Aquatic Zoo Tropical Fish

They had what I wanted and let me pick. The price was just what I wanted to pay. And I love display tanks. Awesome
Thanks guys for taking care of me
Keith

I was happy with my experience at Aquatic Zoo. None of my fish have died yet, but it hasn’t even been even 24 hours yet. I came there with a set budget for my saltwater setup and the owner put together a package that was close to my budget. I did have to make a second transaction for something I thought that was included, but that was my own fault because I assumed it was included and didn’t ask. What I liked the most was that they took the time and explained things and didn’t make me feel like an idiot. They also went over above the call of duty to make sure that I could get my aquarium set up and running THE SAME DAY. They did this by letting me take 10 gallons of their own cured and cycled aquarium water in their own service jugs. Other fish stores in Thousand Oaks act as they though they could care less about your business and frankly treat customers pretty poorly. Aquatic zoo also has a great variety of saltwater fish and choral. So yes I’d recommend.

Best store and best owner ever if you guys looking for a quality fish and coral you should go there and thank you guys for doing a great job servicing my tank my fish looks so happy and very healthy!!!

Got my 90 gallon tank, first time working with salt water fish. Ken the owner of the place was very helpful he guided me through it as well as checked up on my tank on his day off to make sure everything was going well.
They have a great quality of fish as well as exotic birds and reptiles. Love visiting from time to time to feed fluffy there cockatoo mascot for the store.
I recommend anyone that’s starting off fresh to come visit.

Great place! Beautiful fish! Great service! Our tank has lasted 5 years so far, the owner is very helpful, he made sure we got what we need for an amazing price. I definitely recommend everyone looking for a magnificent aquarium with a great selection of fish to definitely go check out this store!

This is a great place! Many beautiful fish with a knowledgeable staff. They were very helpful and they didn’t pressure me to buy. I would definitely come back again!

terrible customer service and when you first start a tank will completely rip you off thats why ken gets no repeat business his prices are outrageous and is low on fish

We’re 5 months into our tank setup. Aquarium Zoo’s advice/​products that they recommend have kept our fish and tank really healthy.
Loyal customer now :-)

I love this store. They helped me set up a 50 gallon reef tank in my home. They were extremely knowledgeable, guided me on which were the best corals and fish, explained to me about the different foods and what to feed. I also have their salt water tank service and love the guys and how friendly and helpful they are whenever they come out to service my tank.

If you don’t care about money and want to be taken advantage of than go here! Owner is a thief and a liar! I have been here several times and have spent over $ 1000 and have nothing to show for it. He always tries to upsell you and he gets frustrated when you keep asking him questions. He loves to say «do you want it or not?» I paid $ 49.99 for fish food that you can get at Aquarium City for $ 20 and at Tat Tropical Illusion for $ 24.99. Almost everything we have bought from him has died! He will tell you one price and at the register it changes. I suggest going to Tat Tropical for all your needs. Very nice and know what they are talking about. Prices are much better that this Sh%t Hole!
If his quality of fish and products were the best than I can see paying his prices. He should be in jail for the crap he sells and how he raises the price at the register!
How many of you get the Tigger Pods pushed at you the whole time you are there?

Was referred over to this store and it was very pricey but the quality of the fish was great and that is what you look for in a saltwater fish if you are going to pay if you buy several fish. I purchased 9 fish ranging from tangs to wrasse and it’s been over two months and all are healthy and disease free. So paying 10 – 30 more for each fish was worth it because that is hard to accomplish

I went in looking at aquariums. I asked the price on a nano cube 29. He said I think $ 350. Called his dad and asked how much. He turned to me and said Yea like I said $ 400. I asked how much was the stand. He peeled the sticker off so I couldn’t see and said $ 250. Then told me he could set me up for about $ 900 for both and I would get some of their saltwater that has cycled and maybe a few fish.. Wtf? Total ripoff. I ordered the tank, stand, and a protein skimmer delivered for $ 400

The employee bagged two fish for me and brought them to the counter. The owner/​manager asked how much they were and the listed price on the tank was $ 8.99 a piece. He then says «oh no those are supposed to be $ 12.99» and charged me above the listed price on the tank. I will not be returning to this store since apparently they change prices at the register as they please. I also donated 7 small fish that I no longer wanted, but still was up charged at checkout.

They are over priced to begin with, I have to say they hire great kids hired to service you,… but Ive spent over $ 300 at this place, and always try to be upsold. Recently, I was sold a $ 30 fish that I was told «was the best fish for my tank». It lost its color in 1 week after purchase… this is because they purchase their fish from the orient, where the fish are injected with hormones. This would have been somewhat ok if they would have been honest… but the fact that i was sold this injected fish and they havent even responded to me after 2 months, asking to atleast replace the fish for another of the same price is not acceptable. Go elsewhere unless you want to deal with this shit

Went today not knowing much about tanks or the equipment. The owner was really patient and helpful even took the time to fix my hood lamp. Prices are definitely high but the customer service rocked!

A lot of mixed reviews here. I wanted to go here a few times and experience what this place has to offer before I wrote mine.
Upon walking in it is very crowded but understandable. The freshwater and saltwater selection they have is actually quite impressive. They get a few rare fish and it’s pretty awesome.
I’ve gotten quite a few fish from here. Some have died. But that was sight the shops fault and mine. Basically I didn’t inspect the fish well enough to know when I got it home it had been picked on. Fins were torn and it was already completely stressed out.
Regardless I’ve had 8 danios, 4 barbs and 4 Corys from here perfectly healthy living happily in my planted tank. Since the last 2 fish have died I’ve gotten I’ve been hesitant to get a pleco since it’s a bit more expensive. But I feel that if you take enough time to look at and inspect the fish you buy you’ll be fine.
Ken is quite the salesman which is expected it is his shop. But he’s also very helpful. I had gotten a few fish that didn’t like my tank so I was able to bring them back and return exchange them with no issues.
The staff is very nice and helpful. Most are hobbyists as well. So it’s nice to talk to other aquatic hobbyists.
They also have birds and snakes. Kinda random but they do. They all seem healthy and taken care of so no issues there.
I’d say the only reason I didn’t give it 5 stars is because of price and cleanliness. Shop definitely needs to be remodeled a bit or cleaned up a tad. And the fish are highly overpriced. But I pay it knowing my fish are healthy and taken care of. As long as you take the time to pick them!
Always when you buy from any pet store. Inspect the fish for ich, fin rot or weird behavior. Not doing so will result in having loss of fish.
I will update my review when I get my new pleco and a few more Corys.

Thought I’d try them again since it’s been a while since I stopped in. Initially as last time, staff was friendly but the owner, his name is Ken, originally quoted a lower price and then when I came back to make my purchase, Ken did not honor the lower price. I guess I’m done trying this store. Will have to settle with Tat’s tropical fish store, or go to the valley.

Long story — We inherited a large goldfish from a friend who unfortunately passed away and wanted to set up a free aquarium we found for him. I have many years of experience keeping freshwater fish including Oscars, cats, plecos, tetras, guppies — you name it. However this is a brand new thing for my wife…
While shopping for a decoration, my wife stopped into Aquatic Zoo Tropical Fish and the staff sold her items we did not need at prices which were way too high. They also did not provide her with a receipt, so it was doubtful if they would provide us with a refund.
Bottom line, I went back with her to return the items, which they didn’t do, but they did exchange them for other things we could use, so it worked out fine. Seriously, for a goldfish, a discount pet store like Petco is fine…
On the plus side, the staff were very friendly and their selection of freshwater and saltwater fish, coral and plants was pretty impressive. However their prices were definitely on the high side, running about 20% or more than you’d find at other places. Also the store was pretty cramped and disorganized, which made walking around with staff and other customers awkward. The store was in fact so filled with items, that when open, they would place items such as cages with birds outside the store on the walkway. Time for a bigger place…
It could definitely use a good cleaning as well.
If you’re looking for a truly beautiful fish, they had many fine examples, but just beware of the price and make sure you ask for a receipt.

Now that I’ve been in the reefing hobby for a bit, after A LOT of baptismal by fire, I’ve realized that Aquatic Zoo isn’t necessarily the best choice.
The owner gave me quite a bit of antiquated and, at times, very inhumane advice (for example cycling a tank with damselfish).
Also, one of the damsels turned out to be infested with the dreaded brooklynella hostilis protozoa parasite!!! I took a picture of the dead damsel back to them for diagnosis; they said ammonia poisoning from the cycle. Even though my ammonia never got above .05 ppm and for less than a day (not great, but not necessarily deadly in such a short time), he was the «expert.» Had I known it was brooklynellosis I would have googled the crap out of the disease, like I’ve had to do since, and allowed my tank to remain fallow for more than a few weeks. Now my two clowns (bought from a much more reputable store in Canoga Park) are at death’s door with brooklynellosis (never showed signs during quarantine, so must have gotten in from my main tank, where the damsel was).
It’s an ok store if you know what you need and can’t wait and get it online (or, for me, if I can’t get out to the valley and need something right away).
Don’t go here for livestock, or at minimum quarantine for a month before putting any living thing from here in your main tank. Had I known better and quarantined the damselfish, my clowns wouldn’t be fighting for their lives now! Any reputable fish store guarantees their livestore for at least five days; no guarantees at Aquatic Zoo. My favorite Canoga Park-​based fish store has a seven day guarantee!!!
To sum up, better than some but no where near great.

I used to come here a lot for fish and supplies but its been a while now as there is better service around the TO area. It’s not the quality of the fish or animals its their failure to recognize the customer knowledge or lack of and then provide the appropriate service that goes with that. Qualify your customers guys and then treat accordingly, and don’t sell newbies stuff they don’t need.
I started a saltwater reef tank, I had already purchased the tank on Craig’s list and saved 50% and went in to get live rock, sand and water to get started. I was told my tank was too small, my lights we no good and needed to buy stuff that was more than i could afford. Then I went in for a skimmer and other stuff and they wouldn’t price match. Then I got the 3^rd degree on why I bought it from somewhere else and I just got pissed off. I have been in high level sales all my life and I can spot this $hit from a mile away and you lost my business because of it.
So, If you are going to get any kind of aquarium set up then you need to do your research on line and lots of it, even if its a simple set up for the kids. It doesn’t matter which LFS (local fish shop) you go to advice is varied. If your not prepared to research extensively what type of setup you are ready or able to look after, use proper water from your LFS, and understand water parameters and the nitrogen cycle, nor prepared to climatize your new arrivals then fish die and you can’t blame the shop. Visit a few places before you get started, ask lots of questions before you start and see what store you’re comfortable with. If your going salt and corals then it will take patience and lots of it, but very rewarding. Your own few square feet of ocean in the living room… but if its for the kids room then keep it simple and freshwater fish only.
This is a good, well stocked LFS, they do know they’re stuff here… but so should you! They give good advice when needed but like anywhere, if business is slow then salesmen do their thing and it could cost you and more fool you. It doesn’t matter who runs the place.
BTW, I have a 40 gallon coral reef tank with fish that looks beautiful and I am very happy with it.