Aquarium Paradise

11724 Pacific Hwy SW, Lakewood, WA 98499, USA

Address:	11724 Pacific Hwy SW, Lakewood, WA 98499, USA
Phone:	+1 253-584-3474
Site:	aquariumparadise.com
Rating:	4.2
Working:	11AM–8PM 11AM–8PM 11AM–8PM 11AM–8PM 11AM–8PM 11AM–8PM 11AM–6PM

Location

Photos 100

Reviews 5

A Private User

This is the BEST fish store I have been to. I have stopped in to literally just talk about fish and they always take the time to answer all of my millions of questions. I used to buy my fish at Petsmart and Petco and those are okay if you dont really want your fish to be long lived. The associates at those kinds of stores didnt even know how to pronounce the names of the fish that I was looking at. They also didnt tell me ANYTHING about acclimation, how many fish to add at once, and all sorts of other valuable information so when I first got my tank I went through two sets of fish. I was devastated. However, after stumbling upon this store I have had the chance to talk to people who really understand how to set up a tank and successfully keep your fish. Not only do they tell you and help you through this process, but they also give great advice when it comes to which fish to get. I had already had African cichlids and wanted to get more fish. I didnt know you shouldnt mix your cichlids that are from different regions but they quickly told me that it was best not to do so. They actually have their store set up so that the cichlids that are from Africa are in one section and the cichlids from South America are in another section. They also told me to add a buffer and salt into my tank, which of course not only do the corporate pet stores not tell you to do this, but they dont even sell those products! When I wanted to get a large cichlid that I would have spent $50 on, they told me to actually go smaller because these are aggressive fish so it is best to raise them from a smaller age if you want to keep more than one. Also, before selling me fish after I had told them about my other fish dying they recommended that I bring in samples of my water, which they test for free. I have had my water tested there several times before I buy fish to ensure that it is okay to add more. No corporate fish store that I know of will test your water. They also let me know that I need to keep my hardness at 8.2 for my cichlids and so much more valuable information I could go on forever. Needless to say thanks to Aquarium Paradise my cichlids are now healthy and happy. When I couldnt get them to eat, they recommended all sorts of great food products and specially made items for them and they have the cutest tank decorations...I am so happy with my tank and fish now. In fact, I have always wanted a saltwater tank but since I was "failing" (due to the incorrect or lack of information I had received from corporate pet stores) to keep my FW fish alive I almost gave up. Now that I have learned so much from that I am actually going to get a saltwater tank and maintain a coral reef. I am so super excited about this and have stopped by many times just to ask them questions. They told me EVERYTHING I need and everything I need to know! Best of all, they offer house calls! They told me that if I needed help with the set up or even wanted to buy a FW tank and add a sump to it that they could drill one for me and completely set up my tank. They might be more pricey than "Petco down the street," but it is COMPLETELY WORTH IT. YOU CANNOT PUT A PRICE ON THE QUALITY OF THEIR FISH. I have even brought back fish because they were not getting along and they give you a credit for it and helped me pick out a different fish as well as told me tricks to help all the fish acclimate to each other. The amount of valuable information that they give is so priceless. The quality, the service, and the selection are unbeatable. Oh and by the way, THEY WILL ORDER ANY FISH YOU WANT. Corporate fish stores will not do that for you. Last of all, if you dont even want fish you can still stop by and see the "Feeding Frenzy" where you get to watch their HUGE cichlids destroy their live food. I have never seen such big fish in any other store. Obviously, these people know what they are doing.

jen barben

They sold me a fish that would grow to be 14 inches in length. I explained to Mike that I only had a 55 gallon tank and wanted a pleco that only grew to a max of 6 inches. He lied to me and told it wouldnt get any bigger then that. After I got home and googled the fish I found out that it wasnt the fish that he told it was. I called and was offered store credit if the fish makes it through quarantine. If not then they will do something for me but not much to quote the guy on the phone. So beware. They want to sell the fish multiple times and not take care of their customers . I went back and to my surprise they sold me 3 Cory cats and a piece of driftwood from the tanks.. I wanted a dry piece but he wouldnt do that. I was given almost 10 dollar back. It sucked I had to return it. But I will say they made it better.. well change stars if the fish do well..

MCKENNA ANDERSON

Very good selection of fish most healthy, some had ice, fungal infections, or otherwise were not healthy in some way....The Betta fish though were very poor kept and very ill looking. Being a Betta breeder it really bothered me the fact there were bowls of not even more than a cup of water being sold with these fish as permanent homes. Each Betta was clamped and lethargic, no heater or anything. The containers they were in couldnt be more than half a cup of water. I jar my fish and I would not even put them in any of the containers they were being housed in. I am very disappointed as the quality for the other fish was great, but the Betta was horrendous. I wont be coming back for that reason I hope they decide to change their care of the betta fish because otherwise I would go back. I rarely use this term but the care of the betta fish is literally cruel.

John McMillian

I used to shop here often. While the customer service is excellent, I have a big issue with their Malawi cichlid selection.Although Aquarium Paradise staff are clearly knowledgeable in the needs of these fish they have more hybrids than any big box chain store Ive ever been to.Which is a terrible thing for any African cichlid enthusiast. I still go in from time to time but Ive been nothing but disappointed. That being said, they do have a huge selection of freshwater and saltwater fishes. When I do visit I always go back to see their wolf cichlid tank. That big male is an absolute sight for sore eyes. I say check them out for sure. just dont buy the Malawis. consumers need to do their part, and hold merchants responsible for providing poor product.Selling hybrid Malawis is out of control thanks mostly in part to stores like this

Erik Schmidt

They carry Hikari frozen fish food. When the pet store here in Olympia is running low or they have an event I make the drive to this place. Its simply amazing. healthy fish, knowledgeable staff and a great selection of supplies. Very reasonable prices. If you want to do more than just have a tank with basic fish come to this place. Skip those big box stores because you want your future fish cared for as much if not better than you would before you buy them. These folks know their stuff. Every fish Ive bought from them is still alive and kicking years later. 2 mated angelfish, 3 powder blue gouramis, 3 silver dollars, 2 dojo loaches and a red tail shark are so far my count of fish from here. All still amazing albeit much bigger than when I brought the little guys home.