Ordered a skeleton bubbler for my aquarium over the phone. Was quoted 12 or 13 dollars per piece. I agreed and said yes. Got the phone call they were in. Went down and the cashier said they went up in price. I thought no big deal maybe 15 bucks. She said they were 25 bucks each. It went to 12 dollars to 25 each. I told the cashier I was quoted much less and she seemed she didn't care. Still I'm true to my word. Bought them and they were junk. Made in China knock offs. Not worth my time, money or gas. I support local as much as I can but won't be going back to this pet store at all. read more

This store has been in Tucson for many many years. I think 22nd St was a dirt road still when they opened! Lol. But seriously, this store used to be the only pet store worth going to. I haven't been there in years and needed something specific that Petco or a big chain would never have in a million years. I've been In and out of there a few times over the last month as I am breeding marine fish and inverts and needed some things immediately. I've noticed that the prices have gone thru the roof. I expected to pay a little more than a chain just because that's how it usually works. But to over price something like charcoal or filter floss is insanity. But ok if you are desperate and can wait for shipping from Bulk Reef Supply. That's not my biggest complaint however. Usually these mom and pop local stores specialize In customer service and rely on repeat business/regular customers. This being the case, it really took me back when I was there today. The girl who helped me (or NOT helped) was extremely RUDE AMD UNHELPFUL. I would like to speak to the owner of Desert to tell them about my experience. All I wanted was some bulk airline tubing and she totally treated me like shit. This should never be tolerated. If it was my store and I witnessed what JUST happened, I would ask her to leave for treating customers with EXTREME DISRESPECT. I'm curious, was it because I didn't shave this morning? My clothes? What? What about me makes her think that she can talk to me that way IN FRONT OF OTHER CUSTOMERS and then when I was fed up and started to leave she made a loud obnoxious comment to me then said something about me to the other customers. All I wanted was some airline!!!!! WTF! If you are the owner or have any interest in the future of your store either call me or look in on this person unnoticed. She the type that will be extra nice if she knows she's being watched. I left without what I needed. As she didn't get the tubing and I was waiting I've 20 min. I've NEVER written anything on Yelp before. I just had to let everyone know about my experience. I was so embarrassed. Especially for her.... read more

Best locally owned pet store in Tucson. Jenn, Jean-Marie, and Alexis are awesome staff. We board our seven parrots there whenever we go on vacation. They are always exceptionally taken care of and get expertly groomed. If they don't have something we are looking for they can order it for us. Great place, you won't regret it! read more

This place is awesome!! Prices are great too !! And the staff is always friendly too !! I will definitely be back to this store to buy more fish products!!! read more

Rude store employee. I have been going here for years but today the employee who rang me up was rude and less than helpful. Very disappointing because I have always shopped here and I try to shop local and support small businesses. read more

We loved this place staff is very knowledgeable and helpful ! Answer all our questions and suggested we ty the dog food and our chocolate lab is going slit better the itching has stopped . Thank you so much read more

Made an appointment and when we got there the vet didn't show up. The place was a mess too

Unfriendly businesslike attitude from female employee. Really? Especially these days, try a smile and caring approach and watch your business grow. read more

We were surprised that this store had such poor ratings as when we walked in it's a little older but the gal behind the counter was extremely helpful and as we live on the road I always looking for great alternatives for raw dog food. She offered us several different options all of which were great and we were extremely thankful for her courteousness and assistance! We would definitely stop back in if we were ever back in Tucson! read more

If I could rate this negative stars i would. First of all not once when I was in this store was I asked for help or assistance with anything. This business really needs to learn the proper care for Betta fish. All the bowls the bettas were in were up against a mirrored shelf and they kept flaring at themselves and they all seemed very stress in their very dirty little bowls. The betta they had on display in a small excuse of a tank for 14.99 was the saddest living animal I have seen. The tank was not even a gallon and if you informed your employees with the correct animal care you would know bettas need a minimum of 2.5 gallons WITH A FILTERED AND HEATED TANK. the Bettas fins were clamped from how cold it was. You people sell this to your uninformed customers is a very sick practice. Hire knowledgeable employees who know the PROPER care for animals. Teach customers the real care for a Betta fish so they can thrive FOR YEARS..This experience at your store was depressing and disgusting. You should be very ashamed. Think of it this way. Would you keep your dog in a guest bathroom and expect it to thrive and live a healthy life? It's the same thing with Betta fish. read more

I like this store very much. I had not been to this store in several years until recently, and found it to now be much cleaner, better organized and stocked with higher quality items. I like the staff, they are all helpful. Joey has been great to deal with. I have bought a lot of tropical fish from Desert Pet, and the survival rate of those fish has been very high. They also stock a good variety of fish and their tanks are clean and water is clear (unlike some stores in town). Desert Pet has a good selection of higher quality dog and cat foods sold at competitive prices. The only negative, and the reason I will not give this store 5 stars, is that they continue to sell puppies, which I think is in very poor taste. read more

I used to love this place when I was a kid back in the 90's because they had bird species that I could only read about in books, like Toucans, and the staff was really friendly and knowledgeable. These days the staff are rude, the bird cages are filthy (the Bourke's parakeets are picking on each other and showing signs of wounds and missing feathers, and I guess that it is being allowed to happen), and each time I pass by the poor Cockatoo that just sits between the walls of that steel stall all day, my heart breaks. Oh, and Birdo is sadly no more. I you are fish person then this is probably the best place in town for fish and fish keeping supplies, but it just sucks that you are made to feel like a chore to deal with every time you go up to the counter and check out, even if you are a friendly, repeat customer. I still use this place, however, only because it does have the best selection of bird supplies in the city and I absolutely hate corporate chain stores. Having said that - if O.K. Feed and Supply ever were to start up with their bird stuff again then I will switch back to them in a heart beat. read more

Went to check out their fish selection. Several fish were covered in Ich parasites. Since they recirculate their water across tanks, most of their fish are likely diseased. Seems like this place doesn't care about the welfare of their animals, and don't mind spreading disease to their customer's tanks. Very unethical. read more

This review is from the perspective of a reptile owner. Keep that in mind. I really wanted to like this place. I tried it over and over and over again for food (mealworms) for my lizard. But unless it is Tuesday--the shipment day, it just became too common that I would head there and they would be out of mealworms. Also, it wasn't uncommon for many dead mealworms to be in the containers they would sell. Once I caught on to this, I would check before leaving the store, and they always would throw some more in there, but still... . I guess they do have some sort of cricket-purchasing club, so if interested, it's likely worth asking about that. They never--never--had the lights I liked in stock, which seemed odd since it was a fairly standard light for a fairly standard pet (bearded dragon). They do seem to be very well stocked for fish and fish tanks. They also have a decent selection of toys and equipment for dogs and cats. Birds and bird supplies are also stocked. As for the selling of dogs and cats--they have a selection, in cages. I'm very biased on this, and fully aware of the hypocrisy since I bought a captive bred lizard. But to me, I'll always get my dog(s) from the Humane Society or pound. I wish people would adopt those in need instead of supporting the trade and distribution of dogs (I hesitate to say puppy mills, but I guess I just did it. Rant over). The staff is certainly courteous though. I give them that. And there are special "pet-related" events held occasionally as well. read more

This store has come a long way in the last year or two. It has been cleaned up, reorganized and is running a lot smoother. The are a local pet supply store, so if you like to support local, this is your place. I have been in there 3 times recently. The special ordered me 16 new dog bowls, and to buy dog food twice. I was in and out and they helped me with the big bags (46 lbs) If you haven't been there in a while I invite you back. read more

This is the best freshwater fish store in Tucson, hands down. Variety and quality are consistently high, the sales folk are knowledgeable and helpful. They also carry quality aquatic products, including frozen fish food. I also give them high marks as I am a longtime customer who has consistently been treated fairly. read more

Place was very dirty fish tanks were gross. They were out of the only thing I went there for not impressed. Not going again

Desert Pet Center is a pretty decent place to go for the usual pet supplies. Looking around the store they seem to have something for everyone-dogs, cats, and those scaly reptiles. From a dog owners perspective, the selection is fairly limited but they do carry the top two grain-free premium dog food, Taste of the Wild and Blue Buffalo as well as the less expensive Eukanuba, Nutro, Science Diet, and Royal Canin...price-wise the grain-free line are both about the same as PetSmart but having the buy 10 get 1 free bag helps a lot especially since both brands are in the $40 range. The staff is pretty helpful and since the location is right next to G&L Imports I'll definitely be shopping here instead of someplace else. read more

We went here when vacationing in Tucson. I was expecting to see more reptiles for sale. Not much more than our local pet shop in California. read more

The staff at Desert Pet Center were very helpful on picking out a pair of boots for my dog and even helped me try them on her to make sure they fit properly. I am very please with my purchase. read more

Jen and Jon Marie are helpful and they work extremely hard, sometimes only one person is running the whole store. Sometimes I give them pets I can no longer keep (parakeets, rabbits, gerbil, frogs, finches, fish) and I'm glad they take them to be re-homed. Don't bring them anything sick, though. They get in some harder to find fish like cardinal tetras and rummy nose tetras. They sell gravel colors and some fish supplies that aren't found in the big box stores. They sell help- yourself bird and rodent food by the pound, no where else does this. If you have 2 finches you can get a handful of bird seed! I don't give all the stars because many of their fish get ick (white spot disease) as the fish room is not heated enough, and they don't have time to clean the front of some tanks from algae on a consistent basis. The floor in the fish room is often flooded as their filter system overflows. read more

It disappointments how rude the manager is here. I have been coming here for years and all the employees have been so nice and helpful and the manager she's a girl, short,with blonde hair and she gave me attitude the whole time I needed her help. I will never be going to this store again and won't refer anyone here again. read more

I like desert pet, don't love it. Only reason I don't is one specific worker in there, she's not nearly as nice as the others. I actually stopped going in there because I couldn't catch the guy I see working there (the nicest one) and would only deal with one of the light haired women. She's given me a hard time on swapping merchandise (had a heat bulb bust 3 weeks after purchase and the booklet clearly stated there was a warranty and I could swap from the pet store I purchased it from) but she was completely unaware of her products warranties and gave me a hard time, seeming almost annoyed that she had to read it herself to see that I was correct and give me a new $54 heat bulb. Aside from that she's only nice when she's in a good mood. It's rare to get greetings, thank yous, take cares and whatever else. I mean I always tip them a $1-$3 extra because I support local businesses and the feeling I get from her is a "wow an extra dollar that's it" kinda vibe. So yeah, desert pet will most likely have what you need but if you want excellent customer service, people who actually take an interest in the care of your reptiles, I would go to Ever Evolving Exotics. Also there was another review showing tail rot in their bearded dragons and parasites in their fish tanks. If this is true we shouldn't be supporting any business that doesn't have the safety and health of the animals they're selling as a top priority. read more

Went to Desert pets this evening to get dog food, usually go to Petco by this store was on my way home from where I had been. Although they don't have a large selection of dog food, the young lady working there was extremely knowledgable and helped me to identify a grain free dog food comparable to the one that was not in stock. She closely compared ingredients and explained the differences between the two foods. I shared with her that one of my older dogs has some medical problems, she recommended an organic product but also advised I should check with the vet whose been treating my dog before giving it to her. I also picked up some grain free treats while I was there. After ringing me up, she carried the bag if food out to my car and put it in my trunk for me. I've always been a fan of the Petco on the east side, but after the service I received at Desert Pet today, I think I will be changing stores. read more

Desert Pet Center - Pet Stores Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Friendly and helpful staff! They have a wide selection of pets and accessories for them!

I used to be a regular customer at Desert Pet, but this place is clearly headed toward closure. I walked in today and noticed the sign on the door which stated: "Looking for Help" and it quickly became clear why they are looking for help. I also noticed that they had gotten rid of the large fish supplies section that they have always had and that most of the aquariums in the back were completely empty. I spent over 35 minutes just waiting to have someone net some cichlids for me so that I could pay them and go home. But I just couldn't get the guy who manages the place (Can't miss him: Little guy with a chip on his shoulderl About 5 foot 6 with spiked hair and a goatee) to even stop and net the fish for me. I finally confronted him and asked for a confirmation of the breed and he said "I don't know" and walked away. At that point, I commented to an elderly couple who had also been waiting: "Hard to get help in this place, isn't it" and walked out for the final time. If you want to set up an aquarium in this town, do not go to a place where you will be treated with resentment and have an hour of your life wasted. Go see Ben at Arizona Nature Aquatics, Mike at Tropical Kingdom or Cody at Petsmart on Grant and Swan. But don't go to Desert Pet Center. read more

Once upon a time, this place was a good place to go....no more. The rudeness of the employees is unbelievable. Don't bother buying fish, that is unless you want them all dead within a 24 hour period. forget the return policy...they will do anything to get out of that. I bought a total of 9 fish, 8 have died.($100 in total) we brought back two. they were rude, but exchanged them for two more...one died within 10 minutes out of their parking lot. They wanted to blame it on my tank, yet I haven't lost a fish in over a year, and have it professionally cared for every three weeks. The staff knows nothing of what can live with what, I knew more than they did. Only one employee was courteous, and somewhat knowledgeable, but you can't expect him to be there open to close. also, they charged me $16.99 for a 1 inch clown loche ,I saw them at Petsmart for $6 each! Do yourself a favor and save your time and money...this place has became a joke. RUDE, period. read more

awesome mom n pop store reminds me of the good old days super rodent dept. birds a little rough lots of unique items at great prices always an adventure! read more

This used to be a great place for tropical fish. They had a large selection and they quarantined incoming fish and noted on the aquarium if any of the fish were sick before adding them to the other tanks. This is not true today. Several years ago they moved and downsized their fish display to the other side of the store. Many tanks are empty. Selection is not what is used to be and you cannot be sure that you are bringing home disease-free fish. The saddest part is that, knowing they have disease in several tanks, they will still sell you the fish and do not sterilize their nets between dipping between one tank to another--a standard practice in quality stores. We just bought five fish there eight days ago and are now fighting a huge outbreak of ick that definitely came home with the newbies. Death toll currently stands at six with ick showing on several others, so we're not done (yes, they are being treated). We will never buy fish here again. read more

I love shopping locally at places with character. This place is no exception. The people there are helpful. If you can't find what you need, they can order it for you. They price match the box store ads and had better prices on the stuff I bought anyway. read more