Best (freshwater) fish store in LA?

kuni · 02-24-2011, 09:04 PM

I'll be in LA this weekend, curious as to which stores folks would recommend. I'm primarily after rare plants and fish.

yogi1974 · 02-24-2011, 10:30 PM

Try Nature Aquarium in Santa Monica, Lotus Aquarium in Lawndale, Jim's Exotic near LAX, Allan's in Venice, Neptune's reef in Torrance and A+ tropical in Temple City...

boringname · 02-24-2011, 10:37 PM

I mostly go to the nearby petco but I'm guessing thats not what you had in mind. I've been to so few LFS around here that I can give you the run down on each one. I buy most of my stuff, including fish, from online sources.

Nature Aquarium, Santa Monica ave., Santa Monica
Run by a Japanese immigrant, he totally goes for the ADA style. Has the best collection of freshwater fish and plants I've seen around here. Lots of the fish are unusual, don't remember any rare plants.

Allan's Tropical Fish in Venice
Good prices are the main attraction, lots of choices for food and equipment. The freshwater fish collection isn't that great and is very variable. Sometimes they will have something unusual but not regularly.

Medusa LA, pico blvd, West LA.
Mostly saltwater and herps, biggest collection of coral I've ever seen in a store. Small freshwater section in back, a couple unusual fish, not much. But the owner really knows his stuff. I treat this place as a small, free museum. : )

Aquarium and Pet Center, Wilshire blvd, Santa Monica
A lot of high end saltwater fish, some fresh but not a lot. Might have some unusual freshwater fish because they tilt to the high end, but I don't go there a lot.

SunnyD · 02-27-2011, 08:33 AM

My favorite is The Aquarium (http://www.theaquariumco.com/). Has the best collection of freshwater fish and a decent amount of saltwater as well. Plant selection is alright, but nothing special.

**epicfish** · 02-27-2011, 12:30 PM

The Aquarium has a decent amount of freshwater fish.

For nano/pico fish and plants though, my vote goes to Nature Aquarium.

02-24-2011, 09:04 PM	#1
kuni Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: May 2010 Location: Davis, CA Posts: 433	Best (freshwater) fish store in LA? I'll be in LA this weekend, curious as to which stores folks would recommend. I'm primarily after rare plants and fish.

02-24-2011, 10:30 PM	#2
yogi1974 Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Whitewater, California Posts: 160	Try Nature Aquarium in Santa Monica, Lotus Aquarium in Lawndale, Jim's Exotic near LAX, Allan's in Venice, Neptune's reef in Torrance and A+ tropical in Temple City... __________________

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02-24-2011, 10:37 PM	#3
boringname Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: los angeles Posts: 540	I mostly go to the nearby petco but I'm guessing thats not what you had in mind. I've been to so few LFS around here that I can give you the run down on each one. I buy most of my stuff, including fish, from online sources. Nature Aquarium, Santa Monica ave., Santa Monica Run by a Japanese immigrant, he totally goes for the ADA style. Has the best collection of freshwater fish and plants I've seen around here. Lots of the fish are unusual, don't remember any rare plants. Allan's Tropical Fish in Venice Good prices are the main attraction, lots of choices for food and equipment. The freshwater fish collection isn't that great and is very variable. Sometimes they will have something unusual but not regularly. Medusa LA, pico blvd, West LA. Mostly saltwater and herps, biggest collection of coral I've ever seen in a store. Small freshwater section in back, a couple unusual fish, not much. But the owner really knows his stuff. I treat this place as a small, free museum. : ) Aquarium and Pet Center, Wilshire blvd, Santa Monica A lot of high end saltwater fish, some fresh but not a lot. Might have some unusual freshwater fish because they tilt to the high end, but I don't go there a lot.

02-27-2011, 08:33 AM	#4
SunnyD Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 18	My favorite is The Aquarium (http://www.theaquariumco.com/). Has the best collection of freshwater fish and a decent amount of saltwater as well. Plant selection is alright, but nothing special.

02-27-2011, 12:30 PM	#5
epicfish Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (266/100%) Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Northern California Posts: 9,417	The Aquarium has a decent amount of freshwater fish. For nano/pico fish and plants though, my vote goes to Nature Aquarium.