Yeah, it's quirky, but, A, Somerville, B, fish quality of life. This is a place to shop for live fish and core fish supplies. I can't comment on the other pets there, I never really looked closely. It's not fluorescent lights and sterilized fish tanks - it's dark in the fish tank area (some fish are sensitive to light, and healthy tanks will grow algae in lots of light) and some of the tanks have algae (because they are healthy and capable of supporting life) but it's the best place to buy a pet fish around. Yes, the place has a smell - because animals and living things HAVE A SMELL. It's not a bad smell, it's more like, grass. Sensibly priced fish and large variety. My only wish is that the prices on the fish tanks were easier to read, sometimes they're wiped off or unclear. It's a small, real business that takes very good care of its fish - just compare the Bettas here to the ones at Petco. Cash only for purchases under $10. read more

One of the dingiest pet shops I've ever seen- The animals must be miserable- I hope the owner takes efforts to clean the place up- The stench is so overpowering you might need to fight the urge to vomit. This place COULD be great if the owner cleaned all the fish tanks, and make the place less stinky. All the creatures there look depressed- you'll feel the same way after visiting this place. I was left unimpressed. read more

They have a decent little selection of items. The place gave me a wierd feeling and they had too many animals in very small cages which made me very sad. read more

Too small for the amount of animals. Staff looked and acted scary. I was under the impression there would be a nice selection of fish, but it was your average petco/petsmart fair. Same with the other animals (except the poor parrot cooped in a tiny cage and looking very sickly!). Better off spending your money in a chain or one of the better privately owned places in the area. read more

My favorite pet store! Armand is the best and really knows his stuff. Great selection of unique fish and I've been completely satisfied with every visit to this fantastic shop. read more

I have had nothing but great experiences here, it really is a local gem. Armand is always willing to help you find the right animal for you and what you will need! I would highly recommend checking this pet store out for anything you need. read more

Big Fish Little Fish is great at fish, as its name suggests, but they should definitely stop at that. In past years we've gotten many fish from there, and they've all been a lot healthier than you could get them at Petco or Petsmart. Basically, if you want fish, this is the place to go. For anything else, just don't bother. I've never written a negative review about anything before, but this was definitely well deserving. I have a distinct memory of going there looking for a pet fish, but wandering off to the other pet section. There were literal birdcages stacked on top of one another, crammed full of an assortment of animals, from ferrets to birds and even a baby rabbit, all defecating on one another - it was disgusting, and those animals could not have been healthy at all. At the time, I didn't know much about the topic, so I only noticed the cute animals. Looking back, I'm just sad. A few years ago, I got the idea to get gerbils. I did my research, and I went out in search of a pair of two males who could keep each other company. I went to Big Fish Little Fish and asked the manager for help picking them out - and to his credit, he was very kind and helpful - except for the fact that he didn't really know anything about gerbils. I'm not trying to be rude, but the fact is, while he was very nice and knew a lot about fish, rodents weren't exactly his thing. Anyways, I came home excited at my new friends, Barley and Midnight. For a few months, everything was perfect. I played with them, taught them tricks, and loved setting up their cage in fun arrangements and making toys and structures for them. But one day, as I was cleaning their tank, I reached in to take the gerbils out into their playpen. Midnight had been hiding in a little burrow "he" had made for himself in the ground. She came out of the whole, but somehow, I still felt him in there. As I uncovered the whole, I realized that it wasn't him in there, and actually that he was not a he at all - she had just given birth to a little of seven little babies. I won't get into the details of this part, but by the weeks' end, all of them had passed away. At this point, we called the store and asked to return Midnight in exchange for an actual male. I had done some research and was sure to check if Tangerine, the new gerbil, was actually male. He was, but that wasn't the issue. The owner of the store had told us that Barley and Tangerine would get along great, that soon they would be best friends. Well, $400 and one emergency trip to the vet proved him wrong. They had tried to kill each other, and not only bit us when we tried to intervene, covered each other in nasty bites that then got infected and attracted mites, which soon starting biting us as well as the gerbils. I hope this review was helpful - it wasn't meant in any way to criticize the store or its employees, but just to make people going there aware of what could happen. read more

why is armand ghioni still allowed to sell pets that are severely neglected? i have seen and read horrible reviews and have been trying to fiquure out why big fish little fish remains open. armand you should stop selling pets if you can't handle the responsibility that comes with them. stick with product that doesn't require feeding and care. what the hell happened here? i feel so bad for the animals you are keeping hostage and neglecting. read more

This is the sweetest local shop. It's my go too for freshwater fish. The Owner grew up working for the pervious owner, a true Somerville native. He knows everything about the animals he keeps and more, he can help, just give him a call. read more

This is my go-to LFS. I went here to start my hobby with a 5-gallon betta/shrimp tank, and recently got a 20 gallon high tank along with a selection of barbs, all purchased from here. He'll order you in fish, he has excellent suggestions for plants and compatible tank mates, and always has great advice and stories. I try and make a trip here every Monday, even if just to see what's new. He has everything from betta to tiny flounder, pea puffers... I mean the variety is staggering. If you like fish, be prepared to spend about an hour. Can't recommend this place enough. read more

All the overly negative reviews of this place are beyond me. This store is conveniently-located, stocked well, and owned by a super nice dude. I've been going there for supplies for my backyard chickens and the staff have been nothing but friendly and helpful. The reviews complaining about the stench or over-crowdedness are, in my opinion, grossly exaggerated. Yes, there is a noticeable smell, but I don't find it to be offensive or unpleasant and it's to be expected in any small pet store. The birds, rodents, and fish seem healthy and well tended to. I can't speak for the reptiles; I'm not familiar with their recommended care. But the cages have been clean whenever I've gone in. I'm leaving off one star because the store really could stand to be more organized in its layout and better lit. read more

Healthy fish and very good prices on the plants. Fun place to visit and always great customer service. Shop local ;) Plus, the mural was painted by a local artist Markus Nechay is fanatic. read more

Wow, such negativity for this place! why? Don't people understand the difference btwn a small local shop and a chain like petco? this shop is near my house and I've stopped in on occasion to grab a bag of cat food or buy a fish tank. the place doesn't smell. the animals seem happy. i got my beloved goldfish, Oolong, here and he lived 4 years. yes, 4 years for a goldfish. the bettas from here have lived at least 2 years too. now that i am a turtle mommy, i have stopped in here at least 3 times to asjk questions from the nice owner who is happy to help. he knows a lot. They have a good selection of supplies for reptiles, and a pretty decent selection of other pet supplies. They only carry science dist cat food. Spider feareres like me beware, there is a huge tarantula in a tank by the counter. read more

I don't understand the positive reviews here. This place is repulsive. Yes, they have a good selection of supplies, but the animals are kept in terrible conditions. I saw cages with mice that had NO WATER! They had flies swarming inside and around the cages. When I told the man working there that the animals needed water he filled a little bottle with dirty looking water from an open bucket stored near a dirty bird cage. The bird cages were the worst. The birds had to perch on their own feces since it was clear their cages were never cleaned for them. This place is cruel and abusive! The people who say that it is OK for a pet store to be in this condition don't know what they are talking about. I spent my youth in a small local pet shop that was always well kept. Shit this place down! read more

I just stopped by here for the first time and my visit to the actual store was fine (if you ignore the clear animal neglect and generally dirty conditions), but, even worse, the product I bought was totally faulty. I bought a light bulb for my reptile lamp that had gone out. When I got home and put the new bulb in the lamp, it still didn't turn on - so I came to the conclusion that the lamp dome had gone out, which seemed early for how long I have had it, but not impossible. I ordered a new lamp on Amazon (mind you none of these reptile supplies are cheap) and it just came today. I plug the new lamp in and put the new bulb in and still nothing. I am momentarily in disbelief that Amazon sent me a faulty dome, but then have the idea to try out one of my normal household bulbs that I knew worked, and it turned on on the first try (unfortunate I didn't think to try this with my old lamp BEFORE ordering a new one - it just didn't even cross my mind that the new bulb could be the issue). I finally came to the frustrating realization that the bulb I bought from this shop didn't work, even though it was supposed to be brand new. So not only am I now stuck with no working bulb, but I unnecessarily bought an entire new dome because it turns out the first one still works. Upon further investigation the new bulb I bought looked like it could have been used: it has scratches all over it and is discolored in some places. I don't know if this is the shops fault for selling me a used product that didn't work or if the bulb was just a rare dud - but I have had reptiles for years and have bought many MANY bulbs from the same brand and have never had any issues - so I'm not sure what to believe. All in all, it just left a bad taste in my mouth. read more

A lot of the good reviews on here imply that the bad reviewers are brainless suburbanites who have never been outside a Petco for pet supplies, which to me strongly expresses shades of "I don't want to hear another opinion other than mine so I will denigrate the people who express differing sentiments than me." I.E., the Yelp equivalent of walking around with your fingers in your ears going LA LA LA I CAN'T HEAR YOU. Now, I LOVE independent pet shops. I would always rather buy from a local business than support national giants-- but not at the expense of my desire for animals to be safe, happy and well-cared-for. This place is DISGUSTING. Other people have mentioned the smell, and it's pretty bad. It's not a "there are animals in this store" smell, which I am very familiar with, it's a "there are animals we don't bother to clean in this store" smell. A quick look around confirms this-- there is feed, bedding and droppings scattered all over the floor, and the animals' cages could use much more attention. Low-shelved supplies were dusty and/or also covered with animal waste. There is a wall of small bird cages near the window, each filled with far too many birds. Their cages are disgusting. To make it worse, the birds are over cages for some small mammals (I noted a chinchilla and a mother rabbit with babies), and bird seed and other avian detritus are visible in the small mammal cages. Anyone who keeps chinchillas or rabbits knows that these animals have a tendency to eat foreign material, and it could not possibly be health for them to be eating that much birdseed and soiled newsprint. The birds themselves seemed stressed from having such small quarters and so many roommates. The one large parrot I saw, for example, seemed to be missing a number of tail feathers-- perhaps he was just starting to molt or something, but since the rest of him looking okay, it may also have been from stress-related feather-pulling or something. As for the small mammals, the chinchilla had a nice coat but appeared somewhat underweight, and the mother rabbit was matted all over her bottom. More seriously, I suspect that one of the baby bunnies (not infant rabbits, either-- getting big enough to hop around) was dead or dying, as it was upside-down beneath another baby, and I could not detect any breathing or movement. It is incredibly irresponsible to sell intact rabbits, anyway, since they are (a) far more aggressive and smelly than fixed rabbits, (b) very good at unintentionally making more of themselves and (c) unspayed female rabbits have seriously truncated lifespans due to their strong tendency to develop uterine or ovarian cancer by the age of 3. I was tempted to ask if the owner would sell the babies just to see if he would be willing to separate them from their mother too early, but I was starting to panic and needed to get out of there. The other small animals-- rats, guinea pigs, etc-- are kept in tiny, tiny aquariums with very little access to fresh air, and absolutely no way to exercise. All of the mammals were kept in wood shavings (bad for their lungs) and only had access to pellets-- no hay, fresh vegetables, etc. This is particularly appalling in the case of the mother rabbit, as she couldn't possibly be getting enough nutrients to properly take care of her babies. At least one cage was missing a water bottle. In essence, this place needs to either seriously clean up its act (doubtful considering the attitude of the owner-- if you cared about animals you wouldn't have them in such conditions to begin with) or be shut down. Don't buy anything there if you care about the well-being of companion creatures. read more

This place is pretty great, it's small but that makes it unique. I've been buying fish and invertebrates here for the past two years, overall I've been very happy with the experience. The only person I've ever seen there is the owner, he has been very helpful in giving me advice on my tank and helping with any issues I've had. I don't think you could go wrong by at least checking this place out. read more

Armand Ghioni is very helpful and a true enthusiast. He took the time to explain to me a lot of helpful tips for my fish and aquarium. I like the feel of the store because it's local and independent. At times, I frequent the PetSmarts of the world, but the corporate feel tends to turn me off. BIG FISH little fish is awesome! read more

I love this pet store. The guy who owns it is really knowledgeable and friendly. He will give you an honest answer about your fish needs, even if it means selling you a less expensive product or no product at all. Yeah, it might not be brightly lit and squeaky clean like a Petco, but Petco is an enormous company and this guy is a small local business owner who loves animals. I could easily go to Petco or another store but I keep coming back to Big Fish Little Fish because of the service. read more

I live around the corner from this place and I feel so bad for the poor animals and birds that live in the aquariums and cages that line the windows on Elm Street. Two main problems: 1) Cleanliness-- non-existent and you just end up feeling bad for the creatures that live there 2) Product selection- few choices. They do not offer any higher quality cat/dog foods and their prices are no better than other stores to justify buying from here. read more

I've purchased multiple fish and inverts from here and all of the livestock has been hardy and hale. Since moving back north of the city this has become my go to location for aquarium supplies. The shop's owner Armand has been quite helpful in getting a couple of my older tank members diagnosed and restored to good health when they were sick. read more

I really wanted to like this place, as the owner (I think it was the owner) and other people I've met in my few stops in, were really cool and nice. But, I think Big Fish Little Fish has seen better days, and the people that work there aren't about finding their animals the right home and care, they only care about making a buck. Along with that, their super worms are overpriced and so are the dubias. Raising the price doesn't equate more sales guys!! Anywho, I adopted a gerbil with a missing eye and some other extra care needs from a different pet store, I wanted to help her socialize and be less afraid of things because her senses aren't great - by getting her a little friend. I called Big Fish Little Fish, and told them how the pet store I went to said to not get her a friend and asked if that would maybe change based on her disabilities, and he assured me that gerbils, I quote "Are pack animals like guinea pigs, and get depressed if they're alone." I was excited to get her a friend so she'd be happy (she was isolated where I got her), and came in and adopted a baby he told me was socialized and just a little nervous since I was a new smell. I bring my new gerbil home, and introduce them slowly and my first gerbil suddenly attacks the new one. I began to doubt his knowledge, as he never said they would fight - he said they would get along right away "unlike hamsters who typically like to be alone." So I went to another pet store, and found someone that was totally schooled in small animals of the gerbil variety, and came to find out that you cannot have two female gerbils because once they are ready to reproduce, they will always fight to the death but not only that - gerbils prefer to live alone. I was livid. Like you guys really had to lie to me to try and sell a gerbil? I had to buy another tank, I have to buy twice the supplies, and with me moving soon I don't know if I can take both of them and I love them dearly. You guys told me they could live together and that's literally against female gerbils nature. You knew she was female, you knew she was 3 months, and you knew she was disabled. The gerbil I bought from here also is NOT socialized, and no matter what I do she is the most scared rodent I've ever owned. She barely leaves her house and she constantly seems depressed, she won't even use her wheel. I think being separated from her family so young gave her separation anxiety and broke her sweet heart. My other gerbil gallup's around her cage all day and looks like she's having a blast doing absolutely nothing but being a little fluff ball. I'm very disappointed that you guys were dishonest with me, the gerbil I bought from you could've gotten a home where it had someone to pay attention to both constantly. I wanted to get two that got along so they wouldn't be lonely, I'm at school full time and I work part time, I only have the time to give them lil pets and someone's let my disabled gerbil run around my room, because the one I got from you guys is terrified of leaving her tank. If you ever go here and get a pet, do NOT ask their advice, make sure you know what you're talking about because clearly they take advantage of you if you don't. Ridiculous. read more

I bought some pet supplies here, (water bottle, small cage, bedding, and food) everything was reasonably priced and the guy behind the counter helped me find the water bottle and pointed out that they mixed their own food. I was happy until I got home and poured some food in my hamster's dish. Small gray bugs began climbing out of the food and into my pet's cage. It still makes my skin crawl. THERE WERE BUGS LIVING IN THE FOOD. I scooped out my hamster and dumped everything else in the cage in the trash. I will not be going back here. read more

the place is awwesome....and the person who runs the place is very freindly and frank with us. even the parrot in the pet store greets us .... i really recommend this pet store.... read more

This afternoon I went to Big Fish Little Fish -- despite the previous negative review -- because I needed to buy a feeder mouse for my snake and prefer not to go to Petco unless I have to. Regardless, I had hopes that it would prove better than Chan's review, but as soon as I stepped in the door I knew I would be disappointed. When you open the door, you are assaulted with a blast of hot, foul-smelling air, as though no door or window had been opened in the cramped store for five years, which indeed it may not have. It's a small, two-roomed, dingy and depressing store, over-packed with fish tanks, reptile tanks, bird cages, pet supplies, and who knows what else (I decided to get in and get out as fast as possible, so I did not take the time to browse all its offerings). The snake tanks housed the most pitiful snakes I have ever seen; in one small tank, three medium-sized snakes were piled on top of one another, their bodies scarred, their scales flaking off, no dish for them to soak in or water for them to drink; in another tank lived a baby gray snake (I don't know which variety) that looked as though it had been on hunger strike for the last few months, its skin all wrinkled up and its scales flaking off as well. The fish tanks all looked like they had not been cleaned in months, algae turning the water dark and murky. I was actually surprised not to see any dead fish floating in the tanks I looked in. Even the pet supplies were a disappointment; with the small exception of a few items like Science Diet cat food, I wondered if the owner cared at all about the quality of the supplies s/he purchased. I did end up buying a mouse there, but I left the store feeling disgusted with the world and with myself for giving my money to support such a depressing place. Needless to say, I will never be going back there, even if it means going to Petco instead. read more

This place is wonderful, especially if you are looking to purchase a pet. Sure they might not have everything in supply - I've gone there looking for a specific tank or a specific brand of cat food to find they were out of stock, for example. However, their animals are always absurdly healthy and friendly. We got a hamster at PetCo and it died within two days of bringing it home. The ham we got here is plump and healthy, super friendly and energetic. Beyond hamsters, their birds, fish, snakes, and other small mammals all look fantastic. Bottom line: Don't come here if you need something very specific - try PetCo (or Amazon). But if you're looking for a pet, do not go to a big chain store. Come here for animals that are healthy and well taken care of by an owner who loves animals and knows his stuff. read more

I cannot believe this place is still operating. I recently moved into the neighborhood, so despite the outward shabbiness of the place, I wanted to give the store the benefit of the doubt by at least going in. I was appalled by how dirty the place was and how small the cages for the animals were. The rats, mice, hamsters, and gerbils were kept in tiny fish tanks with dirty bedding. I used to own pet rats, so I observed them closer and saw that they were lethargic and huddled in a corner-- i.e. not healthy. There was a macaw that at least was allowed to roam on top of its cage, which was a blessing for the poor bird because there was *nothing* in its cage for enrichment-- two perches and NO TOYS. I felt sad for all the animals that live in this poor excuse for a pet shop. As for items and ambiance, everything was arranged haphazardly on dirty shelves or hung on hooks covering the walls. Some things were clearly covered in dust. The flicking, buzzing lighting cast a pale, depressing aura over the whole store. On a different note, the owner was really creepy. Trying to hide my distress at what I was seeing, I tried to make some conversation in order to then get out of there as soon as I could without seeming too rude. I mentioned that I had moved into the area and was just stopping by, and he asked me where I lived. I pointed in the general direction of my house, and he asked me what street! I was bewildered that he would keep pressing me for this personal information. I named the street, and he told me he lived on that street too and maybe we would see each other some time. *shudders* read more

This place is great! All of the aquatic pets I've gotten from here come home super healthy, unlike big chain pet stores. The owner gives great advice and the prices are really reasonable. A great local shop! read more

The store has everything you need and a huge collection of fish as well as birds and other reptiles. But the real reason to go is because of the owner - he is accommodating, pleasant, pleased to help you and really knowledgeable. read more

I've visited this store a year or so ago and it was dingy indeed. I decided to give it another try and I must say I was pleasantly surprised: the store was clean and didn't smell at all. The fish selection was great and prices are right. Yes, some of the tanks were not clean but that didn't bother me as long the fish are healthy. read more

The owner, Armand Ghioni, is as absolute gem! We had the pleasure of meeting him last night as we set out to make a lovely new fish tank ecosystem in our home. I love that this pet shop is local (and open late!) so I can get great fish (and birds when the time comes) bred in the area and well cared for, with institutional knowledge from Armand who cares for all these wonderful creatures with such love and intelligence. He has these stunningly gorgeous birds, reptiles, beautiful fish and the friendliest chinchillas I've ever met (he says they're so cuddly and sweet because the kids from the elementary school next door come in and give the animals so much attention, so they're basically already housebroken by the time you get them - so wonderful and enchanting!). I hope to use Armand's insights for years to come - what a magical spot! Can't wait to build some beautiful tanks and start having an aquatic paradise in our little Boston apartment. Thanks, Armand! read more

We have been buying fish from this store for a few months now. This pet store is fantastic! All of the people who say the place is small and it smells.....well it's a pet store! Get used to it. If you want some nasty sick fish in a clean store, go to Petsmart or Petco. If you want healthy and a nice selection of fish in clean tanks, go to Big Fish Little Fish. I have personally seen the guy (I guess his name is Armand) cleaning out the tanks. He offers us good service and always seems friendly and helpful. My bf and I are going tomorrow to get some new fish. He told us he gets new fish on Wednesdays and Thursdays. I give 5 stars!!! Thank you BFLF! read more

We have bought a couple small pets at Big Fish, Little Fish. I think the service is great; the awesome owner always takes the time out to speak to my kids. He gives great advice and doesn't try to sell you supplies you don't need. Finally, the prices are GREAT. I'm so happy we have this independently owned store nearby to shop at! read more

Hey, as a freshwater fish keeper I REALLY appreciate this store. You want a particular fish, it can be obtained. Sick of the selection at Pet-superstores? Me too. The selection here looks small, but is surprisingly good and NOT pricey at all. I've gotten all sorts of fantastic fish here! Recently a small school of pygmy cories and a freshwater goby - nice stuff! In the past he's had Apistos - I think they come and go a lot. There are species he finds that I've not ever seen at Tropic Isle Aquarium (the pricey mega fish store in Framingham). He recently re-opened part of the backroom for just fish, so its roomier than its been in years. Give it another chance if you didn't like how crowded it was before. I'm going over today for a golden algae eater and who knows what else, always an adventure! read more

I love this little pet shop. Just like the petshops of the olden days. Armand is very knowledgeable and helpful, especially regarding reptiles and fish. Again, don't expect a sterile Petco feel. Prices are fair, animals are happy. The best part is getting to talk to Abu the cocatoo. What a personality! read more

My boyfriend and I were not even in the store for five minutes before the smell drove us out. To make matters worse, we both got hives and incredibly itchy patches all over our bodies about 30 minutes after we left. The conditions the animals are living in are bad, and if the human customers are walking out covered in hives I can't imagine how much longer this place can possibly keep its doors open. read more

I bought my first canary here. He has been a joy and is very healthy and energetic. I have noticed that all the animals in this store look healthy. He gets his birds from local breeders so they are not wild caught. The cages are small but the birds look happy. I think this is because there are more than one in each cage and they seem pretty busy socializing with each other. The bigger birds are in larger cages. The owner is very helpful. I did not notice a lot of dead fish in the aquariums. As for the rodents, well, they're rodents. It's not like they are picky about where they live in the outside world. They also seem busy socializing with each other. This store is alright and I enjoy going there. read more

This is my first Yelp review so I'm gonna keep it short and simple. This place is small and yes it smells but the owner knows his stuff and is always very helpful. You get healthy fish and mice and can pick up cat food too. I have been shopping here for almost 10 years and it hasn't changed at all, which is fine with me. read more

This place was just depressing- it looked very unclean and was filled with a stench that defies desription. The animals looked unwell and unclean. The fish all looked miserable. The owner may have the best of intentions, but the dirty conditions assured me that I will never go there again. read more

I am so lucky to have a great LFS in my neighborhood! The owner has always been very helpful in answering any questions I might have as a new hobbyist. He has a great selection of fish and inverts, and small mammals and birds too. I look forward to every visit, and can't wait to continue stocking my tanks from here! The owner is very knowledgeable and has really helped me out in getting my tanks started. read more