Tropical Lagoon Aquarium

Toyshika Peterson

2024-05

I’ve been going here for over 15+ years. You will always find great prices, amazing customer service and extremely healthy fish! I’ve never had a bad experience here unlike another store I sometimes go to that often leaves me with fish not surviving. If you’re like me, and own 15+ tanks, you need a shop with a 90% survival rate. This is your spot!

Harper S

2024-01

I worked with a wonderful employee named mark who was very knowledgeable and helped me grab all of the plants I wanted. It’s good to shop from a local store with everything I need at very reasonable prices!

William Flack

2024-01

This place is awesome I go to a lot of different aquarium spots around Maryland it's down in the basement underneath all the other businesses. He has beautiful tanks. With a very large variety. His coral is so beautiful I just picked up a Duncan from him today. I will definitely be back in there to fill my salt water reef tank. Definitely go see Steve. Very nice gentleman with a lot of knowledge.

Dwayne Scott

2023-08

I would never ever purchase anything from this location. To start the filters inside the tanks are way to strong for all of the fish. The fish are blowing and moving all over the tanks. There is not a single spot inside of any of the tanks where the fish can have a calm spot. All of the tanks are dirty, dead plants in most all of them and things are not attached properly. To add in several tanks including the salt water have dead fish just floating all over. On my way out of the store I noticed a bearded dragon inside of a tank on the floor surrounded by junk the store has to offer. No light setup and no water. This place is very neglectful and I’d never recommend it to anyone. You are better off getting the same fish but cheaper at your local Petco or Petsmart. This place really needs to be closed down.

Melissa Luke

2022-05

This shop is just over any hour away from me, and I was reluctant initially to make the trip. But wow, was it ever worth it! Their tanks appear well kept and the fish look healthy. I picked up about 7 cichlids and they are all doing well! The staff was extremely nice and helped me identify some species I couldn’t make out. They had unique varieties that I hadn’t come across before, and that was a really nice surprise. I’m already looking forward to my next trip! (Bring change so you can feed the parking meter 🙃)

Rickey Anderson

2024-05

Love this store they have so much to offer. Their friendly and cozy atmosphere keeps me coming back.

Rhonda Levinowsky

2024-01

Steve and his son have been very helpful with my many trips to their store. They have very healthy fish, fresh and saltwater. For a small store, their selection is amazing. I suggest a visit to anyone in the hobby.

Raymond Cornwell

2024-03

Received great customer service by being asked specific questions to determine my needs. Bought quality animals at a good price.

Jan

2022-05

Not just a great variety of fresh and saltwater fish, also shrimp, crabs, frogs, coral. They seem to be in good health, fed premium food (I watched), and well-displayed. Tanks aren't over full, and tank sizes fit the fish, including several gorgeous giant tanks. Enjoyed an hour there despite only getting a few fancy shrimp and some endlers, which have been healthy and happy. Staff was helpful and super gentle with my fish. Definitely returning to set up my next community tank. Best fish store near DC.

Andrew B

2024-01

It's incredibly cramped, muggy and dark throughout the small store. The selection is decent but definitely not worth the risk considering I saw ich and fungal infections on several of the freshwater fish. Overall, not worth the drive in my opinion.

Derby Luckie

2024-02

Great selection of fresh and saltwater fish. Excellent customer service and knowledge of stocked fish. Best in the DMW.

Jhancarlo

2023-12

I will not buy fish from this store again. It is similar to Petco in the sense that they have a wide variety of fish, but the problem lies in their lack of quarantine procedures. Tanks are often observed with ich and velvet. If you decide to make a purchase from this store, it is imperative to implement a mandatory quarantine and treatment process. Failure to do so may result in introducing harmful diseases to your tank.

David Garcia

2020-05

This is an awesome tropical fish and aquarium store. It has 100 aquariums of topical marine animals. It also has four walls of diverse aquarium supplies. The store worker is very friendly.

Derrick E Wilcox

2023-11

Good experience my first time there. The selection is vast - there is nothing like it in the surrounding area. I had been contemplating overpaying for fish online. This place has already saved me a significant amount of money from my first trip there.

C T

2023-10

Holy cow is this store well operated, and the selection is by far and away the best in the DMV. Father and son (I'm guessing) are hard at work keeping their hundreds (thousands?) of fish in pristine water. Once you are ready to make your purchase though they drop what they're doing and are super friendly. The owner caught a hill stream loach for me like it's easy - it's not! Will 100% be returning to this establishment.

Joseph Mihalo

2018-05

This is a great place! This is where I started my coral reef tank at home! Great quality fish and coral reefs, I will add some photos later today or tomorrow

Christopher M

2022-05

Without a doubt the best fish store I've ever been to. In terms of the practical matters - the prices are very good, especially for the auxillary items like airline tubing or gravel or decorations, and of course the fish. The fish plants and inverts have all been in good health, no disease or anything, which unfortunately I've run into from other local shops. But more importantly, you really get a good dynamic with the people at Tropical Lagoon, they love to help and give good sound advice. You can look up anything online but experience is worth more than any reddit post, and miles ahead of what you'll get at PetSmart/Petco. Steve knows what to do in pretty much every situation, and he'll figure out how to get things sorted, he's unbelievably knowledgeable and personable. I was thumbing through a magazine by the counter and he not only let me take it, he gave me a brand new sealed copy on nano fish to take home. Two weeks later I asked if he had celestial pearl danios and he remembered that the CPD was on the cover of the magazine he gave me. Really an unbelievably great guy, can't be more happy with the place. Thank you for everything you do and provide. It's such a cool spot, I'm always excited to go back and see what's swimming about :)- CM

meTimetraveler

2023-11

One of the last Original Tropical fish Stores. was so sad to see Showcase of Tropical fish close. I use to work at Congressional Aquarium back in the 70's when i was in HS. at that time Congressional was on the other side of the stairs.

robert garriock

2020-05

This is a 4 star review (Upgrades to 5 star) for a small basement local fish store. Hands down this is the best place in the Washington DC area for fish. You might say that there are other larger operations that have more dry goods and new aquariums to buy, but pound for pound tropical lagoon is my first choice. Best in terms of fish health, diversity of species and price. never ever bought a fish that was sick here.They have a wide selection of marine fish, wild large coral pieces, giant clams, small coral frags, inverts and live rock. They have good selection of tropical fish odd ball stuff (arowana, aripima, Alligator gar, rays, knifefish, rare plecos), high quality standards like tiger barbs but they would have Long-fin varieties or a variety you never knew existed in the fish trade. South American and African Cichlids. The have goldfish koi particularly in the summer.Good selection of dry rocks and driftwood at good prices. They do have tanks and filters but I tend to think you must need to custom order to buy a new tank. They do often have old systems and parts super cheap. Food and kit prices are good as online giving me a good excuse to visit every other week.The mystery reptile is often in a tank at the front. They don’t sell reptiles all the time but could have tortoise, panther chameleon, or rosy boa, or something else. Never know.The negative is that the place is in the basement and is pretty crammed. You might be wise to just ask for what you are looking for, that works for me. Related to that you really need to read the labels for the fish species in the tank as they have really nice stuff and it’s not always obvious. For example, they could have a baby fancy variety of Flowerhorns and they would just be labeled “Flowerhorn” mixed in with other Cichlids.Finding the place and parking can be a challenge. Beware the parking meters are well enforced. Btw, clearly 5 star should be reserved for the Asian style aquarium shops with pre-bagged Flowerhorns for $25 and tanks full of black diamond stingrays. Just my opinion.Updating from last review...I just added another star as I just went there a week ago and they had a tank full of black diamond stingray (at least motoro leopoldi and a few other species) and other amazing stuff. I just bought my first stingray. This is now a 5 star review and my ray is so happy in his grow out tank.

K MeiLee Dozier

2021-05

My daughter and I actually get a kick reading the bad reviews of this place. Someone complained about humidity...really?? Others seem to be disappointed that their emotional needs aren't met by the service.... perhaps these folks got lost? This is a family owned fish store that's been in our neighborhood for-EVER, which speaks for itself. They painted an army of bright orange Nemos all over their entryway so you can find it under the church - where else can you find fish next to Godliness? Or shop for tetras among well loved family pups and a giant turtle? If you want a colorless, odorless, sterile, Big Box Store experience or need counseling services, you may want to go elsewhere. If you would like bottomless patience from super nice, young fish enthusiasts willing to answer your noobie questions hired by honest, legit, no-nonsense store owners who offer great advice and manage to stock an innocuous underground space with everything you could possibly need for your aquarium at competitive prices, then you've come to the right place.

Phillip Baker

2019-05

Regardless of how busy they are, I always manage to squeeze in way to many reeftank questions with the patient and knowledgable staff. From inverts to small fish for my 30gal tank they have all acclimated well and are healthy. Ready to raid the great $20 frags next.

Joseph Morris

2024-04

Not impressed at all drove 3 hours to get an attitude when asked to see something. I’ll stick to HOT

Yamile Regalado Someillan

2019-05

My new favorite fish store. This place is far better than Congressional Aquarium in terms of the health of the tanks and fish. I bought 2 fantail goldfish from here and they are awesome and healthy. Staff is nice and knowledgeable.

Juan Caballero

2019-05

I have been to many fish stores. Out of all stores, this is my place to get corals. Some frags can be expensive, but not all. I personally go there for bigger corals. As for customer service, I've had no issues. They answer my questions and give me advice. The only time the guys there don't help me immediately is when they are busy with a customer. Overall, when I'm in the market, this is where I go. Here is the picture of a Lobo I bought a few weeks ago from here.

Joseph Pauley

2017-05

Great store. We are first time fish buyers and they stepped us through everything. They have a great selection and they're very knowledgeable. This will be our go to place.

Annette Ingram

2024-01

The owner, Steve, is amazing. He's very patient and customer friendly.

jason mason

2024-03

The owner steve was very helpful and kind with all purchases

Laura Castaneda

2023-07

Cozy place with a knowledgeable, friendly staff. I only went for a few hermit crab supplies but you could tell they take great care of their fish! Will go back.

Paul Meador

2023-05

Great spot, they really know their stuff. Super helpful. If you have any questions, you'll find an answer! All their fish, fresh and salt, look healthy and happy. Definitely recommend this place for any aquarium enthusiast amateur or seasoned or in-between

Chris Edler

2023-05

Always a great shop with knowledgeable staff and quality livestock. Not many aquarium specialty shops can say they have been in business for 4 or more decades and have survived the influx of the super mega stores. If you are a true hobbyist, check them out.