Amazing and knowledgeable staff. My Betta was purchased from them and he is super happy and healthy! They helped educate me on how to properly set up his tank and his feeding cycle. Out of all the Aquarium stores in the burbs, this is by far the best!!! read more

Great selection of both freshwater and saltwater fish. Staff was really knowledgeable and quite helpful. Also, all the tanks seem well cared for and clean. read more

Talked to the owner on a number of aquarium topics and she is definitely in the know. I forgot her name but she was very helpful and polite. read more

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Super awesome store and the woman was very helpful and clearly knew what they were talking about. They also didn't try upselling anything, they offered cheaper options for some expensive items, which I appreciated. Suuuper cool and friendly definitely recommend this over a corporate pet store! read more

I wanted to build a small freshwater fish tank for my son. The gentleman who helped us was very helpful and gave us genuine, honest help to build the tank the right way. We got a variety of plants, a few fish and some snails to start the tank. I like this store and I'll continue to work with them because I had such a positive experience, and because of that my son is so happy. read more

Fish Planet - Getting started, we got all the right equipment, biochemicals, etc to make a really nice tank. - Local Fish Stores Near Me - Deerfield, Illinois

so helpful with all tanks. I am a beginner and they're so very helpful. Really really appreciate all they do for me

They were Very helpful with addressing my needs on both recent visits. The items that I needed each time were in stock.

Had good luck here until our last visit. All but 3 fish died within a week that we purchased. Water is all good & only the fish we just purchased died in 2 separate tanks. read more

I've been here twice and omg everything in here is so clean!!!! I went once and April and it was a great first impression I went in today and everything was perfect staff was supper nice and helpful with me making a purchase on shrimp again and really nice at giving advice for Angel fish! I will 1000000 percent be back for more shrimp and shrimp and whatever else I need! so thanks again a billion read more

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I have been enjoying the aquarium hobby for nearly 20 years and have visited almost every local fish store in the Chicagoland area, Madison, and Milwaukee in that time. I have been coming to Fish Planet regularly since they opened. They have the best fish and livestock by far! Greatest selection and health, I always see something new and rare. The staff is always very friendly and knowledgeable and animal care is their highest priority. And this store is amazingly clean all the time, I don't know how they do it!!! They truly care about building long-term friendships and relationships with their customers, not just a quick and easy sale. A store who really supports the aquarium community. They are well worth the drive, check them out. read more

Super clean store with a great selection! Extremely friendly staff that don't hover over you as you're browsing but readily available to answer any questions. I stopped here on the way to MN from Chicago and found some fresh water fish I wanted to buy that aren't always readily available in Minneapolis. I informed them that I had a 6 hour drive and they threw in an extra fish - just in case and also gave me a styrofoam container to keep the fish warm for the long drive home. They also put the fish in extra large bags with plenty of air to ensure they'd survive the drive to MN. All of the fish made it, and are doing great - actively swimming around. If you're in the Chicago area, I would definitely recommend checking out this fish store. read more

I've been holding off on this review because I was afraid I wouldn't be able to do the place justice, I'm kind of an aquarium novice. Fish Planet is such a great little shop - full of hard-working knowledgeable friendly employees, and full of beautiful, colorful fish and the sound of clear rushing water. No undernourished fish, not even any lackadaisical or bored fish, no dirty tanks, not even any empty tanks or empty shelves. These are fish people. Who know how to take care of fish and tanks and systems. I know, because I've talked to them multiple times about my tank and my fish. And they know their stuff. These are lifetime fish enthusiasts. While Fish Planet is a relatively small place they a full stock of fish and supplies. It's not cramped or messy. And they have a few large tanks that are absolutely mesmerizing. My favorite is - if you park in the back parking lot, and enter through the rear door - right when you walk in, on the right, is a massive tank full of huge decorative goldfish, just doing their thing. I feel like I could just watch them for hours. read more

There were a lot of options for different types of fish and the prices were fair too. The staff were super helpful as well. Highly recommend! read more

Educated, helpful, non-judge mental staff and HEALTHY tanks. Happy aquatic animals and proper care supplies. Just amazing in compare to other options in the area. It is worth the trip I promise. read more

I am a saltwater enthusiast and am having a hard time coming to grips with the reality that my beloved Midwest Coral Farms closed! Fish Planet is their neighbor and I decided to give it a try. The store is abouuuuut 50/50 saltwater and freshwater. They have beautiful options for corals and fish but not a ton of inventory or frags. The owner is nice and he is very knowledgeable. However, he seems to employ younger teenagers (which is fine) but they don't seem to be fully knowledgeable about saltwater. Given the importance of every move in a saltwater tank as well as the universal lack of return policy on precious saltwater items...a gamble on knowledge is not one i'm willing to take. As a first timer, I asked a few questions and got semi-confident answers from the employee but when the owner came by he would advise against the advice given once i would re-ask the question. I think that the employees are probably knowledgeable in maintaining the store's tanks to the expectations of the owner but can't give advice on someone else's tank/conditions. I'll be back...with those thoughts in mind! read more

Fish Planet - Local Fish Stores Near Me - Deerfield, Illinois

I just called Fish Planet to clean and transfer my fresh water tanks from a 65 gallon to a 50 gallon tank Becki showed up right on time and went over everything with me, she then started bringing in buckets and a 55 gallon garbage pail to hold all the water. I was amazed at her knowledge of both fresh and saltwater fish, but then after talking she told me volunteers at the Shed aquarium and also worked at Sea World in Florida . A word to the wise don't do what I did and call someone from Craigslist like I did before,big mistake Go with a pro your fish and you deserve it Becki and Steve thanks for a great job read more

Fish Planet - Local Fish Stores Near Me - Deerfield, Illinois

What a nice little fish store!! There are not many REAL local fish stores, and I REFUSE to purchase fish from Petsmart/Petco and any other chain store. I found this one here on Yelp, and we went to check it out. My son keeps a small tank in his room, so he's been here a few times. The guys that run the place are always nice to him, and seem to give him good advice. While the shop is fairly small, they seem to have a nice supply of both Salt and Fresh Water tanks/fish. They've also got coral, and all kinds of tank supplies. I definitely recommend checking this place out if you have a tank! read more

Doesn't look anything out of the ordinary from any other fish shop, let alone an ordinary shop at first, but when you enter, it is probably one of the best fish stores I have been to so far. While the prices are rather awfully high, it's excusable considering the fact this store is merely keeping it's head above the sea that's called life. Also, the tanks are very clean, there is a lack of dead animals, and arguably the most notable of all, the staff. The staff are very friendly and Steve, in particular was very nice and seemed to be very genuinely interested in the subject of fish-keeping. I had a small while of conversation about aquariums and all other maintenance and when I left the store with a upgraded filter for my tank, my day felt a little better, knowing there is at least one extra person who liked fish-keeping. read more

I wish my husband and I had come here before we got our fish supplies from Pet Smart. The prices in the store were extremely good, and had we been given the information at Petsmart and the option we would've gone with the saltwater tank. We did buy our freshwater fish here and the owners really cared about our success at home and schooled us on how to keep our fish and tank clean and healthy. I also appreciate the fact that they practice what they preach and do not overcrowd their own tanks. They also would not sell us fish today that our tank was not prepared for. Like my husband said "they have a heart." They honestly care about the well being of their fish. We agreed that in six months we would get a larger saltwater tank and only buy from these people. read more

Fish Planet - Exterior - Local Fish Stores Near Me - Deerfield, Illinois

One of the cleanest fish stores that I've been in after 50 years in the Hobby. The staff is very knowledgeable and helpful at Helping people at various levels of the hobby. This is the type of local store that we should all support read more

Any day I walk into Fish Planet is a happy day! I've been going there since last fall, and am always just blown over by how warm and friendly everyone there is. The owner, Steve, is knowledgable and honest. He won't try to sell me more expensive fish if he knows they're not right for my tank, and I always know that if I ever have a question about anything, everyone there is always available. Just this week I began setting up my own little marine aquarium and I think Steve seemed almost as excited as I am! I love bringing my non-aquarium friends there, because they're always amazed by the beautiful fish tanks and the amazing selection of fish. I don't think I've ever seen so many clean tanks in one place - unless it's the Shedd. Every time I go in there I always wonder what his cleaning schedule must look like... Anyhow, whether you're a rank beginner and need someone knowledgeable to get you started out right, someone with a little knowledge, or an expert aquarist, this is the place to go! They have a little something for everyone, and the prices are more than competitive. I'd give it six stars if I could! read more

We've had our tank up and running for awhile now. Steve (the owner) has always been of service to us and our fish care needs. Somehow he even remembers most of our fish. We love that the store is super clean and even the younger sales clerks know what they are talking about. After talking to friends who are also in the hobby, and doing a little price comparison. We noticed that the prices are higher. We always receive great customner service and our recommended new things, so we're not too bothered by the prices. We continue to go here for our saltwater every couple of weeks for water changes. read more

This place is amaizing...The owner and his associates are allways friendly with a really good attitude, they listen to all my questions and the store is so well put together...I bought some OB peacocks and 9 clown loach from them all healthy and at really good price....This is my new spot to buy my fish....Thank you Fish Planet....You guys are amazing.... read more

Fish Planet - Local Fish Stores Near Me - Deerfield, Illinois

The fish look healthy, but when I brought home within hours all of them got cotton mouth disease, and died. I have checked my aquarium pH, ammonia, nitrate, etc. I know the aquarium is in good condition. It might be just my bad luck to get sick fish. I bought 10 rasboras, 6 neon tetra, and 2 celebes rainbow fish. I do not know what to say. The owner is nice and the store is very clean. read more

This store works in the northbrook/deerpark area but really, nothing special. You may be able to find a few extra aquatic plants or species which you cannot find at petco or petsmart. Plus this place is especially for fish and aquatic plants. The biggest thing i like is the owner is honest and give great advice, doesn't push you to buy anything you wouldn't want. With a specialty store like this the prices are definitely higher. I'd say if you want to save money order your special aquatic needs online and read online blogs to do your own research. A lot of aquatic hobbyist sites where you can get just as good of advice. I am not trying to kill small local businesses, but this store is not big by any mean and nothing awe striking here. read more

This is THE best fish store I have ever seen. The most impressive part of the store is when you first enter. It is gorgeous, almost a place to visit with your kids to see and learn about both common and rare fresh and salt water fish, plants and coral. The owner, Steve, is so knowledgeable and caring, and loves to educate. I have never seen cleaner tanks and fish that are so happy, active, social and healthy. If you are buying fish, you want them to come from Fish Planet. If you are just curious, you will enjoy a visit to learn more and see some pretty incredibly beautiful fish. If you have kids, it is worth a visit on a cold or rainy day just to ignite their passion and education. I have never seen a store like this, managed by such a caring owner who takes such pride is everything fish. Stop by, you will wonder why you haven't been there before! read more

I love this place! Everyone is so friendly and knowledgable about fish and maintaining a tank. Everytime I go in there I'm like a kid in a candy store. Can't help but to grab something. There's a young man who works there and he took time to teach my kids about the different fish. Great place to grab your gilled pets and products! read more

We've had mixed experiences with this store. The store is gorgeous and the selection of fish and accessories very diverse. We have enjoyed most of the fish we bought there, though once we brought home fish infected with ick, which destroyed our entire home tank. The owner was apologetic and helped us rebuild at no cost. Recently, though, we bought a number of fish, and within one week they were all dead for no reason. Another reviewer stated that the owner tends to blame fish deaths on the customer, and we do believe this has been our experience as well. Plus, as we've examined other stores in the area, we have found that this store's prices are a bit inflated. We have decided to take our business elsewhere from now on. read more

I live 5 minutes away and would love to continue shopping here, but the owner is so incredibly rude I would rather drive to Thee Fish Bowl in Evanston. I've let it go over the years but this morning I called and he answered. The store number must het forwarded to his voicemail. I quickly explained that a product he recommended wasn't working on my very sick fish. He told me he didn't have time to talk to me and pretty much hung up on me. He was on speaker and I had a friend over. Her jaw dropped and she said "Are you kidding me? That was the rudest thing I've ever heard." I agree and I'm done giving him my business. By the way, he's equally rude to his employees. read more

I love fish planet I buy all my fish and supplies there and the employees are very knowledgeable

I had a great experience at this store. I am a first-time fish tank person. I bought a filter for a my 10 gallon tank and took it home to install it. I ran into 2 problems installing. Both times, I called the store and they patiently listened, asked questions, and helped me diagnose what was going on. Would never get this type of service from a big-box pet store! I'll go back for my fish needs! read more

I know there are bigger stores than fish planet, but I couldn't be happier with Steve and all the staff at Fish Planet. The personalized service I receive there, I don't think is available at a bigger store, at least none that I have ever been to. Steve really understands reefs and I have never received anything but sound recommendations and advice about how to maintain my live reef tank. I unhesitatingly recommend Fish Planet to new and experienced aquarists alike. read more

I've been going to Fish Planet for year. Even when I moved to the city, I always made it a point to stop by because I just couldn't find any place better. The owner, Steve, knows everything there is to know about fish. Better yet, he genuinely cares about your new tank or fish. He never suggests anything that won't work for your tank (even if it means not getting a sale). Everything is extremely clean and very well organized. Fish Planet is what small businesses should all be about. Whenever you get a chance, stop on by and show your support. read more

Bought gold fishes from this place for three times. Price is fair. I have shopped several fish places in Skokie, old town and Chinatown. This place is the best. Gold fishes are healthy although not the fanciest. Also bought blood worm and plants. No issues so far read more

My boyfriend and I started our first saltwater reef tank a little over a month ago. We were a bit overwhelmed with information from multiple different sources, until we came across this place. The staff and owner of this local shop have helped us on our journey. We appreciate the great customer service and the selection of beautiful, healthy fish and coral. read more

Every time we visit the store we are greeting by knowledgeable staff, offering their time and advice on purchases. It's also nice that they always share a variety of options and share in the decision making process. I was particulary impressed with one of the younger staff members and her extensive knowledge about my concerns. Support local and shop local, especially here where you get personal attention. read more

I started another saltwater tank and being new to the suburbs, I thought I would give the store a try. The owner is great! The selection is very nice and if they don't have something you can always order it. I have made this my store of choice for all my fish needs! read more

This place has been out 'go to' for our aquarium. The service is great and the advice is honest. We raised piranhas from here until the point where we wanted the school in a larger tank, then they were given to a family member. Now we have mixed species all purchased from fish planet. We have NEVER experienced any deaths with the fish we have purchased from here. Always leave there happy and look forward to building my next aquarium with their assistance. read more

GREAT aquarium store!!! I would DEFINITELY recommend the Fish Planet to any aquarium lover weather you're a beginner or advanced in the hobby. I'm a huge supporter of locally owned aquarium/pet stores and this is a prime example of how great quality is when somebody who isn't money driven and trying to do everything owns a shop. The staff are very friendly and helpful and there's a great variety of saltwater and freshwater organisms. read more

Very nice and clean place! Steve has been very helpful with all my "noob" questions about my "inherited" saltwater tank! Very patient even when I ask the same questions every time i go in LOL Great selection, good prices and Tremendous corals!! read more