About
Badgerland Saltwater is a small, family-run aquarium store in Janesville, WI that leans hard into the reef side of the hobby while keeping a foot firmly in freshwater. The coral selection is the long-standing draw: regulars come in for frags and have walked out with six or more corals alongside saltwater fish in a single trip, and more than one reefkeeper credits this shop as the reason they made the jump to saltwater. If you're hunting corals or saltwater fish for sale in Janesville, WI, this is the local alternative to driving up to Madison or Milwaukee.
The store is genuinely mom-and-pop. The owner and family members work the floor, and the experience is personal. Recent visitors describe an owner who looks up what he doesn't know, walks newcomers through saltwater basics, and stays patient with first-timers.
One customer setting up a 5-gallon tank got unhurried help matching compatible freshwater fish; another left with a Red Flame Sword plant and an airstone, plus advice on safely cleaning equipment. Special orders are a real strength: ask about a fish and they'll often bring it in within a week, the way one keeper did for a Bolivian ram. Beyond the corals, you'll find freshwater fish, pea puffers, ghost shrimp and snails, axolotls, aquarium equipment, fish food, and natural décor — one shopper found the biggest piece of spiderwood they'd ever seen.
The shop is also a handy local source for RO water, making it a practical stop for reefkeepers searching saltwater supplies near me. Set expectations to the store's scrappy size. Several reviewers note the space can get cluttered and that tanks need more consistent upkeep, and stock can swing from full to sparse between visits.
But come with questions and browse the coral frags available in Janesville, WI, and you'll get personal service and a coral variety that's genuinely hard to find locally.
What they offer
Fish & livestock for sale at Badgerland Saltwater in Janesville, WI
Badgerland Saltwater stocks corals, reef fish, axolotls, shrimp, invertebrates, pufferfish, aquarium plants and freshwater & saltwater fish for sale in Janesville, WI. As an aquarium store serving Janesville, WI, it also carries fish food, dry goods and aquarium equipment and offers water testing and aquarium consultations.
- Livestock & products
- Services
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Standout coral and frag selection — regulars leave with six or more corals plus saltwater fish
- Family-run shop where the owner walks newcomers through saltwater basics and looks up what he doesn't know
- Special-orders fish like Bolivian rams, often within about a week
- Local source for RO water, freshwater fish, pea puffers, ghost shrimp, snails, and axolotls
- Carries natural décor including standout spiderwood pieces plus aquarium equipment and fish food
From keepers
Customer reviews
“Great help anythings you need will order for you.”
— Jerry Klytta5.0a week ago“Well I had a little incident with the owner about a parking spot and I was going to give a bad review but now after reading the bad reviews and good I just want to say this just give this store a chance every one is trying to survive I'll give them a five star just because I belive in people to the people that gave then a bad review give them a second chance this are hard working people just trying to makeit in life God bless”
— Memo Quezada5.02 weeks ago“Used to enjoy coming here, but it went from fish store to thrift store. This place needs to close for a weekend and clean shop. The styro boxes above the displays feel like they are about to fall on top of me and I'm not even sure what I'm shopping for at this point when I walk in.”
— Matt Ruiz1.0a month ago“Brought a clownfish from here 2 days ago and it has already died. Called the shop he didn’t even offer to give us our money back or anything. Will not recommend this store to anyone. The owner wants to keep selling you stuff that you can get somewhere else cheaper. They rip off there customers. It was fully cycled. You told my fiance that the fish was probably sick. Stop trying to blame us. We asked you if are tank was ready you tested our tank water and said yes. Take blame that this is your fault. You sold us a suck fish”
— Janeen Bell1.02 months ago“Very dirty tanks, lots of dead fish with live fish, asked the guy working about a cichlid and he didn’t even try to help just told me he had no idea. Would never recommend”
— Drew Gates1.03 months ago“Website inventory didn't match actual inventory. Drove a half hour for a fish they said they had but didn't. Most of the tanks were empty or unlabeled, they heard us telling our son we couldn't get a certain type of fish because we didn't have the accommodations for the size. They sold us a fish that was just a baby version of it and didn't say anything to us. I overheard the employee to another as the door was shutting behind us telling him the one he sold us was going to get a big as the one we had no room for amd that we should've gotten a different breed. Obviously I didn't know so why not tell us after you heard? Clearly cared about a sale more than the fish or the customer. Went in to trade it back in by the end of the week and get a fish i had him get for me which he WAAAAYYY over charged me on. Got charged $25 for a fish that should've been anywhere between $8-$13. On top of all the rudeness, overcharging, and just not being helpful at all the store was gross. It smells awful and there was just grime on EVERYTHING. Im not sure how others have such positive reviews, doesn't seem like we went to the same store. Will not be back..”
— Kristine Tesnow1.03 months ago“Gorgeous shop- loved all the beautiful tanks! Excellent service, what he didn't know he looked up for us and he went above and beyond to make sure our fish's needs are met plus gave great advice for safely cleaning tank equipment. I got this adorable fresh water Red Flame Sword plant along with an airstone. I highly recommend this shop for freshwater and saltwater aquariums.”
— Xena Griffin5.0Edited 4 months ago“Great selection but alot of dead fish. All the tanks are crudded up with algae. Employees not very knowledgeable. Left messages with store owner to get info on tank set up but still hasn't responded. 2weeks.”
— Lisa Laird3.04 months ago“Went in today to get some fresh water fish for our new 5 gallon aquarium and the gentleman working was very knowledgeable and patient with us while we asked questions about which combination of fish would fit our tank the best.”
— Matt5.04 months ago“Found the largest piece of spiderwood I've seen for my tank here, I was then asked about my set up. He showed me as I asked what fish his suppliers had available. Main fish I asked about was a Bolivian ram that he could get in within a week”
— KrillinIt4.0a month ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (608) 554-3473 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Badgerland Saltwater.