I'm so sorry I can't remember the name of our tour guide (we came on mother's day at 4pm). She was…read morefantastic! I bought the tour for my family and it was SO WORTH IT. We got to feed the lemurs and the porcupines (my favorite), and the pet giant tortoises and Sid the Sloth (my mom's favorite). The entire tour was SO educational and it was obvious that these animals were being looked after my experts who knew all about them and their needs and reasons they could not be released/re-released into their natural habitat. I learned so much about each animal. It couldn't have been any better. Highly recommend this tour, because what better way to support this kind of sanctuary with your money?

Decided to go somewhere local today as a family. Scored some tickets on Groupon! Amazing!!! They're…read moreopen M-S 10AM-5PM. Staff is very friendly. We followed the path and saw some animals. My daughter was so excited. They had a reptile zone. Saw bald eagles! Through out the walk way there are plenty of benches under trees. They have a seating section where you can have picnics & bring your own lunch! Over all we enjoyed the wild life center very much. We would return.

This created such a wonderful memory for my whole entire family. I'm so glad that I connected with…read morethis organization. Everything went smoothly and was super professional. The kids got to spend good quality time with the species. It felt like a dream to be able to have this experience in my own home. I highly recommend.

We took the grandkids yesterday, November 23 2022 to go to…read morethe aquarium. It was NOT there! According to the other businesses in the strip mall they moved out a while ago!

Tony is always helpful and you get the best possible prices anywhere. They have a great selection…read moreof fish at great prices.

I am highly disappointed with our experience here and will not be returning…read more My 9-year-old daughter was originally so excited to visit this shop with her dad to buy her very first guppies. Unfortunately, they died within 24 hours, leaving her heartbroken. Since we live in the High Desert, we aren't local, but we decided to stop by again when we were back in the area. We spoke directly with Miguel and explained what happened. He assured my husband and me that if we took pictures of any future losses and kept our receipt, we could call him within 3 days and he "would work something out" with us. Based on that assurance, we bought 20 more fish. Sadly, the majority of them have already died. I followed instructions perfectly: I took photos of the dead fish and kept my receipt. However, when I called the shop, Miguel completely changed his terms, stating I now needed to bring the physical dead fish into the store and provide a water sample. I tested my water quality myself, and it is perfectly within range. In fact, I already have an existing tank of guppies that are actively thriving and reproducing--we only bought these new fish to add some color. Furthermore, the fish we purchased from Rainbow brought Ich into our established tank. Despite immediately treating the tank, the infection still killed the new fish and compromised my healthy ones. It is incredibly frustrating to be given a verbal guarantee only to have the store move the goalposts when a problem arises. Terrible customer service and unhealthy livestock. Save your time and money and go elsewhere.

Aquarium City is one of those places that reminds you why local fish stores matter…read more Every employee I've interacted with has been friendly, helpful, and genuinely passionate about fishkeeping. I've asked plenty of questions over time and have always received thoughtful, accurate advice. In fact, some of the best advice I've gotten there has been when they talked me OUT of buying something that wasn't right for my tank. Their fish are healthy, their tanks are clean, and the overall level of care is obvious the moment you walk through the door. As someone who pays close attention to fish health and aquarium maintenance, that's something I notice immediately. I drive past other stores to shop here because I trust the staff, trust the quality of their livestock, and know they care about the animals they're selling. That's earned my business for the long term.

I cannot say enough amazing things about Aquarium City. From the moment you walk in, you can tell…read morethis place is run by people who truly care, not just about their business, but about their customers and the animals themselves. The selection is incredible. Everything is clean, well maintained, and thoughtfully set up. You don't get that overwhelming, chaotic feeling that a lot of aquarium stores have. This place feels organized, calm, and honestly just really beautiful to walk through. What really sets them apart though is the customer service. They take their time with you, answer every question no matter how small, and you can tell they actually know what they're talking about. There is no pressure and no upselling, just genuinely helpful guidance, which is so rare these days. I also really appreciate how much they care about making sure you're set up for success, not just making a sale. They give honest advice and want your tank to thrive long after you leave the store. Whether you're brand new to aquariums or have been doing this for years, this is hands down the place to go. You can feel the passion the second you walk in. I will definitely be coming back again and again. Highly, highly recommend.

***This review is for gift shop only***…read more My eldest daughter and I were at Santa Monica Pier for the Heal the Bay beach cleanup volunteer event recently. After the event, I wanted to offer my patronage and support them on their wonderful cause. I found their standalone gift shop that happens to be near the centralized restroom area. I saw a shirt that I liked, but the lady behind the counter suggested I check out their gift shop located inside their Heal the Bay Aquarium as they have other shirt selections. I took the lady's recommendation. Upon arrival at their main gift shop, they did not carry the shirt I wanted. Btw, it's a very small aquarium and gift shop. We headed back to the standalone gift shop location and they were closed. OMG... I was so bummed! I guess both gift shops have different operating hours. I didn't get my shirt and I don't know when I'll return to Santa Monica Pier. I guess I was not meant to buy that shirt at that time. Until we meet again, be good my shirt!

A quaint aquarium right at the heart of the SMP, (Santa Monica Pier) serving the community by…read moreteaching guests all about the different sea life they have thriving there! I took my son, (9yo) and he had a blast! There were a few touch tanks, a cool lil gift shop, and vital information all around! If you're looking for another fun activity to do at the SMP, I definitely recommend visiting Heal the Bay Aquarium; you will not be disappointed!

The California Science Museum is the best and maybe only option for kids and adults to experience…read morethe world of science around us in Los Angeles. The Space Shuttle Endeavor is here and might have been what initially drew me to the museum but they have an IMAX theater as well as new rotating exhibits to keep things fresh. The current new exhibit is Mummies. And don't forget to go outside and see the SR-71 Blackbird by the parking structure.

This place has changed so much the last time I came more than a decade ago!…read more I wanted to bring my son to experience the wonders of science and since o only had to pay for parking, that's not a bad deal. However, I forgot it's next to a stadium so there's cars going into the parking lots and it's confusing when you see a $60 parking sign but luckily museum parking is not the same. The place definitely changed, it seems so much darker, simplistic, and less colorful than I remembered. We didn't purchase any of the specific exhibits so we only went to the free pertinent exhibits which we went through within an hour! I had to slow my son down and because it's so crowded he didn't want to wait in line to look or try anything. I was able to get him to watch some videos playing around the life cycle exhibit, and then he got hungry so we went to the first floor food court. I know it says no food or drinks in the exhibits but I saw a lot of people snacking and drinking in the area, I don't think staff realized because it was so crowded. At the food court, they had a variety of stalls and we went straight to the burgers and pizza, we ordered a pizza and chili fries which my son ate mostly pizza and the snacks i brought. Thy also had a mini market convenience stall which sold snacks as well and a cafe which had ice cream and coffee. I think this place is decent, I can see some of the old things left behind like condiments station and furniture set to the side, so I think they are always revamping the pla

As Chairman of the Board for a multifamily building in West Los Angeles, I've worked with many…read morevendors over the years--and Pacific Pond and Aquarium stands out as one of the most professional and reliable we've engaged. From the very beginning, their team was highly responsive and easy to work with. What really impressed me was their willingness to review photos I sent in advance, provide initial diagnostics, and offer thoughtful recommendations even before stepping on site. That level of accessibility and expertise saved us time and helped us feel confident moving forward. Their pricing was competitive, and the communication throughout the process was clear, prompt, and professional. They were also readily available by phone and asked all the right questions to fully understand our setup and needs. A special shoutout to Kaelib, the technician who handled our project. He was outstanding--professional, detail-oriented, and clearly takes pride in his work. He made sure we had the correct pump (upgrading us from a level 3 to a level 5 for proper water flow), carefully aligned the fountain, and ensured everything was operating at optimal performance. Beyond just completing the job, Kaelib went above and beyond by sharing his knowledge on how to maintain the fountain year-round, which we really appreciated. He also power washed the area and left the site spotless after activating the system. Overall, this was a smooth, high-quality experience from start to finish. I would highly recommend Pacific Pond and Aquarium to any HOA, property manager, or homeowner looking for knowledgeable, responsive, and detail-oriented service.

NOTE: The intro to this review is a tad long. You can skip half of it and go straight to the point…read moreof the review: Pacific Pond and Aquarium is a great company. Andrew has assembled a team of experts that will take care of all of your pond and aquarium needs. And now to the review. About 25 years ago I set up a garden railway (G gauge) in my backyard. One of the features of my garden railway was a small pond, with a waterfall, for the train to travel around and behind the waterfall. The pond was stocked with fish and plants and it was all quite nice. But due to the demands of a growing family and long work hours, my entire garden railway "empire" fell into disrepair, the mainline was abandoned and the little village buildings eventually fell apart. Unlike an indoor layout, a garden railway is subject to all the same forces that a real railway is subject to and so, eventually Mother Nature reclaimed the garden. The pond and waterfall remained in use, but eventually those too fell into disrepair, the fish died and the plants disappeared Into oblivion. All that was left were some rock formations and a big, empty hole in the backyard that filled with water every time it rained. It got to the point where I had considered filling the pond with dirt and turning into a giant planter area. But something said NO, DON'T DO THAT. Flash forward 10 years to 2026. And that is where Andrew and his team at Pacific Pond and Aquarium (PPA) came in...and the actual point of this review. After looking at different companies I decided to e-mail PPA to inquire about repairing the pond and waterfall. After a couple of days (I tend to be impatient and so at that point I had lost hope of hearing from PPA) I heard from Andrew and set up an appointment for him to assess the damage. From that point on things moved fast. Andrew and I discussed a plan of action, that included a thorough cleaning of the pond to remove all the layers of accumulated muck, two fresh coats of sealant, a new filtration system, new pumps and a skimmer. I received a formal, written estimate. I still had a few questions which Andrew promptly answered. I approved the project and within days Alex showed up to clean the pond. He REALLY had to work hard and he spent a very long time cleaning out years of neglect. It was the first time, in more than 20 years, that I had seen the bottom of the pond . The next step was applying the first coat of sealant. That was Kaileb (sp?) job. Again, he spent a great deal of time making sure that the first coat was properly applied. Now the project was moving along. Andrew came to apply the second coat. After Andrew was done with the second coat the walls of the pond looked great, nice and smooth. Now it was time for the equipment set up. The following Monday Andrew showed up to set up the pumps, filters and all electrical connections. There were still a few kinks to be worked out, but Andrew kept working at it, working out all the details. I kept going in and out of the house, hovering around to check the work and to ask Andrew questions. By the end of what seemed (to me and I am sure to Andrew as well) a very long day everything was hooked and ready to go. Andrew turned the switch on and the waterfall, that had been dead and neglected for so many years, came back to life. I could not have been more impressed, or happier, if I had been standing watching Niagara Falls. There are a few more things to add, lighting to highlight the waterfall and, of course fish and plants. But for now, my pond and waterfall are back in business. I am also working on restoring the garden railway so soon, hopefully, there will be trains running around my garden. To summon up what has been a very long review, these are the highlights: PPA is a great company. They do fantastic work for a very reasonable price. Andrew is a great guy to work with, courteous and friendly. The two team members that worked on my project, Alex and Kaileb, are hard working guys who know what they are doing and do it well. If you are looking to set up a new pond, or water feature, for your home or business OR if you are like me and need a company to bring your water garden back to life, look no further than PPA. Give Andrew a call and let the experts at PPA take care of you. I only posted a couple of pictures. I will amend this review to add more photos once the plants and fish go in.

Found John on here while looking for help with our turtle and fish tank - both COVID purchases for…read moreour son that everyone swore they would be responsible for then failed John was super responsive, easy to schedule and punctual. I am so glad we now have him coming for monthly service as it saves us time, bickering on who is doing it and mostly importantly he does a much better job than we do! Was also very efficient - both done in 45 mins or so. He also gave me some great info on our little pets.

Great service! Was unhappy with my previous service provider so found John on Yelp. He's been…read moreservicing our tank for about 6 months and its the best it's ever looked. Highly recommend!

What a wonderful conservation center, endorsed by none other Dame Jane Goodall (may she RIP)…read more Started by one man motivated to help one gibbon, it has become a world-renowned center for conserving one of our closest relatives and a highly endangered genus, the Gibbon. Our tour focused on the importance of helping our fellow primates survive and the risks that we, their cousins, create for them through development, deforestation, and poaching. We were provided with a lot of information related to Gibbons' development, social relationships, and habits. Did you know that Gibbons get "married" and "divorced"? Most commonly, they mate for the life of the couple but it doesn't always work out. We were told about one previously happy Gibbon couple with four children that divorced over.....discipling the children! (Are you surprised? I'm not!) The center is immaculately maintained and the Gibbons appear extremely happy and healthy. We were fortunate to see a year-old baby interacting with family members and to hear the famous Gibbon calls when we first arrived. The center could benefit from a designated handicapped parking spot in front to facilitate entry. If you want to learn more about how to help Gibbons, schedule a tour! Highly recommended.

I always like to finish the year with a Yelp review of a place that my entire family enjoyed! I…read morehave been to the Gibbon Conservation Center three times, but it was a first for a couple of people in my family! We were celebrating my great niece's birthday, and she's a big animal lover, like I am, so I had to figure out something that she had never experienced before. She just loved GCC! We've always had awesome tour guides, that are so informative and helpful answering questions! The gibbon's are such characters, and each are unique in their own way! We love it when the gibbon's break out in song! I can't imagine hearing this out in a jungle, if you don't know what is making the noise! It was so awesome to see a mama with her baby on our last visit! We've been there in February, and it can be a bit chilly for the 10 AM public tour, and this last time it was August and we were blessed with cooler weather, so it was perfect! Bring water, sunscreen, sunglasses, and I recommend a hat. I also recommend clothes shoes as you are walking in dirt, and as a safety precaution for diseases, you do have to dip the soles of your shoes in a bleach solution before entering. For our August tour, we were the only people, so it was almost like a private tour, which was amazing! The tour is about an hour, but we were there for an hour and a half last time! You need to make a reservation, and the tours are done on Saturdays and Sundays. The public tour is $20 for adults, $15 for students and seniors and $10 for children 3-12. Don't forget to tip your tour guide! They always put it right in the donation box! ;) They also have a little gift shop, and I get so many compliments on my gibbon earrings! This is such a wonderful experience for anyone, and you go away with a smile and a wealth of information regarding gibbon's!

My family and I had a great time at the Discovery Cube. We did not get to explore the entire place,…read morewe mainly went for the Mickey Mouse The Exhibit. My son loved all the play areas. The exhibit was so much fun all the stations were so fun and unique. Crowd: The crowd was not so big, so it was perfect for my son to enjoy all the stations. Transportation: The parking is free so that is a plus.

Playful and educational environment The Mickey Mouse…read moreclubhouse exhibit was very much enjoyed by kids and they have an unlimited carousel rides for $6 non members which is pretty cool We noticed the dinosaur fossil display near the exit and would love to see more interactive or hands on dinosaur exhibits designed specifically for toddlers in the future Bring your own hand sanitizers and wipes because given the interactive nature of museums I noticed that many hand sanitizer stations throughout the building were empty. Ensuring these would be consistently refilled would be a great improvement especially in a children's environment