Super knowledgeable guy, amazing customer service. 1 hour drive is always worth it He will make you feel welcomed and will answer any questions you have m read more

Nature Aquarium - Local Fish Stores Near Me - Culver City, California

Came in to get some new plants for my tank, but wanted to check out everything first! Pretty cool spot and had a lot of things to look at. But the customer service wasn't the best. Walked in and wasn't greeted. I was pretty much ignored until I had to ask a question. I was interested in purchasing some floaters but he informed me it's not great for tanks with lids (which is good to know). He answered though in a very short way. I definitely would have and wanted to purchase a few things to help support local businesses, but not feeling welcomed steered me away. read more

Found a new friend. Great place to get great gear. He'll be seeing me a lot. He's also very good at guiding you through your build

Nature's Aquarium in Culver City is honestly one of the best aquarium shops I have ever been to. The owner is extremely knowledgeable, genuinely passionate, and always willing to take the time to explain things the right way. The variety here is incredible, especially the plants. These are some of the best, healthiest, and most interesting plant selections I have come across anywhere in Los Angeles. The prices are a little higher than what you can find online, but I am more than happy to spend a bit more to support a local shop and to have real expertise right in front of me. It is worth it every time. The display tanks here are absolutely stunning. Some are just for show, but they are so beautifully aquascaped that you leave inspired to redo your entire setup. If you are into planted tanks or need high quality aquatic plants with guidance from someone who truly knows their stuff, this is the place. Probably the best spot in Los Angeles for plant knowledge and plant selection. Highly recommend. read more

Toru the owner. Has some of the best healthy fishes I've seen in Los Angeles. I am a constant buyer and customer!

Warning TO Keep your receipts. Not the friendliest way to run a business when you purchase water filter, hose and plump. The. The hose didn't fit, and I ask to exchange for something- $8.50 I wasn't asking for the money back. I am sad, my needs were not meet. I can't say the owners needs were meet either since he lost a costumer. Too bad for the local small business back to the larger more efficient ones. Anyone want to buy a standard airline tubing $8.50 best offer or plant or rock something for my grandson's fishes ?? read more

Best place to get plants and fish in the Los Angeles area. Owner is very nice and quality of fish is great here.

I love this place. Great selection of plants, aquariums, fish, and anything you would need for a new aquascape. Plenty of rocks/wood. Owner is nice as well. :) read more

I stumbled across this aquarium shop nice selection of fish. The aquariums are in pristine condition. very good selection of Aquascape. and the owner is very helpful. he specializes in community fish, very knowledgeable. read more

At first I was confused about this LFS until I came to visit. They specialize in nano tanks. So the plants, animals, and equipment are geared towards those types of aquascapes. They are a bit pricy but they've got great quality, a very clean space, and healthy livestock. I think if they expo'ed various scape styles in their showroom it would really bump up engagement and business. #nanotank #nanoaquarium read more

Toru-san was very patient with me as a newb aquarium owner. He helped me identify the aquatic plants I needed and talked through the needs of the aquatic species I had in mind. The shop is densely packed but the tanks are very clean. read more

The store has a tons of variety of fishes and plants. The owner is really nice and will recommend you alot of plants for your setup. He gives u alott of information and what u need for a thriving tank. Here are some of his planted tanks in the store. Has a wide variety of supplies & tools including substrates and tanks. read more

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i started my own aquarium for the purpose of having fish, and this store is a great place to shop around for all sorts of nano fish, the owner is very knowledgeable about which fish do well together. recently i've been focusing on live plants and aquascaping, and the owner is also very helpful for a beginner like me. good plant variety for a non co2 tank and co2 tanks! overall really great store for everything you might need for a nano and/or planted tank, with a very kind helpful and knowledgeable owner :) read more

Really impressive displays and super friendly owner. Prices are very competitive and you'll find some really cool hardscapes and livestock. Great selection of healthy plants too. I found some pretty rare gems here. You'll also find the typical top brand name products. Shop is small but the stock is huge, just keep your eyes pealed and you might find something you haven't seen before. Also parking is a nightmare within the shopping center but you can easily find parking on the street, just watch the traffic. read more

I came in for some tetras. Nature Aquarium had them, and they looked ok, but I noticed that the cardinals and a few other tanks had active ich on the fish. Not gonna chance it, I just cleared my own tank of that evil stuff. Also noticed a couple of tanks had some dead fish, which is what I'd expect from a big box store like Petsmart, not a specialty place. And at 3.50+ a pop for a little neon, I'm sorry, but the fish had better be in excellent health, vibrant, and beautiful. I would go here for plants and aquascaping, which seems to be their specialty, but definitely would not buy stock from this place. read more

I wish I could give a better rating... but I just can't because some of the Yelp reviews must be outdated. Don't waste your time if you're looking for any type of fancy goldfish (like fantail, etc) or feeder fish, koi, shubunkin... he does not sell them. Wish I had made a phone call first instead of wasting 23 min drive to there after seeing pictures of them from other yelpers... only to end up going to Petco a few more miles away lol which I honestly wanted to avoid. Hopefully my search for koi will be more successful next time. Decent shop with parking area. Pretty clean but very small selection of fishes. I did appreciate how organized the set up was and the prices were very reasonable. Overall, definitely call ahead to make sure he actually has the kind of fish you will be interested in. Unfortunately for me, I went in empty handed and left empty handed. read more

The owner is an amazing guy that's quick to get you what you need. I got my C02 Refilled here and bought a school of fish and everything is perfect! Great man will be back soon! read more

I bought a plant here 2 days ago and it's already dying. I took it back this morning and asked to exchange it and the very rude owner just kept repeating "no refunds" to me. That plant probably cost him a few cents and instead of doing the right thing and trading it out, he chose to lose a customer. I paid $10 for it. Ridiculous. Would definitely not recommend this business. read more

Nature Aquarium - Local Fish Stores Near Me - Culver City, California

I come here for RO fresh water, amazing plants of all types, great advice. Fantastic selection of wood, rock and plants. Very friendly and knowledgeable owner. Fish for sale tanks are always immaculate. read more

I am brand new to aquariums.  I went into the store yesterday because I am trying to understand what is happening with a 3.5 gallon aquarium I purchased at Petco.  I met Toru (spelling?) who I believe is the owner.  He couldn't have been more friendly as he guided me through the experience of aquarium ownership.  I considered purchasing a 10 or 20 gallon tank but after some discussion, he and I agreed that it might be best to wait and make sure that I master the 3.5 gallon tank and the responsiblities that are required to manage the ecosystem of a fish tank.   When I am ready to make the investment in a 10 or 20 gallon system, I know for sure that I will be going back to this store because the service is top notch.  I highly recommend this store for anyone looking to start their own journey and I also know that many experienced owners frequent the store for all sorts of tank related purchases. [UPDATE]: About 3 months after I originally posted my review in April '22, I'm now writing this in August of 2022 because in April, I visited Nature Aquarium and purchased a 20 gallon tank. Toru helped me set everything up and when I had a question while installing everything - he walked me through the steps on the phone. I couldn't be happier with Nature Aquarium and I have since been back a few times to buy more things for the tank. If you're considering buying anything for your aquarium, don't shop anywhere else but Nature!! read more

After browsing my local fish store in the SFV a kind person recommended me to see "Toru" who had more ADA products in stock than the places I shopped at. Let me just say, if you have even the slightest interest in aquascaping and want to create works of art like that of Amano himself - you have to visit this store. It's a bit far for me, but I will go out of my way just for the experience. Not only does Toru stock many of the ADA brand quality, he also has many other levels of aquarium setups, a healthy selection of plants & fish, and to top it off; a really competitive price that's too good to be true. Some tanks are also displayed upon entering where you can see the master at work. Upon talking to him more, I noticed a passionate excitement for the hobby as we geeked out over how much we both know about this niche hobby. He truly enjoys it, & is very helpful & honest if you have questions. Beyond my expectations honestly, I love everything about this place. read more

Excellent store. Tons of niche products. Great plants and fish. Owner is always helpful and offers great advice.

i love the shop it has everything i need from plants to the hardscape.the owner is so nice and friendly. the tank in the store is so beautiful. read more

This small fish store has a great selection of plants, decor, supplies and fish. Moreover, the owner definitely knows what he's talking about. However - many of the fish are sick. I was starting my first aquarium and cycled through. I let him know as much, and that I was considering stocking with some Cardinal tetras, corys, and a pleco. He recommended I begin with the Cardinal tetras and I bought 10. In the last 10 days, I've seen five of them die and there be a huge Ich outbreak. My water parameters have been perfect through the entire ordeal. When I returned to the store for a filter supplement, I let the owner know about the fish. He felt sorry, but said Cardinal Tetras are a tough first fish and shrugged his shoulders. Then why did you advise me to start with them? I spent some time looking around the other fish in the store, including the remaining Cardinal Tetras. Tons of the tetra are covered in Ich. There's dead or dying fish in some of the tanks, too. I expect that from Petco, but not in a small store. Unfortunately, I think my fish may have been doomed from the start. It's frustrating because I was so careful in my set up of the tank. So - come here for plants, supplies, etc. but I'd be cautious in stocking your tank with fish from here. I spoke with others that have had similar experiences as well. read more

This store has everything you need for aquascaping! Fishes, stones, regulators, tubings, tissue plants, and more! They are a one stop to get all you need. They also hold ADA products and some premium substrates to help expedite growth. I highly recommend this place and I can't wait to go there again to start a nano tank in the later future! read more

Toru-San recently relocated his store to Culver City. It's a bit harder to find the store, tucked away in a strip mall. He also lost the bit tank in the middle of his store with the huge plants and the overgrown Siamese algae eaters. Otherwise, he continues to have the most amazing selection of plants, a healthy stock of freshwater fish, and a nice collection of freshwater shrimp. As I mentioned previously, this isn't the cheapest store in the neighborhood, but the stock is as healthy as you're going to find, and of course, plants and supplies you're not going to find anywhere else. It's worth the effort to find the new location, if you're into planted tanks, the store is worth the drive. read more

Small but very clean freshwater aquarium tucked away in a little outdoor plaza. Specializes in freshwater plants and mini fish. Nice owner and great prices. read more

Best hidden (literally) gem of a store. I love visiting for inspiration as they have unique offerings. The owner(?) is beyond sweet and helpful. I'm glad this place exists. read more

Very knowledgeable owner whose this aquarium newbie multiple times. Was able to have our first planted aquarium and co2 tank success. I'd never have tried without his help. read more

One of my favorite shops in LA for all things aquascape. My wife and I are here just about every Friday/Saturday, picking up some sort of ADA nutrient + ADA rock + plants + maybe even shrimp (he breeds in house!) The owner, Toru, clearly knows the ins and outs of the aquascaping craft, and its a pleasure to get to pick his brain everytime we're there. For those bad reviews RE ich... that's just part of the game (like this at EVERY store) - make sure you either pick right, or have a quarantine tank to medicate the fish when you bring them home. See you soon, Toru! read more

Started a new tank for shrimp. Got an ADA rimless tank, hardscape, moss and ferns, and some gravel at a good price. 1 week later, the plants are thriving! Moss turned a bit brown at the start but now are growing like crazy. Java ferns are deep green and doing great. Definitely coming back. read more

Nature Aquarium - moss is growing super fast - Local Fish Stores Near Me - Culver City, California

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This is a very clean and well organized aquarium store in Santa Monica. It is located in a strip mall on Santa Monica Blvd., so it is very easy to get to. Inside, you will find a large selection of fish, plants, aquariums, and aquarium supplies. The tanks are well-kept and the supplies are well organized. I would say that this shop is a bit high on the price scale. This is not a criticism, this is just something to keep in mind when you go in here. Yes, they do have a nice selection aquarium plants, rocks, and hardwood, but they're pricing is a bit high. Just keep that in mind. Overall, the owner is nice and it is a good place to get your aquarium supplies and/or fish if you need them. read more

This is my go-to local fish store, really nice fish and solid plants. He also sells a wide range equipment too. Would stop by and check it out if you're in the area. read more

This is the best fish shop on the west side by far! Amazing aquascaping supplies and they carry cherry shrimp and crystal shrimp too!

Excellent customer service. The owner is Japanese and he is very knowledgeable. I came in for the first time and I was mesmerized by his beautiful creations. I had never done aquascaping or decorated an aquarium before. He gave me tips and suggestions on how to get started, what I needed, etc. He even gave me a replacement CO2 kit without charge because I stupidly broke the kit I bought initially! I would have been fine to pay for the new kit. That's great customer care right there. I will return to make more purchases as I build my aquarium. Highly recommended! Here are some pics of my own attempt. I'm a newbie so my tank isn't that pretty yet lol read more

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nasty owner. dirty tanks. would not allow any photos of fish. dingy store.

I finally decided to make the trip out here to Nature Aquarium with the family and I was not let down. But before you chalk this review up as yet another 5-star review about "one of the only two ADA stores in CA" (with the other being in San Francisco). I should first say that the five stars is not for the ADA equipment or the livestock or the beautiful display tanks. As a matter of fact, I've been to 3 aquarium stores in Southern California that carry ADA products. Nature Aquarium is the only authorized dealer of the three I've visited but ADA is ADA, so no special points given there. The five stars I'm giving to Nature Aquarium is due to the incredible knowledge and advice offered by the owner Toru. If you're interested in creating an Amano style planted tank, then going to Nature Aquarium and spending a few minutes talking to Toru is the closest we can come locally to actually speaking to Amano himself. In my short conversation with Toru I learned to stop using tap water mixed with RO in my tanks and to stop dosing ferts and additives in the first few months and to just let the soil, light, and Co2 take over. We also spoke in great detail about the various ADA products and surprisingly Toru was not pushing every single ADA substrate and liquid additive on me. He actually recommended against using most. I could have spent quite a bit of money here but ended up walking away having spent only a third of what I had initially planned due to his advice, (my wife thanks you Toru). All the above being said, this store might not be appreciated by everyone. But for those who are truly interested in creating a nature aquarium then this store is a must. read more

Nature Aquarium - Dry start on my ADA 60P - Local Fish Stores Near Me - Culver City, California

I came here to see if they had hard scape materials for a planted tank I'm starting and...WOW. There was everything I could imagine. Tons of rock and wood selections that I couldn't dream of at other stores. In addition, There were forests of planted tanks and some terrariums as well. So many plants! The fish tanks were well kept with plenty of variety. The owner ( Watanabe-san) was so helpful and friendly. I will be back soon for more! Thank you! read more

Nature is a great place for a few very important reasons to those interested in the hobby. And for those who aren't necessarily in the hobby - Nature is a place where you can go see some marvelous aquascapes made by a legendary man who is passionate about the craft, his store and his customers. First, if you're considering a planted tank (or aqua garden, nature aquarium etc.) Nature is the only ADA store in Southern California. They carry everything under the sun from ADA and can get hard to find items quickly as well. Second, they have great livestock and a healthy selection of rare and exotic plants. Most likely, some of the best plants in the region as Toru-San (the owner) prides himself in taking care of his products. Third, Toru-San is extremely knowledgeable and helpful to anyone who has questions ranging from basics to advanced aquascaping. I've spent hours discussing the hobby with him and he is simply jam packed with information and always give the best advice. He will never try and up-sell you or push something that you don't need. Honorable and respectable to the t. He doesn't give you advice that will help him sell more products, but exactly what's right and what you should or shouldn't do when stating or continuing a planted tank. One can respect this honesty. Highly recommend you visit Nature for all things fish and planted tank related. You can't go wrong and this is definitely a top-3 aquatic supply shop in the region. read more

This is a museum of aquascapes and it soothes the spirit. I walked in to get some aquatic plants and was mesmerized by the artistic set ups and displays. Time slowed DOWN and it wasn't about what I had to do next but being in the moment. He has a wide array of fish, shrimp and other aquatic life. He has specimen I have not seen in regular fish stores. The owner is extremely knowledgeable. I got into Aquascaping about a year ago and had the pleasure to see this years champion (yes, there are competitions) create a beautiful scape from scratch! The store boasts high quality art pieces of aquariums. They also sell different rocks and branches specifically for the tank. It is a small store but nicely packed and because I was so enthralled by the pieces he created, I forgot to look at everything. There is too much that catches the eye. It's very peaceful and the owner is not intrusive. He waits for you to need him. I'd be remiss not to add that his plants come with lots of hitchhikers (snails)! Some people like em for the tank but I don't and it took consistency to finally rid my aquarium. He gets a star taken off for that. read more