Absolutely Awesome Fish Store..N IL / S WI

[bgarthe]

If you’re in the area of northern IL or southern WI, boy did I visit a premier Fish Store (actually the best fish store I’ve ever been to). I was going to order from them online, but ended up driving 150 miles each way for a pickup of fish. More on the online factor later.

This place is called Aquatics Unlimited in Greenfield, WI….just outside of Milwaukee. 3550 S. 108th St.
When I was investigating purchasing fish, I was very happy to be able to call and ask questions etc prior to purchasing. Many sellers don’t provide phone access. Their number is (424) 543-2552 and the staff seemed very knowledgeable.
This place has over 500 tanks of fish, tanks and equipment/accessories, and plants for sale. The layout is huge, is in sections, and has very very healthy fish. It is one of the few places I’ve visited where I saw no ill or dead fish. 500+ tanks wo Ich or sick fish is (imho) nearly impossible, but that’s what I saw. I learned that fish are quarantined prior to sale and boy did it show. If you’re looking to find the cheapest priced fish, don’t visit here. Their prices are a bit above average, but that’s relative and surely worth it as opposed to cheaper fish that die off. You get what you pay for. I’d surely prefer to pay a bit more for healthy fish as opposed to paying (more in the long run) for meds and replacing fish that died.

I was hoping to order online, but this place suspends shipping live fish during the heart of winter depending on weather. This may cause waiting a bit for an online shipment, but they feel it’s not in the best interests of the fish, customer, or their business…..too high a risk. That is why, when they had the fish I wanted in stock, I had to drive up.
I regret not having taken pictures, but one can see the pics/vids at their website.
Aquaticsunlimited.com
Also, they’ll provide styrofoam boxes for long distance customers even though I always bring my own with StressGuard.

I’m not the type who recommends businesses and their products unless I really am impressed and am willing to put my name on the line. I honestly have not yet ordered from them online, so I’ll try it out later, but based on what I saw, it’s sure to happen.
You won’t be disappointed visiting this store…..I assure you. Call first to check on the availability of your desired fish.

 

[Fishfur]

If you’re in the area of northern IL or southern WI, boy did I visit a premier Fish Store (actually the best fish store I’ve ever been to). I was going to order from them online, but ended up driving 150 miles each way for a pickup of fish. More on the online factor later.

This place is called Aquatics Unlimited in Greenfield, WI….just outside of Milwaukee. 3550 S. 108th St.
When I was investigating purchasing fish, I was very happy to be able to call and ask questions etc prior to purchasing. Many sellers don’t provide phone access. Their number is (424) 543-2552 and the staff seemed very knowledgeable.
This place has over 500 tanks of fish, tanks and equipment/accessories, and plants for sale. The layout is huge, is in sections, and has very very healthy fish. It is one of the few places I’ve visited where I saw no ill or dead fish. 500+ tanks wo Ich or sick fish is (imho) nearly impossible, but that’s what I saw. I learned that fish are quarantined prior to sale and boy did it show. If you’re looking to find the cheapest priced fish, don’t visit here. Their prices are a bit above average, but that’s relative and surely worth it as opposed to cheaper fish that die off. You get what you pay for. I’d surely prefer to pay a bit more for healthy fish as opposed to paying (more in the long run) for meds and replacing fish that died.

I was hoping to order online, but this place suspends shipping live fish during the heart of winter depending on weather. This may cause waiting a bit for an online shipment, but they feel it’s not in the best interests of the fish, customer, or their business…..too high a risk. That is why, when they had the fish I wanted in stock, I had to drive up.
I regret not having taken pictures, but one can see the pics/vids at their website.
Aquaticsunlimited.com
Also, they’ll provide styrofoam boxes for long distance customers even though I always bring my own with StressGuard.

I’m not the type who recommends businesses and their products unless I really am impressed and am willing to put my name on the line. I honestly have not yet ordered from them online, so I’ll try it out later, but based on what I saw, it’s sure to happen.
You won’t be disappointed visiting this store…..I assure you. Call first to check on the availability of your desired fish.

Sounds well worth a long drive! Mind, for me it would be about a nine hour drive!

 

[chromedome52]

Back when I was making frequent trips to the Milwaukee area this was a regular stop. They often had unusual fish that interested me. It was one of three stores I liked to visit regularly in that area; the other two are gone now, and I haven't been able to get up there in a few years. Glad to hear they are maintaining their standards. I don't think I ever came out of that store without some new fish.

 

[bgarthe]

Ok……I just had to make another trip to get fish for my 20g long nano tank.

Went back to AquaticsUnlimited (and even remembered to take a few pics) to get a school of both Chili Rasboras and also found/bought a school of Blue Neon Rasboras. I find myself really getting into the Rasbora group of fish. The Blue neon Rasboras have to be abt as pretty as the Green Neon Rasboras. Once again, not a single dead fish and it was a fun day trip.

 

[Fishfur]

Ok……I just had to make another trip to get fish for my 20g long nano tank.

Went back (and even remembered to take a few pics) to get a school of both Chili Rasboras and also found/bought a school of Blue Neon Rasboras. I find myself really getting into the Rasbora group of fish. The Blue neon Rasboras have to be abt as pretty as the Green Neon Rasboras. Once again, not a single dead fish and it was a fun day trip.

Good grief, it’s enormous.

Good luck with the Sundadanio axelrodi Blues. They’re so beautiful. I’ve been tempted but have managed to resist so far.

 

[3Fishnight]

Ok……I just had to make another trip to get fish for my 20g long nano tank.

Went back to AquaticsUnlimited (and even remembered to take a few pics) to get a school of both Chili Rasboras and also found/bought a school of Blue Neon Rasboras. I find myself really getting into the Rasbora group of fish. The Blue neon Rasboras have to be abt as pretty as the Green Neon Rasboras. Once again, not a single dead fish and it was a fun day trip.

Their plants look really healthy. At most stores when the plants come in its down hill for those plants. Nice hardsape selection and ponds. You can tell they put some work in and know what their doing. 500 tanks is wild! Thats a 7 hour drive for me. Thanks for sharing.

 

[70iselin]

I am surprised that they have substrate in the tanks usually they don’t always bare to the bone

 

[bgarthe]

I was too, but they must surely gravel vac as i saw no detritus. Most of the tanks also had shallow substrate, like mine. Some tanks were bare bottomed. Again, the degree of tank cleanliness for a business was unsurpassed. I have now brought home over 50 fish from them (from two visits) and have not lost a single fish. Sure some of the success was my transportation and acclimation of, but it is still remarkable.

And…..yes, the plants were totally awesome health wise and presentation wise.

 

[Adamfish]

Thanks for the recommendation. I travel near here often and will have to check it out. Their selection of fish looks great. It looks like they have a balance of higher than average pricing and eye opening-ly higher than average pricing depending on what you want. Do you know how long they quarantine their fish for? How are your fish doing from them?

 

[bgarthe]

Honestly, the fish I got from them are doing great I’m happy to say. I don’t know long they QT, but I do know that when they see fish issues, they mark the tank and don’t sell fish from it until health is restored. Last time I was there, I think I saw abt 5 tanks so marked. All three species of fish I bought are a bit sensitive, and because of that, I did take great care w acclimation.

 

[AuroraDawn]

If you’re in the area of northern IL or southern WI, boy did I visit a premier Fish Store (actually the best fish store I’ve ever been to). I was going to order from them online, but ended up driving 150 miles each way for a pickup of fish. More on the online factor later.

This place is called Aquatics Unlimited in Greenfield, WI….just outside of Milwaukee. 3550 S. 108th St.
When I was investigating purchasing fish, I was very happy to be able to call and ask questions etc prior to purchasing. Many sellers don’t provide phone access. Their number is (424) 543-2552 and the staff seemed very knowledgeable.
This place has over 500 tanks of fish, tanks and equipment/accessories, and plants for sale. The layout is huge, is in sections, and has very very healthy fish. It is one of the few places I’ve visited where I saw no ill or dead fish. 500+ tanks wo Ich or sick fish is (imho) nearly impossible, but that’s what I saw. I learned that fish are quarantined prior to sale and boy did it show. If you’re looking to find the cheapest priced fish, don’t visit here. Their prices are a bit above average, but that’s relative and surely worth it as opposed to cheaper fish that die off. You get what you pay for. I’d surely prefer to pay a bit more for healthy fish as opposed to paying (more in the long run) for meds and replacing fish that died.

I was hoping to order online, but this place suspends shipping live fish during the heart of winter depending on weather. This may cause waiting a bit for an online shipment, but they feel it’s not in the best interests of the fish, customer, or their business…..too high a risk. That is why, when they had the fish I wanted in stock, I had to drive up.
I regret not having taken pictures, but one can see the pics/vids at their website.
Aquaticsunlimited.com
Also, they’ll provide styrofoam boxes for long distance customers even though I always bring my own with StressGuard.

I’m not the type who recommends businesses and their products unless I really am impressed and am willing to put my name on the line. I honestly have not yet ordered from them online, so I’ll try it out later, but based on what I saw, it’s sure to happen.
You won’t be disappointed visiting this store…..I assure you. Call first to check on the availability of your desired fish.

I grew up near there and used to go there to look with my Dad when he bought fish. Awesome store!

 

[bgarthe]

Got to thinking…..it’s now June 5th and I still have not lost a single fish. Hope I haven’t jinxed myself.

 

[AuroraDawn]

Man, I miss that store! There used to be a nice one in downtown Waukesha too, but I think it must have closed or moved decades ago. As I kid I always found it interesting that the hours of the Waukesha fish store were 12-8 or so. Now I realize a lot of LFS have those hours, even here in Madison... I am wondering why that is. Is that common across the U.S. and in other countries as well? Do fish folks just not wanna get up early?