This is my go to tropical fish store. They have always been incredibly knowledgeable and have a fabulous selection of both fish and supplies. They have been wonderful as far as giving advice and guidance when I've had an issue with one of my tanks. I have always been treated incredibly well by everyone working there. The store can be a little cluttered when they have just received a shipment of supplies but I would prefer that to a store that isn't well stocked. They also take great care of their stock. Unlike other fish stores, they know when there is a problem with fish and refuse to sell fish that are not healthy (unlike some of their competitors). I wont go anywhere else! read more

Best Marine and Freshwater Fish store close to DC. Good prices on everything. The owner and employees are extremely knowledgeable and don't BS you. Fish are healthy and I have purchased extremely high quality specimens here over the years, Saltwater and African cichlid. Minus a point since the selection at times is not great, and doesn't often stray from the common stuff. This is my go to spot for dry goods, and commonly available livestock in the DC area. They also have some reptile/amphib stuff. read more

I have been too many fish stores over the decade I have been a hobby aquarist, and this is the best store I found. Nothing matches the personal attention Steve, the owner, brings. He is always happy to provide advice , to order any fish you need, or chat about best practices. On one of my many purchases, I discovered an ominous white dot on one the cichlids- I immediately contacted the store. The next day, when indeed the fish was littered with ich, Steve went out of his way to help me set up an isolation tank to treat the fish with strong medication, and to make sure I used a less invasive medication on the general tank. It happens at times that a fish you buy from a store is sick or dies, and I am used to battles with store owner. Instead, I got everything I needed to remedy t he situation, and and a re-assuring pat on my shoulder. It was wonderful! Such customer care is really unmatched! Always a pleasure to go! read more

I'm not really sure why this place got such great reviews the store is in a little basement and is any thing but clean but the guy who seams to be the owner must have a degree in the knowledge of fish or something and the price of fish is fine but u get the feeling that the fish store is some sort of cover up for some sort of cult?!?! If they moved to a store on the ground level and cleaned it up a little I'd give it four stars.... read more

I love this place. The owner is very helpful to people who genuinely have an interest in providing a healthy environment for his marine life. I love that he insists on testing your water before he sells you salt water life. I brought my neighbor here and she no longer drives out to Wheaton to the other fish store. Definately recommend this place. read more

The staff here were so helpful. Unlike my experience at congressional aquarium I didn't have to beg for someone to help me. The staff member also gave me a rubber band to hang a pad off my filter to dampen flow for my betta. While the store is smaller than congressional I'll be headed here for future needs. Oh and though they have a smaller selection of aquatic plants than congressional their plants all look healthier. Definitely worth the drive from Rockville! read more

Super great store. Answered all my questions to start my first beta tank and replaced a manufacturers missing part on a starter kit for free. Advised against getting a plekko until the tank develops Algee to feed a plekko. Have lots of cool fish and are helpful Only complaint is that I don't think keeping Betta in glasses is humane as possible but understand space requirements. My go to. read more

Tropical Lagoon is kinda small, and hidden away on Georgia Avenue--I actually drove by it several times before I figured out where it was. The staff (and regular customers) are very friendly, and will crack jokes with you when you are checking out. They gave me a great deal on a massive java fern! My only complaint is that their freshwater livestock can be somewhat sickly (I think they focus mostly on saltwater fish). I walked through the aisles just to look around, and they had multiple fish that were dying, and one that was dead. As a betta fanatic, I also took some time to look at their betta section at the front of the store... and was not impressed as they were in their usual cups (although the water quality seemed fine?). They had at least 40 bettas stocked, and several of them looked like they had fin rot or other problems with their health. My experience here was better than at Congressional Aquarium, so I'd come back, but I was not blown away. read more

I love this place. The prices are pretty fair compared to other places, and everyone there is super nice.

Have gone to a couple places in area and this was the best one. The freshwater fish I purchased were and are quite healthy. Only 1 out of the ten I purchased didn't make it which I think is a very good survival rate. The folks were nice. Planning to shop here from now on. read more

Two Thumbs Up from a tarantula and a gecko in Takoma. Tropical Lagoon offers the most delicious crickets we've ever had. The mediums are zesty and bold, with hints of berry. The larges, while sometimes noisy, are a taste sensation. The complex flavors simply explode in your jaws. Our enthusiastic compliments to the chef! read more

Stopped by here in a pinch to get some crickets. I came to this store as a kid but it has been a while. Great store and friendly knowledgeable staff. They not only have aquarium stuff but also supplies for other kinds of pets. This store is so much better than any big box pet stores. Highly recommend. read more

THIS PLACE IS AWESOME!! Never going to a petco again. Love supporting a small independent buisness. They have some many exotic interesting stuff. The feel in the place is just awesome. I will never go any place else!!! read more

I've only been here a few times and every time has been great. They always help solve whatever problems Im having even when over the phone.

Always enjoy going in to browse. Steve is knowledge and I fine him helpful and nice. Would not hesitate to buy from Tropical Lagoon again.

What a cool place! Tons of selection. The fish themselves are healthy looking and in clean takes. Didn't see a single dead fish while I was there. I took off a star because I found the store to be a bit difficult to maneuver around. Gotta love the non aquatic animals that live there (cats, dogs, and a very large turtle); they really add to the store. Employees were very knowledgeable and friendly. Truly a fun place to go. read more

there's a reason why Steve and his Tropical Lagoon have been around forever. He is there most of the time and runs a no nonsense business. Reasonable prices, and he is more knowledgable than anyone else you will find. He doesn't try to up-sell, or try to get you to buy things you don't need (unlike some other aquarium store...) Fish are more healthy than any other place (of course even he will get the occasional bad batch from the supplier, but that is unavoidable). His tanks are healthy as evidenced by how fish behave. See for yourself. The store is not glitzy nor flashy, but that's part of the charm. read more

I love this place! The owner really knows his stuff. Every time I leave, I've learned so much about aquariums that I didn't know before. Not to mention they have the best selection for aquatic plants and marine life that I've ever seen. I travel from DC for all of my aquarium needs! Definitely worth the trip! read more

Everyone there is amazing, and are running an amazing practice. The bettas are in good condition, and you can tell that they treated the bettas that has fin rot. The selection is amazing, with good prices and nice, good condition fish. Even though it's a small space, they have it all, from tanks to bettas to tank heaters to a pair of oscars. They also have a few exotic fish, at a beyond amazing. read more

Omfg I luv this place. Went here based on a review which stated the store carries blackworms, looking for new foods to give my bettas. Once I arrived I was promptly greeted by two fluffy shop clerks (kitties!) and the two normal staffers. Hehe. The store itself is beautiful in a disorganized way. They carry all kinds of products that I have never seen at other aquarium shops, big box or small. I originally went to just buy blackworms but ended up leaving with a new type of plant (forget what it's called but it is red :D), Blackwater Extract, and frozen beefheart. Again, things I have never been able to find at other stores. All of the aquatic plants were in immaculate health, and I did not see a single dead fish in the store. All of the aquariums looked well-maintained and had healthy fish. I do not keep saltwater aquariums, but from the looks of it they have huge tanks full of healthy and living rock. Lots of corals and saltwater creatures. ^^ Also, this is the FIRST shop I have ever gone to that has had healthy bettas! It really looks like they change their cup water every day, which is how it should be done, rather than forcing those poor fish to swim in their own feces. Anyway, hats off to Tropical Lagoon for taking such good care of their bettas! Finally, I see that some people were put off by the fact that this store is in a basement. Personally, I like this. I would rather have a shop with cheaper prices that is a bit more disorganized than a place that cares more about looks than their fish. At any rate, I feel it gives the shop a unique and laid back look. Anyway, this is definitely my new fish store, when I feel like taking the hike to Silver Spring. :) read more

Not a bad fish store, and they have a nice selection, but you're better off sticking to house of tropicals. It's in a cramped up basement and I could barely even walk around with other people having to shimmy out of my way. read more

This place is like a hidden gem for me. The staffs are very friendly and they have a great selection of fish that you will not be able to find at a retail pet store. The owner is very kind and more than willing to help you with any issues. read more

I would recommend getting your fishes here they have plenty of options of everykind tropical/salt fishes "Just a beauty walking in :)"

So I have gotten 3 saltwater fish here totaling close to $200 and all of them have died in a matter of a week or two. I have had a saltwater tank set-up for over a year with live coral, anenome, a yellow tang, a clown fish, & a red shrimp. I have had aquariums for over a decade so I chalk this up to bad, sick fish. Really wanted to like this place & support a local aquarium store but oh well... I am done wasting my money here as the 3rd dead fish & Tropical Lagoon, you struck out! read more

Great place for all freshwater and saltwater aquarium needs. They also sell a lot of supplies for reptiles. It's hard to find places now that sell feeder mice and rats. The fish are always healthy whereas when Ive gotten fish in the past from places like pet smart they always died within the first couple weeks of having them. I have fish from tropical lagoon that are over 5 years old. The prices are more then fair. read more

Hey, if you are looking for people who give a crap about fish and will comfort you and tell you its not your fault when you commit fishocide, even though it probably is your fault or the fact you live in DC...Go to Tropical Lagoon! These guys are great and they do all that and have a killer selection of fish and stuff for fish...Been to the old DC Aquarium on 14th Street, this place is Better...I'd rather hang out there than my dealers house, too bad they aren't closer to DC...but then again, they probably wouldn't have any fish to sell because DC WATER SUCKS! Visit Tropical Lagoon Aquarium and spend some money there...are their beta fish a buck more than PetSmart, maybe, but they look waaay healthier and they have some exotic ones if you aren't chicken... read more

Terrible store. I got my first reef tank here. Made it clear to Steve, the owner, that I was counting on him to get me set up with all the right stuff since I was a novice. Hired Rich, who they recommended to service the tank. Rich set up the tank with 1/5 the salt needed to get to 1.26. Sounds too incompetent to be true. I know. I got the salt right myself, but they also didn't sell me a heater. I know. I know. This is sounding ridiculous. But I wouldn't be posting here if the experience weren't exceptionally bad. So my first watchman goby and pistol shrimp, who I ignorantly introduced into my unheated water, died. And yes, that's not all. I personally witnessed the racism that's alluded to by others here. Steve told an African American woman when I was there one day that his salesperson couldn't answer her question because he was "busy waiting to use the register." It was a quick question that required a yes or no answer, and when I said to Steve, "She just wants to know..." he answered the question without looking at her, as if it was okay to respond to me but not her. I don't think I've ever witnessed such blatant disrespect for a customer as that, and the only thing that could explain how differently he treated her from me was the color of our skin. Despicable. Shame on them!!! read more

Tropical Lagoon Aquarium is my new aquarium store! My mid-day visit to the store was well worth the trip, because I was the only customer (woo-hoo!) and got everything I wanted. As others have noted, the tanks were clean, and I didn't find any strangly or dead fish in any tank. One tank recently had been treated, and the assistant alerted me accordingly. (Thank you.) Although they don't have the fish selection of, oh let's say The Aquarium Center in its heyday (But what store does?) the selection is very good and the prices competitive with one-line prices. I also wanted a circulation powerhead, and Steve directed me to a very nice German-made, magnetic one. Another reviewer described a "princess shock" in the the store's appearance, in that this place is not a shiny big-box store. I agree with her--Don't let the nuts-n-bolts appearance dissuade you at all. This aquarium store is the one you're looking for. Finally, although I did hear the parrot's squawk, I never heard it ask for a beer! read more

The customer service isn't too well. The store is small & feels like you can trip over cats and dogs in the store. The store was dirty & smells. I would recommend goin to rockville stores instead. I would never go there again The minute they see your Latino they walk alway and don't help you at all there notting but racist I think even petco a cheap store gives better customer service!! read more

These guys are the best. Period. Great customer service (and they actually answer their email quickly!). Go above and beyond the call of duty. And they truly care about their customers (human and marine). read more

Great place! And have the coolest fresh and salt water fish in Maryland! Every fish I've gotten form the store are as healthy as can be! HIGHLY SUGGEST IT! read more

What this place lacks in looks they make up for in heart, knowledge, and customer service.

Steve is fantastic. He educated my husband and I about the nitrogen cycle and made sure we started the hobby on the right foot. The prices are fair and the staff is very knowledgeable. It may be hard to find parking, but it is worth the effort because this store is top notch. My husband and I will be going back to purchase more aquarium plants/fish for our 56 gallon tank. Thanks again, Steve for giving us the advice to help make our tank a success! read more

Everyone that works here is very knowledgeable and helpful. Always have a great selection of saltwater fish and coral. Overall great place.

This is a no-nonsense shop with everything you could ever need for almost any kind of pond or fish. Really. New basement location is dark but don't be fooled. You're in good hands. read more

WooHoo ! As Good as it gets! Great place, and I always get the Honest truth from Steve. No question is too dumb to ask. Fish/Reptile are great hobby's and pets to have, and to ensure I am doing them right, I ask questions without hesitation. These are the only folks I know inside the beltway. I've been off the fish scene for a while but I a making a comeback, and a return to Tropical Lagoon. read more

I have to agree! The owner, Steve and his employees are the best! They are very honest and knowledgeable about schooling you on how to care for your pets. They have the best prices and their tanks are beautiful! I just wish their hours were longer at times so I can make it there more frequently. Way better than any pet smart and PETCO . They TRULLY believe in getting what you need! And not over doing it, not out to just make a sale. They are customer driven and not number driven. And I TRULLY appreciate that! read more

I have been going their for around 10 years for reptile supplies. Recently I got a new aquarium and fish from him. Owner is knowledgeable - ie advising that two fish will fight in a given set-up. Not prettiest store but the cats and dogs make up for that! Regarding earlier comments: I see all hues of people in that store happily doing business. read more

Very disappointed with this place. Primary concern: the cleanliness and health of the fish. Basement store so no airflow. The place needs a facelift and a "restart". read more

Great aquarium store very nice selection of fish and reasonable prices Steve the Owner is very knowledgeable and friendly