Tampa Bay Cichlids

John Jewell

2024-02

I ordered two four fish colonies and the packaging was the best I’ve ever experienced (and I’ve ordered fish online man y times). All 8 were healthy and active immediately after arriving in their new tank. They seemed far less stressed than often happens. The owner was very responsive to my inquiries and this will be my first stop when I need more cichlids for a larger tank. Thank you Tampa Bay Cichlids!

Caitlin Suzor

2024-04

I was very nervous about ordering fish online, but I was pleasantly surprised when I received my order. I ordered 11 African cichlids, all of which arrived alive, healthy, and in their own separate bags insulated with a heat pack, packing materials so they don't shift around the box, and step-by-step instructions of how to acclimate these fish to your aquarium once you receive them. I have already placed another order after receiving my first order. I would recommend to anybody looking for good quality, beautiful specimens for their Aquarium

Adam Mrdjenovich

2023-12

I had the same negative experience with Tampa Bay Cichlids that several other customers have described in their reviews: The owner David Estes did not honor his guarantee. I ordered a pair (1 male, 1 female) of Labidochromis chismulae, but received two females. I sent David photos and requested a male. He made no attempt to remedy the situation beyond indicating that both fish looked like males, which is absurd given that clown labs are highly dimorphic. (The photo on the left shows the two clown labs David sold me. The photo on the right is a male clown lab that I purchased from a different seller; the markings on the male are unmistakable.) Further, David communicated as though he was put out doing me a favor, and seemed completely indifferent to customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Dallas Lann

2023-05

I’ve ordered twice from TBC and both times had positive experiences. My second order was missing a fish and had one DOA which David had replacements set to ship the following week. No complaints. The stock I’ve received are beautiful, healthy fish! Coming up on 9 months since my order and I wanted to add a few pictures of the Lake Victorians they sent me. They're doing really well!

Vincent

2023-09

Beautiful fish great service. I ordered 6 male fish from Tampa bay cichlids they all came in great health but after a couple months I thought that some might not be males I contacted them and David Estes was helpful to inform me that it might take some time with different fish to mature and get their color to contact them back after some time and they would be glad to replace them. Time passed I contacted David and he let me pick out a couple males to replace mine. Over all you just have to understand and be patient with fish.

John Russell

2024-03

I ordered 4 young male peacock cichlids from Tampa bay. After about 4 months, one didn’t color up like the other 3 and it turned out to be a female. I’m new to the species so I didn’t immediately recognize it until SHE was holding eggs. Hahaha. I made contact with David at Tampa Bay who immediately rectified the situation and is sending me a replacement free of charge. The response was immediate and extremely polite and professional. I wasn’t even expecting a replacement after so much time had passed, but I am thoroughly grateful for the amazing customer service and swift response.

Collin

2024-04

My last experience with Tampa cichlids was not good, I have purchased African cichlids before with no problems but lately I have not bee so happy. My last order was a pair of male lemon jake that was advertised to be at list 1.25 inches. When they came my wife and I could barely see them in the bag they were so small, they had to be less than a quarter inch in size. I complained about it and what I got was been cursed out by David. I'm in process fighting to get a refund.

Jeff Charlton

2023-05

I Purchased 8 guaranteed male cichlids from Tampa bay cichlids. One was dead when they arrived. However I did contact them and they did replace the one dead fish instantly. But after after a few weeks now, it appears that I only have 4 of 8 are males. So half of my order is females. I was skeptical when they said 1.25-2.0 inch males. That’s awful small to guarantee a male from my experience. I will say all of my fish definitely came on the smaller size of what they offer. So I would order the next size up if you’re going to order online like I did. All around I wouldn’t order online again. I ended up spending around $225 dollars for 4 fish vs 8 that I was anticipating. And the out of the 4 females 2 appeared to be the same breeds. Which I ordered 7 breeds.

Dave Koloski

2024-02

Don't ever order from this place.Have ordered fish from reputablePlaces after 1 experience with Tampa Bay cichlids. This place is a joke from the ground up. They got me once on a 30 fishOrder and it will never happen again. Don't even know where to start. Shameful. Not enough time to injectAnymore than be warned. Don't usuallyRespond and review but felt it would be wrong to say nothing. Only wish there was a rating of less than 1 star.

william james cave jr

2024-01

So I heard the rumors. But they had some fish I been looking for. So I got 6 guaranteed females. A couple ended up being males. People mainly complained of small fish. But they do tell you they are on the smaller side because the stock goes fast. The fish received were of great quality. Colored up nicely and no issues. So I emailed them about the males. He immediately sent me replacements. Like in days and free of charge.. I would say the customer service is excellent. I will be ordering from them again. They keep hard to find fish in stock and the price is right.Thanks again tampa bay cichlids

Birdman

2024-04

Awesome fish. Got many varieties that I couldn't find anywhere else. Also had a fish not make and David took care of me. Thank you so much will buy from here again!

Trent Tysinger

2023-05

Purchased an electric blue crayfish from them and was very pleased from start to finish. Good price for the crayfish and priority mail shipping. Quick processing time for order. Crayfish was packaged well and arrived with no issues. He/she looks great and has settled in nicely.

T Snellings

2024-01

Guaranteed males are not a guarantee. I placed my original order on 3/6/22. I ordered a Pundamilia nyererei Juma Island, Victorian, African Cichlid guaranteed female which I did receive. She was tiny (much less than 1.25 in.) but healthy.However, I also ordered German Red Peacock, Aulonocara African Cichlid1.25-2.0 inch Guaranteed Male. He ended up being a very tiny female. I contacted Tampa Bay about a month and a half later and also sent pictures. David responded by saying it was a female and I was shipped another "guaranteed male". This fish was also a female.I emailed several more times over the course of a year, including photos. The last email I sent was in July of 2023 asking if they had any GermanRed males showing color. At that time I was told they did not, but he thought he did have a Eureka showing color. Iwas led to believe I would receiving a male with some color. The fish was never shipped.In an effort to be fair I have waited to make sure both fish were actually females before posting. But I want buyers to know that guaranteed males, from this establishment, may not be males. This does not seem to bother Tampa Bay nor do they seem inclined to correct the issue.I am leaving a 2 star rating because all 3 females arrived healthy and are thriving.

Steve Byrd

2024-04

Great experience. First time buying fish online. Got 7 beauties. All the size the site listed. All healthy! Extremely well packed. Great communication too. Thank you for my new babies!!

TheVo

2023-09

Ordered 5 fish guarantee male $27 each, came in very small bags and very small fish for the price. Be careful before ordering from this place, rip-off... I learned from mistakes so I hope everyone else not making same mistake as I did. attached a photo of the fish one month after received from Tampa cichlids.

Joseph Salsgiver

2022-05

Really impressed with Dave at Tampa Bay Cichlids.i contacted several different places to no avail as far as response or ordering instructions. So i ordered fish on the 15th from Tampa Bay Cichlids they arrived on the 17th all the way to Ohio. I placed an order for 3 different Mbuna males in the 2 to 3 inch range which is what my tank currently has stocking of now. Before the fish arrived Dave reach out to me and let me know one of the fish was a bit undersized. Dave not only let me know but he refunded my money and still sent the undersized fish free. They all arrived well packed and healthy with clear and concise instructions for introducing them Into there new home, which is important with an Mbuna tank. The fish have only been in there for 24 hours but they seem to be fitting in well. As far as the smaller guy well the other mbunas give him a chase here and there but he goes unnoticed most of the time. Thanks Dave and I will be ordering again from you

wendy iwan

2024-03

First time ordering out of state. I live in upstate New York. Ordering in winter. Baby fish came wonderfully safely packaged fast delivery and in great health! Will order again

Bryan Avery

2023-09

This was my first time ordering from Tampa Bay Cichlids. I placed an order for 8 fish - the website was easy to navigate, the prices were fair, the pictures accurately reflected what came in the mail (although, the flowerhorns were larger and more colorful in person!!). I spent over $125 so free 1-3 day shipping was included, I placed my order late on Sunday, quickly received my order confirmation and the package was shipped the next day. I received the package on Wednesday morning (in North Carolina). My family brought the package inside out of the weather and I got home from work around 7pm and found the fish to be professionally packaged in an insulated foam box, inside a bag with insulation, and then each fish was bagged separately and labeled. Instructions were provided and stickers! All of the fish appeared to be happy and healthy (the red devil was pretty sluggish, but he's coming back around) and I really appreciated the labeling - I've ordered from several online vendors and I am an enthusiast and hobbyist, but far from a fish pro, so being able to identify the different kinds of fish so easily was super helpful. I was pleasantly surprised with the size of the flowerhorns I purchased - I have been waiting for a while to purchase them and they are going to work out perfectly for my setup. I did send a message through the website prior to my purchase and communication was quick and helpful, even on a Sunday! Overall, I had a great experience with Tampa Bay Cichlids and I'll definitely be purchasing from them again. Thanks, guys!

Martha S

2023-12

Ordered two female Melanochromis johannii cichlids for my male and he couldn't be anymore excited! The girls are very beautiful and took to their environment very well as they now have a protector! Thank yall for such beauties!

Umer Saleem

2021-05

I want to start of by saying that I had ordered 6 guranteed male peacocks size 2-3 inch. The fish were all well packaged with a heat pack and with over night shipping, i received them the next day. The fish were all alive and active and currently in my qt tank for the next 2-3 weeks at least. The only thing I want to let potential future customers know is that dont expect the fish to be anywhere close to 3 inches. I have 3 of these fish that look tiny and barely hit the 2 inch mark and show no colors yet. I am just disappointed with the size of these fish and definitely over priced as well. Hoping that they at least turn out to be males.

Joel Hierholzer

2021-05

I'll begin by saying that I very rarely review anything..., but I feel my experiences may benefit future customers.Over the past few weeks while stocking my 75gal Mixed Mbuna African Cichlid tank, I have made three separate orders from Tampa Bay Cichlids, which has totaled out to nearly 30 fish (and a lot of money lol). I have to say, the shipping experience has been great with swift delivery and no fish dead on arrival.My issue is with the quality of fish. Some breeding groups came looking great (yellow labs) while others struggled greatly. All four of my White Top Afras came on the brink of death, visibly suffering from digestive parasites (aggressively arched stomachs). Luckily I was able to treat the entire tank successfully with API General Cure, and the white tops have made a full recovery.The more troubling issue came when I received a 6 fish colony of Yellow Top Mbambas in my third and final order. I was blindsided by an aggressive bacterial infection in one or more of the fish, causing extreme fin rot in not only the the yellow tops, but also some of the established tank mates. I swiftly treated the entire tank once again with E.M.Erythromycin and some other remedies, eventually controlling the spread and stabilizing the tank. I did end up loosing all but two of the yellow tops along with 2 of my red top hongi's.Overall, once I was able to get the disease and sickness under control, the fish are absolutely stunning. I just wish I didn't experience the initial hardships of sick fish.

Vinny Xray

2024-03

First time ordering fish online. Excellent service, beautiful fish. They replaced my DOA fish and were helpful

Arianna Accardo

2024-01

His smallest size range is 1.25" to 2", but these fish are less than an inch long. Also, I paid extra for males and these are too tiny to vent. He's lost me as a customer.

Adam Stormes

2023-10

We have 6 aquariums and decided to start a 75 gallon cichlid tank. We order 8 cichlids and one was dead. David quickly replaced it and all 8 are now thriving. Great company with good prices and quick shipping. Will DEFINITELY order more!

Margaret Hall

2023-05

Perfectly packaged and excellent communication. Fish are super healthy, active and sized as promised. Will definitely order again.

Bill Ivey

2023-09

Tampa Bay Cichlids is the best online source I know of. A broad selection of quality fish. And when you reach out to them you are dealing with the owner.David is knowledgeable, responsive, and efficient. I can’t imagine doing business with any other dealer!

Jessica Stone

2023-05

LOVE LOVE LOVE Tampa Bay Cichlids and how helpful David is. I have purchased 30+ fish from him with not one DOA. They package all the fish phenomenally, get the packages out so fast, and respond so quickly to any questions or advice you may need. Yes, he is not the cheapest to purchase cichlids from. However, his knowledge, care, and overall passion for his craft shines through in his product. Please educate yourself on the fish you are buying. Some take a VERY long time to show their full adult colors, and/or grow to certain sizes, so do not blame them if you feel like you got a "too small" fish. Ask the important questions before buying if you are unsure and David is more than happy to steer you in the right direction.

Derek Rew

2023-05

Ordered a carpintis and Flowerhorn cichlid and they are super gorgeous. I know I shouldn’t put these two together but hopefully with them being young they will grow to like each other as adults. Thank you David for the beautiful fish. I will be a returning customer for sure!

Joe Vacante

2023-08

I ordered 3 guaranteed male cichlid haps back in February of 2022. I ordered them at 1-2 inches since he had no other males for the fish that I wanted. Kept asking him when they would start showing color. He told me at about 5 inches and about a year. Well it's now 1 1/2 years and they are about 6 inches showing no male colors. Emailed him with the receipt and he says they could just be submissive males and they are not going to color. I brought them to my local reputable fish store and he vented them and said they are females. Told David at tampabaycichlids that and he gave me the run around. Not backing his guaranteed male logo one bit and gave me excuse after excuse. Not a good business man in my opinion.

Vincent Hatch

2021-05

I ordered a bristlenose pleco online. It was shipped and arrived very quickly. The pleco is healthy and active. The fish was acclimated according to the included instructions and has been enjoying its new environment. Very happy with my purchase!