We've relied on Big Al's to help us sort through the vast and differing opinions on the web when it comes to ball python care and terrarium set up. We have found the staff to be very helpful and genuinely interested in our questions and conversations. We never feel rushed when asking questions and always walk away feeling confident in our decided approach. read more

Their employees haven't discovered what a shower is yet, you'll find one person that knows their stuff and everyone else has no clue what they're talking about (that's if anyone even acknowledges you). read more

I don't understand HOW this place is open. All the employees are disgusting they don't even shower themselves yet you expect them to clean 100 fish tanks?? I told and employee there's multiple fish dead and one on the verge of death in a certain tank and he replied "yeah probably, whatever" ARE YOU KIDDING. ANYTIME I get a fish from there it dies within 2 days. Never again this place should be shut down!! The employees don't know anything, they are not professional whatsoever and they smell like they take baths in the fish tanks at the store. Absolutely disgusting, ridiculous, this place HAS to be for money laundering. read more

first time there, would highly recommend. Reasonable prices. Cashier is super friendly.

I bought 3 Koi on May 27th. Bucky packing the fish did nothing but pack the fish. He could have asked if they were to be put in a pond?. Perhaps he could have mentioned that there was no guarantee on the fish at this time, but he just packed. Unfortunately one died 2 days later. I went down with the fish and the bill, expecting to get 50% off a replacement. One word from "employee". Pond? Yes. No guarantee! Pardon. No guarantee on pond fish at this time. Points to poster on the wall and goes back to whatever she was doing. Um, pardon. Yes, too bad, so sad. I wouldn't have bought the fish had I known! I have shopped Al's for fish and food but no more. I feel really quite taken. read more

For once give your employees a 101 course in customer service. I like the store, even though is over crowded with stuff, and not enough room to circulate, you can find what you're looking for. The fish tanks showroom is dark and looks dirty. Some employees are diligent, courteous and knowledgeable but most of them are rude, they seem annoyed when you ask something and they disregard you specially around closing time. Unfortunately there are not a lot of choices in the Ottawa area regarding aquarium equipment and tropical fish supplies, but treating your clients with a little more respect, don't take a lot and go well on the long way. read more

Do not buy an aquarium set up here unless you have a knowledgeable and experienced friend who knows the most economical way to set up a tank. Let's face it, Big Al's is a retail store and will push the "latest and greatest" items. Make friends with the staff because there's usually at least one salesperson who will be honest and realistic on what you need and not push what's the newest trend. They have lots of cichlids in a gigantic tank in the back. Their stock of fresh and salt water fish is small compared to other locations. They also have a tiny reptile section but no bird or small, furry animal section. Good variety of plants and tank decor. read more

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If you want good customer service, don't go there. The people work at the fish area are very rude (but an old lady at the cashier is very nice). I'm not sure why they're treating their customers like that. Maybe these employees are over worked and under paid, maybe they know there's not much competition in the area; or maybe they just hate their jobs. Regardless, even if you're the only store in town or hate your jobs, you should not treat your customers like that. They are there to spend their hard earned money and expect decent customer service in return. One example was, I asked the girl to get me some fish and she did and asked me if there's anything else. I politely said no, that's all. Then I walked around again and saw some very nice fish. I went back to ash her again to get me the fish. Oh my goodness, you should have seen the look on her face. She even rolled her eyes. I was about to say never mind and leave the store, but that wouldn't be too nice so I decided to get the fish anyway. read more

Please for anyone who is getting into the fish hobby please do not go to Big Als. I have been a customer for a very long time with them and they have been rude every time I talk to them, or they just seem annoyed. I feel like they should be flagged for inhumane practices with their fish since all their tanks are over stocked, don't treat or euthanize fish, and don't care for them in general. Today was my last straw when they told me I couldn't trade my fish only for the weekend for no apparent reason and I lived far away so it was imminent death for the fish. My fish made it home and I made a shelter for them, but it wasn't enough. :( I never cared about getting my money back I just wanted so to trade my fish since I was moving and changing the tank from fresh to saltwater. My friend used their R/O water and used it for his saltwater tank that has lasted 4 years, and all of his fish died the next day. Please support local instead of Big Als. Thanks, Justin read more

Kinda let go. Staff dont care like they used to care. Its far from what i remember 10 years ago. Shame.

I wanted to leave a review because there's so many bad ones. I've been in here twice and always had good service. The tanks were all crystal clear. Maybe they changed owners or hired new staff. I came in the first time looking for a tank set up and they showed me some, I ended up finding one for a bit cheaper elsewhere but got substrate, food and some decor from here. I've also bought some fish and they're doing just fine. read more

I will not be back to this store. I stopped by to pick up some fish and was shocked at the dirty water, the vast numbers of dead fish in the tanks. Lots of staff on, no one taking care of dead fish. These fish included high price salt water fish, with tankmates dead on the bottom. The last fish I bought here were covered with ick in a couple of days. I ended up buying fish at Pet Smart read more

Ottawa location has incompetent staff. Order online and they always try to charge you more than the online price and even though the site says they have the items in stock they usually do not, especially live fish. They don't even bother emailing you to note they don't have the fish in stock, you only get an email asking when you want to pick them up! Tanks are not cleaned as they should be and numerous dead fish are left unattended in the tanks. I am no longer supporting this business. read more

This store used to be my favorite when I was younger. We used to go there as a family and always go good service and advice. I hadnt gone in about 8 years (i left the city) and went back this week... For the last time. No service whatsoever. I was looking at buying a fish tank and needed some assistance. The staff were too busy hanging around the cash register socializing to even bother coming over to see if we needed any help. They saw us looking at them, standing there waiting for a staff member to come see us... Nothing... We wandered around the store for about 15 minutes and no one came to check on us. I also noticed that the fish tanks weren't that great looking. Some had milky water, others had dead fish in them. This store is sadly not what it used to be. We ended uo buying a tank from PetSmart(right beside) where we had amazing service and advice. read more

Price are respectable staff are very knowledgeable and very friendly my goldfish are loving there home thanks big Als see you soon.

Tried to call. They just pick up the phone and hang up on you. Wow. Appalled to say the least

For supplies, this place is good only if you know what you're looking for... Reasonable prices and all. They still sell some supplies that really should not be there because no animal should be in some of those small bowls they have on display. Service is okay when you get it, you really need to look for someone to help you. Forget to go on weekends, terrible service. I would not buy any animals from there, a lot look sick, and mistreated. I approached an employee about a few animals (e.i.They had about 30 female bettas in a tank no bigger than a 10 or 20gal, all looked stressed, sick and some had major fin and body injuries as they can be aggressive towards each other... One was missing part of its head and was still alive. Male betta bowls full of algae.... Another one was the axolotls, terrible shape, terrible tank set up, all looked like they were on the brink of death and had missing feet and gills... I can go on and on) and they shrugged their shoulders and said they'd check it out, but didn't address it whatsoever, really just ignored my claims and walked away pretending to be busy. I did contact the manager and same reaction... Very disappointed and will probably not go back there because of that particular experience. They only care about making money and don't care about their animals whatsoever. read more