with the store receiving shipments of broadtail ryukins, ranchus, and orandas that are higher quality than what's typically available in the region. One dedicated goldfish enthusiast drives from out of town specifically for these shipments, noting that the initial quality of arrivals is genuinely impressive.
That said, the store's goldfish husbandry has drawn pointed criticism — particularly around feeding practices and extended observation holds that prevent purchase — suggesting there's room for growth in this niche. Staff knowledge is the most consistent theme across hundreds of reviews. Employees ask about your tank setup, water quality, and existing tank mates before completing a sale, prioritizing animal welfare over a quick transaction.
Several reviewers note that staff members keep the same species at home, lending their advice a personal credibility that's hard to fake. Beyond fish, Tropic Waters stocks reptiles, birds, live feeder rats and mice, and a range of pet supplies. It's a full-service pet destination, but the aquatics section is clearly the heart of the operation — and the reason people drive from across the region to visit.
What they offer
Livestock, services, water
- Livestock & products
- Services
- ConsultationQuarantine
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Expansive freshwater fish selection spanning multiple aisles with diverse species
- Strong live plant and aquarium vegetation inventory for planted tank enthusiasts
- Cherry shrimp and invertebrates available alongside fish and plants
- Fancy goldfish shipments including broadtail ryukins, ranchus, and orandas
- Staff asks about tank setup, water quality, and tank mates before selling fish
From keepers
Customer reviews
“They always have a fantastic selection of f/t rats and mice to choose from for my babies!”
— Katherine Wallischeck5.03 weeks ago“Staff is very helpful and knows exactly where things are when you ask for them. Extremely friendly as well!!”
— Gracie Williams5.02 months ago“Very knowledgeable for some things. Great selection in aquatic plants and fish.”
— B G5.02 months ago“Awesome selection of fish and aquarium vegetation! If you need something specific I recommend asking the staff - very knowledgeable about what's available and where it is! If you don't ask for help, be prepared to hunt a bit because different varieties of the same fish may be in different aisles. But at least you'll enjoy the hunt because the wide range of fish is fun to check out.”
— Jennie Johnson5.02 months ago“Great a super helpful staff it great to know the staff even own the same pets u might have”
— Zach bolstad5.03 months ago“Very helpful.”
— Brian Schlarb5.04 months ago“I love coming here for fish and other fish adjacent things the employees are always super helpful and knowledgeable! The fish are always high quality and healthy. I get alot of cat treats here too! And ive even hoping to get ine of there reptiles!”
— Aurora Hinde5.0Edited 5 months ago“I've been there a few times over the past year and I'm extremely unimpressed with how they handle their goldfish. The shipments of fancy goldfish they receive are much better than most around the cities, which has led me to drive all the way there for goldfish. Once inside though, it's become very obvious that they can't take care of goldfish. I can't imagine how much money they spend ordering these fish, because they're actually good quality, but then they feed the worst quality foods to them, destroying their swim bladders so they all get really floaty, and then mark all their tanks as "under observation," so nobody can purchase them. I bought three broadtail ryukins last summer that I was extremely happy with, right after they came off quarantine there, and they've grown very quickly and are some of my favorite fish. I went back a month later, and all of the remaining tankmates were floating on the top and struggling to swim, just like the others in the tanks and tubs near them. This is entirely avoidable by feeding quality food made for fancy goldfish, like sinking Bug Bites, but the staff didn't care to listen to me. Fast forward to today, I went back and their goldfish options are VERY limited. I found a couple of goldfish I think would grow out alright and asked for them, but the employee told me they're new arrivals, so they're not available until next week. These fish aren't great quality, but could grow out well with the right care, so I'm not going to make the drive back for them. I also asked about a great looking fish that was "under observation," and asked if there's any way they'd let me buy it with the understanding there aren't warranties. They said absolutely not, which is a bummer because it's very rewarding to take "sick" fish and watch them come back to life. I asked what goldfish are available then, and I was pointed to a tank of small, sick, really poorly bred ranchus and orandas as well as a tank of large, nice orandas for $100 each. I decided to instead go home and order larger, thai goldfish online for a third of the price where I've had great luck with shipments before. My point is, this place has HUGE potential if they put the work into it, and they could really fill a niche for goldfish enthusiasts in the area, extending to the twin cities. They're really losing a lot of money with the lack of care they're providing and not selling anything. I totally understand not wanting to sell sick fish and have your reputation reflect that, but I think it's worse having them visible to the public, yet unavailable, and the same issue happening for over a year (at least since the first time I went there) without changes made. I've heard and seen great things for the aquariums and other aspects of the store, but I think their goldfish care and support is extremely lacking, much more than any other pet store I've seen, chains included. I'd think they'd invest more into fixing this issue as a store that specializes in aquatics. I'll be pushing referrals back to Quality Aquatics and Forest Lake Pets until I see a change for the better. The bird, cat, and turtles are great!”
— Jake Backes2.05 months ago“Great place. Happy staff. Always have what I need.”
— Frank White5.05 months ago“Very helpful and knowledgeable!”
— Tia Anderson5.06 months ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (715) 832-0174 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Tropic Waters Pet Center.