They will take your money ..but do not send the order . I have tried 6 times phoning and around 10 emails to this company with no reply . DO NOT DO ONLINE ORDERS ! NOT reliable or honest . read more

Rude management and staff. The multiple times I have been there the employees do not care about customers and are distracted on their phones or talking with each other. They do not care about the animals there and you can tell the care for them is minimum. I do not recommend this place, go elsewhere. read more

when my husband and I started in the saltwater aquarium hobby we reached out to Big Als and eventually learned thst all advise that we hit from them was totally wrong! We are now into the freshwater hobby and we buy supplies like good and aquarium salt from them. I would just warn new people to the hobby to be careful about information received from Big Als staff, some are great others not so muc! read more

Big Als is the best place for all your aquarium needs! They had all 6 things I needed in stock at the best price I've seen anywhere. My cart was $200 and over a certain amount (I forget $100 maybe?) it corrected the shipping to be free and with FedEx who I love! Pretty amazing considering its heavy ie 2 liters of Prime and 1kg of kelp tablets among other things... Ordered Tues July 14/2020, tracking says it'll be here on Monday July 20th! Woot! Thanks Big Als! PS I also got points worth $12! No selection of high GPH wavemakers though so I got a Sunsun 24x2W-24000LPH/6340GPH on eBay for US $49.88 with free shipping for my 115 gallon. My lucky day!! read more

I gave them a second chance and went back last weekend. Bought 8 harlequin rasboras and paid over $40 for them. Day two - two of them are covered in ich. I've been treating them gently for the last week (luckily no other fish in the tank this time, I did learn that much from my last experience with Big Al's) but I've still lost two. You pay this much to them for sick fish and the store does not offer any kind of "guarantee". Not surprising I guess since they must assume their fish will die on you half the time. I'll honesty be surprised if this place stays afloat after everything I'm hearing lately. There are MUCH better and cheaper stores in the city who actually care for their fish. read more

I quite enjoy visiting this store when we're in the area it's fun to see what they have in store. They have good selection and can be very helpful. That being said the staff also seem to disappear when you actually need help. It's a fun store to browse through but you can often find things cheaper elsewhere. Unless you go on Boxing Day when the place is crazy busy! read more

Best fish store in Edmonton they have so many fish that you can't even pick one and the service is nice

Been keeping fish for over a decade now. Big Al's is my "go to" shop. Certainly the best place on the South, East...and perhaps North side of town! They stock all things fish and reptile. If they don't have it...ask. They will likely order it. Friendly, knowledgeable staff. Great selection of fresh water, salt water fish. Tropical, Cichlids, goldfish. They also carry snakes, frogs and I do believe the odd spider. Great place to find that perfect tank for your home decor. read more

See all

Good front service. The back unfortunately lacked in customer service. Also the wife went in for fish and walked out with nothing. She wanted to get fish but was told to filter her tank for a month. Never have I been told that before an shave had fish live for years. Very frustrated after waiting 30 minutes for service. read more

If you're a first time fish owner, don't choose this place. Horrible experience and the staff give you confusing information or not enough, then they'll try to up-sell you to buy more. I wasted over $200 here for two dead fish in 2 days! I followed all their directions to a T and then some! These fish had to have been sick and no refund on anything at all. $200 in 2 days...gone. Poor quality, poor service, and overpriced. read more

Terrible customer service!!!!! I have purchased beta fish from here before with no problem. Two days ago I bought a beta fish and it died within 10 hours. I called and the manager TIM told me without bringing in the fish, the sample of the water or order form-they cannot do anything. They apparently can't even look up my order with my phone number. This is after I was told that the reason that the fish died is that they have a parasite right now. Really!!! So they're telling me something is wrong with the fish but still don't do anything. Ridiculous. When asked who the owner is (Nancy) I was told there is no way that I can contact her. This makes no sense to me. Will be taking my business elsewhere from now read more

The staff is always really helpful at Big Al's. They always give me good advice when it comes to caring for my fish. You can almost ask them any question and they know the answer. They have a large selection of gravel and decorations at affordable prices and their fish always seem healthy. They're my go-to fish store :) read more

I am going to go ahead and bump Big Al's up to a 5 star review. Reason being: they saved my giant pleco, Gunther. Here's the story: I have a turtle, and he is super messy! He also needs special lighting; this all helps to support the growth of algae. So a couple years ago, I decided to get a pleco for Turtle's tank to help with the algae. Everything was hunky dory; just fine...until a few weeks ago. All of a sudden, seemingly out of nowhere, Turtle started tormenting poor Gunther. He would constantly nip at him. Thinking he was either hungry or bored, I started giving him more food in the morning before I left for work, and also started taking him out of his tank for longer/more often. Nonetheless, Turtle continued to torment poor Gunther, and I was starting to get pretty upset about it (yeah, yeah...it's just a fish. You and my BF can joke and laugh about how ridiculous I was being about this silly fish some other time...). Having heard rumours that Big Al's might take my fish for me, I decided to give them a call. I explained the situation, and they agreed they would take Gunther for me (after expressing quite a few times that I was not to expect a credit - even after I said that I didn't care about a credit, I just felt terrible for my poor fish). So I packed up my fish, and made my way to Big Al's. I am not going to lie, but I felt awful about having to do this since I am a firm believer that pets - any pet - are a lifetime (their lifetime) commitment. Nevertheless, this fish was massive, so it was more than just switching him over to one of our other 2 fish tanks as they were simply too small for him. I had tried to give him away to a friend, but quickly put a stop to that when she told me that she "hoped" Gunther would be big enough that her other aggressive fish wouldn't kill him like he had all the others. Anyway, the staff at Big Al's took my fish for me, and I am confident that he is enjoying his new life without that big menacing bully after him constantly. Big thank you to the staff at Big Al's for giving me that piece of mind! read more

Big Al's has the biggest selection of fish in the city. Recently they started adding reptiles and frogs, too. We bought an African Rainbow Land Crab from here years ago and he lived to the ripe old age of 7 years old. The staff remembered us and always enjoyed hearing about how he was doing. They were very helpful when one of our fish tanks developed a huge crack and we showed up late one night, frantic and needing a new tank. The only downside is that their parking lot is smallish and shared with several other busy businesses. On the weekends finding a place to park can be difficult. read more

So our experience with BIG AL's. First of all the positives. Good variety, lots to choose from and some very knowledgeable staff. We purchased some damsels, clowns, pyjama Cardenas, gobies and coral beauty and a couple corals. The bad parts. When we were looking to get into salt water we went in to get pricing on a tank and start up. Well we got the quote and was slapped with the sticker shock. No explanations no why "this over that" just this is it that's the way it is and if you don't want it "oh well" treatment. As a sales trainer for a speciality item they defiantly need some training. So we got set up else where and while our tank was setting up we went in to BIG AL's here in Edmonton. It's fairly close. And we got like o mention in the beginning some knowledgeable staff and we made our choice on what to bring home. It's been a couple weeks and the fish seem healthy and happy. The total negative why I will not in the ford see able future buy another damn thing in there was this. Last night we purchased a coral Beauty at 8pm the next day they had all fish on at 25% off. So I went in to get a price correction. Got the nope can't do it. I wasn't asking for the fish we bought over the last two weeks just the one last night. Nope sorry. Ok nope sorry. I'll drive to the north side to Aqurium illusions. Knowledgeable and wiling to help. read more

The staff is usually knowledgeable. When you want to take some time to think about a purchase and go over all the care options, this is a good place to go.\ They have a variety of rare fish, reptiles and amphibians. Shark feeding is always interesting for the kids. read more

great selection of fish but seriously those sharks don't belong in any size tank. I've been going here for years and lately the staff are not as friendly nor knowledgeable. they will sell you anything and never ask about your tank for compatibility issues they sell chemical solutions for all problems instead of helping you find the root of issues you might have. if the owners cared about livestock they wouldn't own those sharks read more

Big Al's has the biggest selection of fish and aquarium hardware. This is my first choice of place to go if I'm looking for stuff for my tanks. The prices for tanks, equipment, filters, stands and lights can't be beat. They also have the largest selection of fish but they are higher priced than at other stores. But you're paying for quality and how well the fish are taken care of. It's like the Wal-Mart of fish stores - in a good way. There's an awesome 2,000-gallon shark tank in the bank, a 600-gallon fresh water planted show tank and a huge salt-water full reef on display. There are at least five or ten employees there that are extremely knowledgeable about fish and aquarium hardware. The manager Michael knows more than anyone and is the president of the Aquarium Club in Edmonton. read more

Big Al's - The Wal-Mart of fish stores. Photo courtesy of Big Al's. - Pet Stores Near Me - Edmonton, Alberta

You can't beat the selection of fish and related items that this fish store offers. They have the largest fish selection I've seen and everything you could possibly need to get up and running with a new aquarium. The service I find varies depending on who is working. Sometimes the staff are great and very helpful with finding what you need without even having to ask. A few times there have been some staff who couldn't be bothered to help you or seem like it is a big chore to help you. For the most part though is decent. They have a rewards program that accumulates points for future discounts after many purchases. (Wednesdays is double points day). read more

I used to love big al's until recently. in the past when i lived in calgary i would go for all my fish needs. one of the best things i liked about big al's was that they would trad in your fish for a store credit. this was awesome because as your fish grow and your unable to house them you had a way to re home them and also get new fish for your self. big al's edmonton is cheep tho, they give you no value to your old fish and then turn around and sell them for 4x the amount they give you, i understand the cost to house them or what not but when you have a rare breed that will sell fast they what housing is there? i have traded in a few fish to this location and have come back days later to find that they have already sold. read more

Great selection for all, experienced or beginner. The best selection of fish (salt and fresh water) in Edmonton. Great service by employees who are always friendly and extremely knowledgeable. Love bringing the kids for any new addition to our tank, keep up the great service. Excellent service since I was a kid 20+years now more than one location across Canada Thanks guys! read more

Big Al's is a huge store dedicated to everything fish related. When you walk in you will be thrown back by the lanes of aquariums. Unless you are a fish expert you probably won't know what half of them are. I don't really care for fish but when you see some that aren't your regular goldfish you actually begin to appreciate them a little bit. They sell many exotic fish here. They also have all the accessories you will need to keep your fish alive longer then 2 days. read more

I truly appreciate Daman's (sp) on the cycle of my tank. I called early with my concerns. He was very knowledgeable but had to let me go as he was training a new staff member, asked if he could call back? He did and he was empathetic, professional and gave me the best advice that I was comfortable with. Thank you read more

I would avoid Big Als at all costs. You may of had a great experience with them when you ordered and received your product, but watch out if anything goes wrong... They sent me an open box product that was missing parts and instead of offering an exchange did everything they could to pass the blame, first on to me and then on to UPS. They refused to take care of the situation, luckily the vendor of the product stepped up to the plate and took care of me. They love taking your money, but don't love taking care of their customers if their is an issue. They are in it for the quick buck. I will be sticking with my local fish stores or PetMountain.com from here on out. read more

Not impressed. Went to show my grandson the fish and stuff and because I have a lung disease and can't wear a mask I was refused entry into store. read more

Usually I like Big Al's. Today I went there to buy plants. The guy who helped me was well informed as I was telling him about my cories and I have one pregnant. Another man helped me when I was looking for a big bag of gravel. The problem came when I got to the till. There was only one poor girl on cash. There was a huge line up...up to 13 people when I finally got fed up and left. But I did tell the guy in the gravel section the girl on cash needed help. He said he couldn't. I said sure but someone else should be able to. I went to the back and they told me no one could help the cashier...just maybe one guy in the very back. There was lots of staff everywhere...just only one poor girl on cash. That's not fair and it isn't good business making every one wait...which eventually I didn't. read more

I ordered a few items online and even though they charged me for everything I only received 1 item in my package. It was a week between ordering and receiving my package which was fine and i spoke with a rep and they said they would have my items shipped that were missing. After I got off the phone i received an e-mail saying the main item of my whole order was out of stock, I did receive a refund however. Then a week has gone by and the rest of my order has still yet to ship - I figured they would have at least tried to get it out to me in a timely manner since i have already been delayed. I sent an e-mail to their support team and called again and was told they would contact the warehouse and reach back out to me via phone or e-mail. I never heard back and my first ticket has yet to be responded too. I am currently still in the fight with these people and I know i will likely never buy anything from them again. If you are willing to give interest free loans out to corporations then go ahead and order online with these guys. read more

Big Al's was recommended to me by a former co-worker. She said that this store is unlike any other. She was right. The first time I came in, I felt like a tourist visiting an aquarium in a foreign exotic country. Rows and rows of tanks with beautiful fish and living plants! I am totally dense about the fish, and was unfamiliar with 90% of fish tanks' occupants at Big Al's. But that does not mean that I was unable to appreciate their beauty and variety. As far as I understand, Big Al's sells mostly salt water fish that are exotic, and that explains the high prices. I do have a fresh water fish tank at home with several guppies and one big fat goldfish as occupants, but when the time comes for me to change the aquarium, I will definitely make it a salt water one. Salt water fish are just so vibrant and amazing, and the plants are colourful! For now, I shop for fish food, water filters and conditioners, and tank ornaments at Big Al's. Their selection is far better than at any other pet store. They also carry a large amount of fish tank stands which are expensive but you only buy them once, right? read more

See all

I've now had my third bad experience here so it's time for a review. The only cool things about this store is the set up and the selection. The customer service is probably the worst I've ever experienced. Particularly at the back of the store. Walking through the aisles, no one greets you or asks if you need any help. When you do need help, you have to walk up to a pack of employees talking at the desk and wait for one to turn around and ask "What do you want?". Then they all look at each other like they want to blow their brains out with a shotgun when you tell them you want to buy a fish. I will never be back here. read more

Love the selection of supplies and fish/aquatic life. Staff is very knowledgeable about any questions you have. Only complaint is its a little pricey for some items. Other than that, great store. read more

I would advise you to read your warranty on your aquatic pets closely. Their warranty sucks big time. Purchased algae eating shrimp on Wednesday, paid $5.00 a shrimp, on day 4 I found one dead in my tank. Their warranty is only a 5 day warranty. Contacted the store, and was told that if I returned the dead body I could be refunded $2.50. They would not replace it. If they felt it had died because my tank wasn't in proper condition, then I would get nothing. Even Petsmart warranties their aquatic pets for 14 days, and only request that you bring a sample of your tank water to the store for testing. Big Al's didn't even request a sample. Will not be wasting my money there any more. read more

There was a shipping issue, they took care of it immediately after I called and sent out a new package ASAP

This place has so much hype, now I love animals so I was pumped to show up here. I love sharks, I'm been diving with them, well the sharks at Big Al's suck, the feeding frenzy not worth it. The selection of fish kinda sucks as well. Theres alot of staff there so no problem getting help. Also the aquarium accerssories are dirt cheap. Overall Big Als is a meh read more

DO NOT BUY ANY PRODUCTS FROM BIG AL'S. I recently bought a drift log for my bristlenose pleco, - ( Isabelle) from big Al's and I wanted to know which log would be best. I expected such a huge store to have knowledgeable employees, especially considering they specialize in fish. I put the drift log into the tank and all my fish seemed excited. I had 4- tetras, named the minions, 1- very awesome beta fish named Neptune and of course my Isabelle. Within a week I had lost all my fish..... ALL OF THEM, and all because the drift log was not only infested with snails but also parasites. There bodies were riddled with white spots that deteriorated the fins and tale so that they can no long swim. I have had to bury 6 fish in 1 week. Do not shop here, unless you care nothing for your fish. read more

Really cool place that has a ton of interesting things to look at, both on the merchandise side and aquarium side. We came with our nephew who is 8 and he had a good time looking at everything they had to offer. We had actually come to buy an accessory for our snake's tank, but we probably spent about an hour browsing. The staff is normally really good, maybe they were having a lazy day but the service could have been better during our visit. Nearly every tank on the aquarium side has a label saying what's in it, except for the large shark tank in the back. My nephew asked what kind of shark it was and I didn't know, so I asked the staff hanging out at the back desk. There must have been 5 or 6 people standing around and the only girl to acknowledge me said "Uhhh.. I don't know." This really disappointed me and confused my nephew who overheard it. Luckily he found something else cool to look at, but I'm still surprised at how little the staff seem to care. read more

I was a regular customer of Big Al's. The cashier and employees in there remembered me. One day I went out and bought a chemical for my fish tank without knowing that I grabbed the wrong bottle. I brought it back the next day to exchange. The response I got was that the bottle was opened. I did not open the bottle at all. The manager show me the opened marked and refused to exchange. I was shock. I explained that I did not open the bottle. It could have been someone else was looking at the bottle and opened it in the store I explained. The manager started ignoring me and treated me like a retardo. I advised him that Big Al's would be out of my shopping list. Please check for chemical bottle cap before paying otherwise you will not get the money back and be treated badly! read more

Every time I have gone there I have always been greeted right away, and asked if I needed any help. For the most part the staff is knowledgeable, friendly and curteous. Even when it is busy they try to make sure they can get to you, and offer help when needed. I have gone to Big Al's quite a few times and have never walked out empty handed! Healthy aquarium plants, healthy fish, good quality and decently priced fish tanks and accessories. read more

come one come all. This place is great not just for getting supplies but for a nice stroll to look at all their fish. KIDS Love it adults love it. friendly staff too. read more

Unfortunately there was a blonde girl (didnt catch her name) working at the registers had horrible customer service. Everyone else was helpful and knowledgeable that I encountered on staff, but she was abrupt and made the experience very uncomfortable. (Sept 1st 4:30pm). I didn't understand the pricing for the fish decor and she wasn't capable of explaining it or answering my questions regarding it. I was curious if the prices varied based on the patern/design, and she was getting frustrated about this for some reason. Probably because the prices were solely based on per foot, but she wasn't capable of relaying this. read more

This is not my first experience at BIG AL`S. Usually it is a pleasant experience that I want to tell people about. Today one of the cashiers actually snapped a customer who made a mistake with product signage. I will say the girl in the fish area did`t explain that sign was not for plants read more