Sarasota, FL · Open 7 Days

Healthy Fish. Honest Advice. Sarasota's Specialty Aquarium Store.

Every fish quarantined two weeks before sale.

Fish from $3. Reef builds from $500. 120+ display tanks, dedicated coral room, and staff who actually keep tanks at home.

Visit the Store Call (941) 555-0178

2-Week Quarantine 120+ Display Tanks 25+ Years Experience

Owner Marcus Chen beside a saltwater reef tank

4.9

Google Rating

120+

Reviews

120+

Display Tanks

25+

Years Experience

What's in the store

Freshwater, Saltwater, and Reef Fish in Sarasota

Planted freshwater community aquarium with schooling tetras

Beginner Friendly

Freshwater Tropical Fish

Tetras, rasboras, livebearers, gouramis, plecos, corydoras — every fish quarantined two weeks before it hits the floor.

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Saltwater reef tank with clownfish and corals

Specialty

Saltwater Fish & Reef

Clownfish, tangs, wrasses, gobies, blennies — quarantined, reef-safe options labeled, brand inventory from Ecotech to Kessil.

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Cichlids

Mbuna, Peacocks, Apistogramma, Bolivian Rams, Keyholes — with rockwork and aggression-management know-how at the counter.

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Bettas

Healthy bettas housed in real tanks (not cups) with honest tank-size advice and tank-mates that actually work.

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Goldfish & Pond Fish

Fancy goldfish, comets, shubunkin, seasonal koi — with honest tank-size advice and Florida-climate stocking notes.

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Aquarium equipment aisle with filters and lighting

Equipment & Supplies

Fluval, Eheim, AI, Kessil, Seachem, Fritz, Hikari — the gear and consumables hobbyists actually use.

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Read the Beginner Guides

The Difference

Why Sarasota Hobbyists Drive Past Big-Box Stores

2-Week Quarantine on Every Fish

We hold every fish for two weeks before sale to catch ich, velvet, flukes, and bacterial infections. Anything that doesn't make it through never hits the floor.

Honest Stocking Advice

We'd rather lose a sale than send you home with fish that won't survive together. Tell us your tank, we'll tell you what fits.

120+ Display Tanks

A dedicated saltwater room, full coral selection, and freshwater you won't find at chains. See the livestock before you commit.

Locally Owned, 25+ Years

Marcus opened the shop in 2019 after decades behind aquarium counters. Real expertise, not a corporate script.

Free Setup Consultation

Walk in with your tank dimensions, photos, and a water sample — we'll spec the build, free water testing included.

Brand Inventory

Fluval, Eheim, AI, Kessil, Seachem, Fritz, Hikari, New Life Spectrum — the gear serious hobbyists actually use.

Inside the store

120+ display tanks. One coral room.

Sarasota aquarium store interior with rows of freshwater tanks — Freshwater display row

Dedicated saltwater room with reef tanks — Saltwater room

Coral frag rack with SPS, LPS, and softies — Frag rack

Marcus Chen helping a hobbyist at the counter — Honest counter advice

Quarantine room with bare-bottom holding tanks — The quarantine room

Planted freshwater display with schooling rasboras — Planted display

African cichlid tank with elaborate rockwork — African cichlids

All-in-one nano reef tank example — Nano reef demo

Bring a water sample. We'll test it free.

Setup advice is free too. Walk in, call ahead, or email — no appointment needed.

Visit the Store Call (941) 555-0178

What Hobbyists Say

Customers Who Came Back

4.9 · 120+ Google reviews

"My kids' first aquarium has been running 2 years now thanks to the setup advice here. No losses!"

Jennifer K.

Lakewood Ranch, FL

"I drove past three big-box stores to come here. Quarantined fish, real expertise, and they remember my tank from visit to visit."

Tom R.

Bradenton, FL

"Finally a fish store where the staff knows what they're talking about. Marcus talked me out of buying fish that would've died in my tank. That's integrity."

Dave M.

Sarasota, FL

By the Numbers

Sarasota's Specialty Fish Store, By the Numbers

25+

Years Experience

Owner Marcus Chen, since 1998

120+

Display Tanks

Freshwater, saltwater, coral room

2 wk

Quarantine Standard

Every fish, before it ships

4.9

Google Rating

120+ reviews

Brands hobbyists trust — stocked in store

Fluval

Filtration

Eheim

Filters & pumps

Reef lighting

Kessil

LED lighting

Seachem

Water care

Fritz

Bacteria, salt

Hikari

Premium food

New Life Spectrum

Pellet diet

Common questions

Aquarium Questions, Answered

Why do you quarantine all your fish for 2 weeks?

Two weeks lets us catch ich, velvet, flukes, and bacterial infections before they hit your tank. Big-box and most online sellers ship straight from wholesalers — that's why their fish die so often. Anything that doesn't make it through quarantine never goes on the sales floor.

Will you really refuse to sell me fish that won't work in my tank?

Yes. We'd rather lose a $30 sale than have you replace a $200 tank of dead livestock. Tell us your tank size and current stock, and we'll tell you honestly what fits and what doesn't.

Is saltwater really too hard for a beginner?

No, but it's harder than freshwater and the equipment costs more upfront. Plan on $500-800 for a nano reef, three to six months to feel confident, and a willingness to learn salt mixing, RO/DI, and a refractometer. Free consultation any time.

Do I really need RO/DI water in Sarasota?

For a reef tank, yes. Sarasota tap has chloramines and meaningful TDS — both kill corals and stress sensitive fish. For most freshwater community tanks, dechlorinator is fine; for soft-water species or planted setups, RO/DI helps a lot. We sell units and can demo before you buy.

Do you charge for setup advice?

No. The aquarium setup consultation is free, walk-in or by appointment. Bring your tank dimensions, photos, and a water sample if your tank is cycled — we'll do free water testing too.

See All FAQs

Stop in. See the quarantine room. See the coral room.

2847 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota. Mon-Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 12pm-5pm. Plenty of free parking.

Visit the Store Call (941) 555-0178

Mon-Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 12pm-5pm · 2847 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota, FL 34239