Staff was friendly, knowledgeable, and prices reflected the healthy quality of tanks and product and plant selection. Great saltwater selection. I did get recommended a Molly and it ate some shrimp. Might suggest not getting Molly because there is a chance it will eat smaller shrimp. read more

Old Town Aquarium - Local Fish Stores Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Fantastic store, very knowledgeable staff -- very patient with my 7 and 11 year old boys who come with dozens of questions whenever we're around fish. Thanks gents! read more

My new Six-Line Wrasse (Suzy) is doing great. She was energetic, curious, and healthy looking at the store. She has a healthy appetite and immediately ate mysis shrimp and spirulina brine shrimp the next day. She is a good addition to my tank for controlling worms which have returned after the death of my beloved 7 year old Melanurus Wrasse (Peggy Lee) who was excellent at pest control. I'm hoping Suzy starts munching on worms soon. read more

See all

So knowledgeable here and always ready to answer any questions! Been a staple for many years of my life.

Top notch full service shop. Staff is very helpful and knowledgeable. Great assortment of livestock.

I just left and wow. I don't think I've ever gotten such amazing customer service and all questions asked answered as intently as I had here. They were knowledgeable as heck, friendly as heck and had the most beautiful selection of everything I could imagine. I went in for a betta. A little starter thing. I just told the guy to tell me what to buy. He walked me around and literally took me to what he thought would be best FOR ME. Everything for my tank was under $65. Not once did I feel taken advantage of as I was so open to whatever would be best for a new fish owner. Very salt water friendly. Holy heck. I obviously got a freshwater and they had a beautiful selection but man, I want a salt water tank now. With how beautiful the selection I thought I'd be dropping hundreds. Thank you guys so such a beautiful experience!! read more

I have been shopping at Old Town Aquarium for about a year now. They have a wonderful selection of fish plants supplies and pretty much everything you can need. They selection is well stocked and rotates frequently. Each time I come in they have new species of fish and plants and the quality is great. Everything I have purchased from them has been healthy and have had great luck with. The staff is always the same and very knowledgeable. This place is great. There is parking in the back off the alley which makes it very easy getting in and out. I highly recommend checking them out for any Aquarium needs you may have. read more

Very big selection of fish. Tanks were clean and fish were well kept. Owner is very nice.

Wow, well I wasn't sure what to expect walking in as I'm new to aquariums but this place is great. I had a simple 10 gallon planted tank that has been freshly cycled with some snails and I received no judgement for having a "small" tank and plenty of help. I used to keep a few tanks as a kid but finally got back into the hobby and have a whole new level of appreciation for it. The staff was very helpful with the choice of fish and ideas around creating a good community that can possibly grow over time due to temperament and size. (I came in looking for a particular fish which they had but then honestly talked me out of it due to their aggression level and my tank size) they did recommend I could have the fish I was searching for, a type of gourami, after my tank is established due to their territorial behaviors and for that I was really appreciative. They have a 7 day guarantee but honestly as long as you have good specs on your tank (which they did ask plenty of questions to make sure you're capable of handling your new friends) you shouldn't need to worry. All the fish and plants there seemed happy and healthy and my goodness the saltwater/coral displays were worth the trip alone. I didn't feel like a second class citizen because I just had a little 10 gallon starter tank, they made me feel right at home. I will absolutely be going back for anything I need in the future. I bought 3 beautiful fish for about 4.50 during their anniversary sale, the price and quality of the fish were better than any big box store and I couldn't be happier. They have brought me great joy and relaxation. I expected to pay way more as I was being sold on these different fish but they really took to heart what I was trying to buy and accommodated me. Can't believe the level of attention to detail they gave me based on my total transactions amount. 5 star service. read more

Old Town Aquarium - Blue Tux Platy - Local Fish Stores Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

I can stay here for hours looking at creepy eels and other cool fish on display in the plentiful aquariums that they have on site. My husband and I decided on getting our aquarium back in commission and needed some parts to start it off. This is the perfect place to come to as the guys really know the 411 about how to get your aquarium started as well as what parts and other things that would be best for it. They know their fish really well too such as which fish to not put in the same tank as they will eat each other type of stuff. They have a nice collection of salt water fish and some cool looking freshwater fish. The price isn't that bad too compared to other pet store chains out there. The staff here are really helpful and will answer any of your questions. Another cool thing they have are their actual tanks. They are gorgeous to look at and they have all the sizes available - from your 1 gallon tanks to your 5 foot wide tanks. I highly recommend them whether you're just window shopping and want to look at cool fish, or if your in the market for fish and other aquarium gadgets. read more

See all

Old Town Aquarium is a phenomenal store with a friendly, knowledgeable staff. They have our large saltwater tank in the best shape it has ever been in with many different species of fish thriving. We work most closely with Ian and Alex who are not only amazingly experienced but also provide top notch customer service. They have consistently made themselves available for our questions and concerns during and outside of business hours. I would highly recommend using Old Town Aquarium for all your fish tank needs! read more

I love this place. The staff are incredibly helpful. I adore Leo and Kevin. They have helped me learn how to take care of a tank and stop committing mass murder of fish (ha!). They have some really cool tanks to look at too! read more

Great fish store. I traveled to Chicago this past weekend for a conference. I was able to sneak away and check out what stock they had. I was very flexible I wanted something unusual or rare that I could not find at my typical LFS's around Kansas city. I was not disappointed. I found Dwarf loaches that I've never seen and Dwarf puffer fish (irubesco) that I haven't seen in probably 15 years in the trade. The guy that helped me with my fish even schooled me on the differences in male and females of the particular species I purchased. I was reluctant in my purchase of two puffer fish because I knew I Would not be traveling home until the next day. The staff was very helpful and they packaged the fish in a sturdy Styrofoam box with insulating heat/wrap. From the time I purchased the fish, they sat in the container for roughly 30 hours before I got them into my aquarium. read more

Old Town Aquarium - Two of the puffer fish (Irubesco) I purchased in my 75 gallon aquarium. - Local Fish Stores Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The entire team at Old Town Aquarium are amazing. I have always had great experiences with Old Town Aquarium, but this last experience really tells how great they are. I was having issues with my saltwater tank to the point where I was extremely concerned for the fish. They were able to help me after store hours until someone was able to come and service my tank. Their knowledge, communication and customer service skills are bar none. I would like to give a shout out specifically to Kelly, Ian and Alex and the rest of the team. read more

Such a cute aquarium. We had a really good time looking at all the fish and water animals . It's not to big so you don't get super tired walking adoin read more

If you are a fish enthusiast, this is the store for you. They have a pretty decent selection of fish, and the selection is only slightly overpriced. The staff is overall quite knowledgeable and willing to steer you toward or away from certain fish based on your particular situation or needs. The store is very nice, a cool atmosphere. They have just about all you'll ever need to keep whatever kind of aquarium you have or want. Some of the staff can be kind of snarky though (hence 3 stars instead of 5). If you don't have an extensive knowledge of fish (or you have a vagina) you may be treated like something of the village idiot. My girlfriend complains of being treated less well than any man that walks in (I have witnessed this), and the salesperson and manager both were a bit asinine toward me. read more

What an amazing store. Even if you're not in the market, it's a great store to walk through. And yes, it'll make you want an aquarium of your own. I also really like the vibe of the place. The sign takes you back in time just a bit, but it really prepares you for the atmosphere and decor on the inside. The staff is super nice and will just let you walk around. There are finished tanks to look at if you ever want any ideas. The fish in the back are truly amazing and they have so much variety. It made me think of my friend who has a salt-water tank and how much he would love this store. The staff is super knowledgeable. There's a ton of exoctic fish and even the common ones. They have starfish and snails. They even have little baby self-contained environments. I was super tempted to get one of those. TLDR: definitely worth the visit. read more

Great service. Good quality fish. Clean shop. I go to buy my fresh water fish but they have a good collection of salt water and coral.

I had shopped at their old location on Wells for 30 years, since I was a kid with my Mom who got me started on tanks. Over the years I have purchased 5 tanks with them and am thrilled at the new store and location. I just left getting live rock for my two salt tanks and spider wood for my two fresh tanks. As always, the entire staff was great, special thanks to Alex who helped me price a dozen thugs. Left very happy with $500 in new decor. read more

I have avoided the Old Town Aquarium except to browse their displays. Recently while waiting for a marathon medal engraving at Fleet Feet I stopped by. I wanted some more color in my freshwater tank and wanted to add a school of neons. I was surprised the cost - 5 for $10. That was lower than the normal price at the big chains. A few weeks earlier I purchased 5 sale priced neons for $1 a piece at a chain and had 2 left. So I bought 5 more at Old Town. The 5 from old Town are doing fine and only 1 from the chain store is left avoiding the others. For quality of service this place is great. They seem to know when to leave you alone and when to approach you. The freshwater live stock is healthy and varied. I am collecting African Cichlids in another tank but did not find a great selection of young inexpensive fish but I guess they can't have everything. So I give this place 5 stars for healthy fish, nice displays, big saltwater collection and friendly but not overshadowing service. read more

If I Could give 10 stars I would. I cannot imagine better customer service. He explained everything about the fish in coral and even showed us examples of how the baby coral would look when it was older. He went above and beyond! read more

I love these people! I've been a customer for 20 years, and won't go to anyone else. They were great with my smaller tanks, but have been amazing with my 90 gallon fresh water tropical tank! I got the tank and full set up from them, and couldn't be happier! They've moved it four times, and I've never lost a fish during a move. I have them do my maintenance (I can, I just don't want to) and my tank is always perfect. Scott is great with suggestions and knows what I want even before I do now. Everything that I use comes from them because them I know it's installed properly and there is always a warranty. If you're looking to invest in fish as a hobby, these guys can't be beat! read more

Loved this place. I honestly had no idea Old Town was home to an aquarium store. I visited this place with a friend and had to FORCE myself to not buy a tank and some fish. They have some really exotic specimens here - so it's definitely a step up from your local petsmart. I mean they had jellyfish! read more

Amazing staff. Amazing selection. The store is almost just as good as visiting the Shedd (at least our 1 year old thinks so). We've been going here for years and we've come to know and love the staff and it's just one of the best places in the city. We spend way too much money here but that's easy to do when everything they have is amazing. read more

I have heard that when you're getting into saltwater, you should find some other experienced reefers to be your "Reef Sensei". I can say that I have found that in all the awesome people at Old Town Aquarium. Hassan is my guy, for sure. He was the first person who helped me there & I left feeling like I'd found a really great place to go with people who cared more about my tank being successful & my fish being healthy than just making money. I always look for him when I walk in & he is really patient with all my questions, helpful & you can tell he just genuinely loves what he does. We compare notes on our own tanks whether good or bad & if he doesn't know the answer to something, he will ask. Kevin is awesome as well & extremely knowledge. He has given me great advice also - whether on fish, inverts, corals or even anemones. I bought three very happy rock flower anemones after talking about them with him & comparing the info he had with other research I'd done to make sure they were right for me. Kelly is great too! She's always very busy but still takes the time to say hi & help you if you need it. Her pups come to work with her too, so that's an extra perk, in my book! Can't turn down meeting new dogs! Thank you to your awesome team for all the help & advice! All of my fish and corals from you guys are very happy and healthy, so I couldn't be happier. You've made a customer for life out of me! read more

Used to love this store when it was in old towne. Since they moved I find a tiny one-branded selection, wild coral and fish that are not quarantined and sold by largely un-knowledgeable staff. Finally, they shift their hours around so much that I can't actually go during a time when they are open even tho they are sitting inside the store. Maybe it was Covid that killed it, but I as a 20+ year reefer who has always tried to shop my LFS has now been converted 100% to online shopping by the unreliability, no selection, terrible advice, and basic lack of service when in this store. Maybe their service clients experience better but they will never see me again (I have been shopping with them since 2002). Good bye old town. read more

I have been a customer of OTA for many years now and have both purchased fish and supplies from them as well as have them come to my home and provide a monthly service (I alternate and clean my 125 gallon aquarium in between). I think they have been the best in Chicago and have gotten to know many of the staff including Ian, Kelly, Emerson, Alex, and Kevin. All of them have treated me well and during a recent episode when I was mysteriously losing my angels, Kelly sent Emerson (who regularly does a good job servicing my tank) to have a look. We couldn't figure anything out but I appreciated the quick service and care. Ian (the owner) even stopped by to help when I inadvertently caused a nitrate spike by over cleaning. In short, once you become a customer, they take care of you and genuinely care about your aquarium and the health of your fish. I was sad that they closed their Wells Street location but I understand that online businesses have made storefront locations, especially the one they had on Wells, less economically viable. They had a great supply of fish for sale at the Wells location and the fish were much healthier and better off than the poor, tiny fish swimming in Petco tanks. Haven't found a replacement for stock in Chicago but continue to swear by the good service the staff at OTA provide. read more

Excellent store! Have been in 4-5 times to shop or ask questions and the staff is incredible. They clearly know their stuff and don't mind answering numerous (and mostly dumb) questions. Lots of variety- salt water, freshwater, plants, tanks etc. everything you need to get started. read more

Old Town Aquarium helped me buy my first betta fish. The staff was very knowledgeable and assisted me with set up of the tank and general care. I love our new betta! He is very social and beautiful. Thank you for your help. read more

Old Town Aquarium - Local Fish Stores Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is all you need to know Cons 1. If ur not spending big bucks they can care less about you. 2. U better know everything there is to know about every fish or they'll treat u less than 3.prices are a little steep 4.Parking is very hard to find They tried to sell me the most expensive item for treating ick which was like 35.99 when all I needed was to buy the 2.49 quick cure ick treatment (which worked awesome by the way with one treatment) Pros 1. great selection of fish 2. very clean inside 3.very knowledgeable (expert) 4. great atmosphere read more

If I ever get Oprah rich I'm definitely gonna waste a big ass wad of cash here. There's tons of cool tanks and creatures that you can bring to your living room if you're somewhat of a baller. Yeah...it's expensive, but if you're shopping at an aquarium store for anything besides a stocking stuffer for that weird cousin, you already knew it was going to be. The designs are modern, there's a great selection of sea species, and the customer service is Finding-Nemo-friendly. I'm not Oprah rich enough to shop for anything other than a stocking stuffer yet, but if I ever get there Old Town Aquarium will be bookmarked. read more

I am writing a review about the service. Some are nice. But several of them have very bad personality. I was told to come at Thursday morning and obviously the store is open at NOON! So I was trying to talk to the one in the store and he looked at me and turn back!! Will not come back and rather drive further to another store. read more

This is the one place in the city I just want to park myself...get a swivel chair, and shuffle my self from tank to tank all day long, watching the fishies do their fishy things. Ok so maybe i like fish alittle too much. I have a tank of my own and have gotten some of the best fish from here. One time i was looking for bright and diverse freshwater fish to stock my tank and they kept pointing me towards this pale yellow, half dollar sized, pancake-with-fins and big eyeballs. I kept saying "nah", but after the 4th time they mentioned him i said "alright, fine, whatever, bag him up". 2 years later i now have the most majestic 9 inch long Golden Severum and "she" (i came to find out =) is my prize fish. They kept telling me it was the coolest fish, and man were they right! She fights the Pleco for his wafers, and sometimes swims into the glass, but always comes wagging her tail to the front of the tank when i come by =) I can overlook the high price of fish because I always find my best buddies here. And the staff couldn't be more up and up on their info. When it comes to Petco/Petsmart and the like, it is rare to find someone there who knows the first thing about fish (some try and act like they do which can be devastating for beginners-and their fish!) And i have yet to walk into one of these and not see a handful of tanks with diseases. Old Town wont send you home with an outbreak of Ich or fin rot. Even if you don't have fish, you can spend some serious time in here watching the moray eel smile, a little crab pick at sponges, wondering how some of these fish acquired colorations right out of a Dr. Suess tale...quite a place. But keeping fish is a science that takes years and years to understand. As knowledgeable as they are, read the basics online, and for pete's sake know the water cycle- dont make the same mistake i did! I went in when i started, bought 15 fish, ($80 dollars worth) had a bio overload, and killed many awesome fish along the way until i learned my water cycles. Rip to all those little guys who fell victim to my beginner-ness read more

I would be the first to give this place 5-stars if only their prices weren't so outrageous. Occasionally, they have a Friday sale on livestock, which brings their prices back down to Earth.... but golly! These prices are simply INSANE!!! I have found soft corals of the same type, that are just as healthy as they sell here for 1/3 of the price at some of the other LFS's (Local Fish Stores). I do have to hand it to them despite their prices though, they really know their shit. Great place to go for advice, expertise and knowledge dumps. In addition, they take impeccable care of their livestock... really top-notch. The store is beautiful, well-maintained, organized and well-stocked. I really hate giving them 3-Stars, because they almost deserve more... but those prices are just FAR too much to overlook. Plus, this one dude who worked there looked at me funny when I took a swig from my flask of bourbon... never a good sign. *grumbles* read more

I'm loving this place. We finally got an aquarium and the first thing we thought when wanting to buy fish for it was "NOT Petco/Mart!!" so in came Yelp. Being a frequenter of the Spice House, we pass by here quite often. It being Old Town, I really assumed it would all be expensive, salt water fish. But Yelp told me otherwise, so off we went! The fish aren't as cheap as PetCo/Mart, and there's probably a reason for that. They won't die in two days, or have a fungus on them that causes your entire tank to get infected. The tanks here are clean and gorgeous. Well stocked. Prices, though above your typical chain, are well worth every damn penny! Only two slights cons. They have a list to the left or right of the tank you're looking at with the names of the fish and the prices. No pictures, and I'm not fish smart so I end up Googling the names on my phone and trying to figure out which is what fish. Why don't I ask someone? That's con #2. There's one guy in there who's not so pleasant. He seems down right annoyed at my questions and the fact that he has to scoop up some fish and put them in a bag for me. So I avoid him and turn to the grand invention called the iPhone. Granted, rude dude knows his fish, even if the answer is curt. We'll be back again and again though. This place rocks and I'm glad to have found an alternative to the chain pet stores! read more

Another update on our fabulous service from Kevin at Old Town Aquarium. It's such a relief to know that our tank and fish are in the best hands. He is knowledgeable, friendly, professional and takes time to ensure that our fish and plants are in tip-top shape. The store is immaculate and well-stocked and the fish I have purchased there have thrived. No doubt the best aquarium service in Chicagoland. read more

This is the cleanest and most beautiful aquarium shop I have ever visited. The stock looks healthy and very well cared for. The staff is very knowledgeable but I always do my own research before purchasing fish because everyone has a different experience with fish. Sometimes staff at an aquarium shop fall back on their personal experiences which don't hold true most of the time for everyone else. I purchased two guppies (they are rapidly multiplying :0) and a platy 3 months ago and they had no diseases and have remained happy and healthy little fish. They are so cute! In the past my little fishies would always come down with something (within a couple days). Yeah, Old Town is pricier then other places in the city but you're paying for better quality stock. You're also paying for location. I do buy most of my aquarium supplies at the larger chain stores. But for stock - I'll only buy here. read more

Hands down, the best aquatic store in Chicago. I'm like a kid in a candy store every time I visit. I currently have 6 freshwater tanks running and about 75% of my stock is from here. Yes, they are on the pricey side, but you are paying for high quality stock. I have found quite a few rare freshwater gems hidden in their tanks over the past 10 years. I'm into live aquatic plants, so I like to go when they get their large shipment from Japan, because you can never really have too much Anubias in your tanks. I have just recently started research for a reef tank, and they have been very helpful. They seem to have an amazing selection of marine fish and invertebrates. I usually try to go on a weekday. They are packed on Saturday and Sunday afternoon. It's Old Town, parking sucks, plan accordingly. read more

I toyed with the idea of rating this place three stars, but truth be told, they deserve the fourth star. They have a great selection of saltwater, and freshwater, livestock that is probably second to none in Chicago. They keep everything in their shop well kept, and it's just beautiful to walk through. It literally is a joy to be in. The staff also knows their stuff. They will not sell you something you shouldn't have in your tank. If they don't know the answer to a question, they will find a manager who does. Yes, they aren't super friendly. They aren't the kind of staff that are going to come up and ask if they can help you right away, and when they are busy, it can be very hard to find someone to help you. At the end of the day though, they know their stuff, and that's the most important thing. The downside, and the reason I toyed with three stars, is that they have the highest prices anywhere. Some fish and livestock will cost you double what it would cost you at other places. While they fish look great, it can sometimes be hard to justify the price. Buying a live animal from a store, putting it in a bag, and taking it home to put it your tank is a risk no matter where you go. It just might not make it. Sometimes you have to ask yourself, is it worth $40 here to take that risk, or can you go to Petco, for example, and take the same risk for $20. Sometimes, I honestly end up going with the cheaper option. I will say, even though the fish are not guaranteed once they live the store, I once had a royal gramma, which was very expensive in their store, not survive the 40 block journey home. I quickly called the store, which was closed by the time I got home, to let them know that the fish died in the bag on the way home. They called the next day, and replaced the fish for free, even though they didn't have to. It made me feel a lot better about shopping here. Oh, and the woman who usually works the front desk. One of the nicest people I've ever met. Makes shopping at the store a super fun and enjoyable experience. She is a five star employee by far! Well done! read more

I haven't even bought anything here yet, but just based on the friendliness, knowledge, and overall professionalism of my one visit, I give it 5 stars! I told the gentleman taking care of the tanks I was partial to ghost Knifefish, and he fed the tank so I could see my buddy. What a cool ass fellow. When I buy my next knife, it will be from the sweetheart who took the time to make me smile. read more