So lucky to live near this local fish shop! Tony and Linda are great people - knowledgeable, friendly, and accommodating. If they don't have something you're looking for, they're always willing to order it and will let you know when it arrives. The store is clean and well managed, fish are healthy, plants are vibrant - it doesn't get much better than this! read more

I've been shopping at Ocean Design for more than five years. They have an excellent selection of aquarium supplies, but more importantly the livestock is top notch. I have never purchased an unhealthy fish from this shop, they have all been rock solid. The proprietors are friendly and helpful, and I'm always happy to give them my business. Thank you for years of great service. read more

Amazing variety of high quality freshwater fish. Very friendly owner. Great price. I bought bristlenose pleco and the fish is very healthy and active. I asked questions about my plants and they help me with that. read more

Looking for aquarium places nearby and this one came up to be 10 mins away from me . Family owned business and you can tell they take pride on what they do . We went to buy plants and by our surprise they had so many to choose from . Even a variety of fish. Luckily they had pink/ red plants that stood out the most to us , we will be going back soon as the staff there seemed very helpful , and welcoming. read more

Could be the the number one tropical fish store in the Chicago area. The owner, Tony is knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the hobby. The store has a very nice selection of quality fish and aquatic plants. read more

Ok going to be totally honest in my review. This place while prices may be higher then I would pay in years, it's probably the only fish store in Chicagoland that I have bought from and have not ended up with casualties in 3 weeks The owner puts a lot of love and care into his fish and supplies and while I wish his prices were a bit more reasonable they're worth every penny and will continue to go back. read more

I've been a customer since 2005. They have a great selection of live plants, a knowledgeable owner, and a wide range of healthy fish. Take advantage of this place while you can, it is one of the last independent fish stores around. The big box stores fish are never quarantined, stressed, sick, and eventually die. read more

HAD to buy more Anubias and I also happen to have bought some some beautiful water lettuce. SO healthy read more

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Can't say enough great things about this place. I have been coming to Ocean Design since they were over on Diversey and Laramie , then Dunning Square, now on Addison . Tony and Linda are the best , always willing to help with the best advice , never trying to get you to buy something that you don't need . Tony even has loan me a pump when my pump went bad while my other pump was on order. You want to talk with someone who knows everything about the aquarium business and great advice on care of your fish , come see Tony and Linda read more

Tony and his wife are awesome people always providing ultimate service and experience. Also the apistogramma selection is worth the buy since they are the only establishment that carry a tank full of apistos read more

This is an outstanding fish shop: -The livestock selection is diverse, and there is always something new and interesting in the tanks. -The freshwater plant selection is excellent. -The shelf items are priced the same as you would find online; they carry every medication, fertilizer, and water conditioner you will ever need. -Great selection of hardscape materials, driftwood, substrates, filters, media and tools. -Most importantly, the owners, Tony & Linda, are wonderful, caring people who are very knowledgeable, and clearly enthusiastic about fish-keeping. Wether you are setting up your first tank, or your fifth tank- this delightful mom & pop shop will have everything you need. read more

Ocean Design Aquarium - Local Fish Stores Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Went in to buy fish for my nano tanks. Let me just say, this is probably the best aquarium store in all of Chicago. An amazing assortment of fresh, salt, plants and coral. The owner is super friendly and very knowledgeable and helpful. If you're looking for a new local fish store, stop by, you won't be disappointed. read more

I have been out of the aquarium hobby for many years. Linda and Tony made it easy for me to return to the joys of having fish. They are both knowledgeable, approachable, and helpful. It's a great comfortable vibe in the shop, you feel welcome to browse and ask questions. The tanks and fish are in great shape, there are so many beautiful fresh and saltwater setups. They have a great variety of fish and plants, and everything else in between that you may need or want. Prices are great, and I am overjoyed to be able to support a neighborhood business without feeling like I'm paying three or four times as much as I would in the larger pet stores. You get personable and personal attention, vast knowledge and tips, and healthy fish and plants. I hope my positive review brings in more people, because it really is a great place for any aquarist, whether you are new to the hobby or seasoned - or getting back into the "swim" of things. read more

Top notch service and quality wide variety of fresh and saltwater fish and underwater plants as well

Incredible selection. Great service. I came here on a whim because their stock list had something in particular I was looking for, and I can't wait to go back! read more

I love going to Ocean Design Aquarium for all my aquarium needs. I'm only about half a year into fishkeeping and this establishment has been super helpful. They provide great advice with everything fishkeeping (plants, fish, water chemistry, etc). They also have a great selection of plants and fishes ranging from common to rare. I recommend this place for everyone no matter what your experience/knowledge of fishkeeping!!! read more

Very knowledgeable staff. Family owned, and I love supporting family owned businesses. Been shopping there for years. I love there selection of livestock (freshwater is my focus). Always something unique and this store perpetuates my obsession with aquariums because of their constantly evolving stock. I will always come back here, at least for live fish. read more

This shop is simple the best because of the stock of fishes/plants. There are a wide selection of nano fishes and plants. Tony and Linda are very knowledge full and friendly to help at any time. Fish/ plant stocks are very healthy and clean. Price is reasonable because of the quality and the diversity in their shop. Nano fish and shrimps hobbits lover, Please stop by here!! It's a gem shop for me!! read more

I went to Ocean Design again last Sunday ... the selection of fresh water fish and plants is outstanding ... Tony, the owner, is very knowledgeable and helpful ... I highly recommend this establishment, worth the trip read more

I've had aquariums for the last 35 years, and I go out of my way for fish at Ocean Design Aquarium. I've been going there (starting at their previous location on Irving) for at least 20-some years. Tony and his wife Linda are awesome and super knowledgeable! The fish are well taken care of and healthy! I love my hobby, and love the solid advice I can get from Tony! Great place you can TRUST! read more

I eliminated my previous review and have decided to totally rewrite my review of Ocean Design - not update but rewrite. The people that work here are super friendly and will always approach you and ask you if you need help. They have a good, basic selection of fish supplies such as filters, water testing equipment, medicines, and decor. The aquarium fish really vary in quality however. Some tanks have really fantastic looking fish and others are just ok. By ok I mean these tanks may have a couple floaters (eww!). The store isn't sparkling clean like Old Town but it's also been a fixture in the neighborhood for many years (which says something, no?). In addition to fish, both fresh and saltwater, Ocean Design also sells some reptiles. What really makes this store stand out is the selection of plants they carry. OUTSTANDING! I've been to many if not most of the local aquarium shops in Chicago (chain and independent) and I don't think any place can even compete with the selection and quality of the plants they carry. So if you're looking for great, live aquarium plants come here! read more

I can't believe I've never given them the review they deserved!!! This was a couple years ago, but still worth a review. My 150 gallon tank sprung a leak. I was a regular customer and called them in a panic - "Erm hi, you don't really know me, but I buy things from you a lot, can you house some fish for me in an emergency??" And they did - I had fish coming out my butt at that point including fry. I'm pretty sure we lost a few, but they helped me in a crazy crisis. They're farther away from me now so I don't see them as often, but Tony and his people have always been incredibly helpful (and knowledgeable) on fish things. I now have another 150 gallon tank populated by two convict cichlids. Meanies. I'm waiting for them to go so I can restock! read more

This is a great little shop. I am not an animal person, to care about or for. But One day I'd like to get a frog. The frogs here make me smile and I do daydream about them. And I'll only come here to get thee one. The staff is awesome, and a sweet girl there is always super friendly, and man does she kow about the critters in there. Gotta make it there soon one day. read more

They have an amazing amout of varietys of tropical fish for sale. There are many tanks and all the equipment you would ever need also available. They have a limited amount of freshwater fish available. They also have small birds and reptiles for purchase. They are not the friendliest bunch at this store. I went in the other day to buy some supplies for my fish tank and like other pet stores I've been to they could use more warmth and charm. I guess you get hardened working at any pet store, regardless they should try to be more personable. read more

Ocean Design Aquarium - Local Fish Stores Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great looking fish and plants. There are fish here you won't find at the big chain pet stores and shrimp! After seeing the tanks with healthy happy fish I decided this was my place for fish and plants. read more

I stopped by Sunday afternoon to pick up some pearl gouramis. I hadn't been to Ocean Design in over a year and forgot just what a gem of a local fish store it is. Very helpful advice, excellent selection of healthy fish and enough unique species that I will return. Definitely worth the trip and the slight current hassle of Addison closures going westbound. Free street parking makes is all the more convenient. In most places, freshwater fish are second class citizens to the marine ones; not so here. read more

This is the place for dart frogs and supplies in the Chicagoland area. They have a good selection of reptiles and a great selection of corals and fish for salt or fresh water. The owner has always been a cool guy and most of the staff is very helpful. I believe they are the only store that carries dart frogs and the supplies to feed them in the area. They have flightless fruit fly cultures usually prepared and mature to feed frogs ready to go. They carry a lot of natural materials like rocks, wood/logs, decorations and coconuts to decorate a frog tank and make your terrarium look like a piece of the rainforest. They also have some basic fogging machines. The coral tanks are cool and set up well. They have a decent selection of different corals and saltwater fish. The selection of freshwater fish is pretty good as well, not as many exotics as I would like but some good finds are always had here. read more

This place is awesome for what I was looking for. I've been going around to tons and tons of different stores to see only a small selection of African Cichlids. When I do see them they are all run of the mill normal cichlids or there is no selection at all worth looking at. At Ocean Design Aquarium I found a huge plethora of assorted african cichlids varying from different size and species. I think this is the only place I'll go to purchase fish for stocking my tanks from now on! read more

For exotic salt water fish like Lion fish, Dogface puffers, etc., as well as your typical freshwater fish, this is the place to go for healthy and clean fish. The prices are very reasonable too. I go here all the time for new decorations, plants, or feeder snails/shrimps to feed my puffer, or just general advice. They really know what they're doing! read more

GREAT PLACE, GREAT QUALITY FISH AND A GREAT OWNER! I have worked with Tony for a number of years now and he always provides great service and great quality fish. You can see he really has a passion for the hobby and is willing to answer any questions you have. If you cant find something you want, he even takes special orders for you! Overall, just a great local aquarium shop! read more

Best fish store around! It's a little mom and pop shop that is taken care of amazingly. One of the owner's, Tony is very helpful and very knowledgeable. If I have a question about a fish I go to Ocean Design Aquarium. The fish there are always interesting! The pricing is a little high but it's well worth the price because every fish I have bought there has last at least 6 months. A fish died 2 days after I bought it and the owner gave me a new one for free! Love it there! Ocean Design Aquarium is a great place to go if your in the hobby. read more

Thank You Tony, for another wonderful experience buying my supplies. Wonderful people, wonderful store, and best of all, Closer to my house sinnce the move! ;) You guys are the best! read more

Only one person has reviewed this place? And it was over 2 years ago? Crazy! This place is awesome. Very nice selection of fish that I don't usually see. Lots of tanks to peruse. Decent prices on livestock. Tanks seamed clean and healthy. The people working here were talking to a lot of people like they were old friends - always a good sign. I just found this place, but I'm stoked to go back. This place had a great selection of freshwater fish (all my tanks are currently FW) but the corral frag tanks really make me want to get into saltwater. I have a nagging feeling that I might have come here years ago when I was on another kick of searching out fish stores - before the days of Yelp, I know, how did we ever survive? If I did, it is much improved since then - kudos to whoever is behind that. They have some really nice lizard and frog tanks. They had some really beautiful brightly colored dart frogs in there last time I went, something you don't see everywhere. The hardest part about going to all the different fish stores around is pinpointing my favorite one. I wish someone would just open a comprehensive store next to my house! Until that time I guess I'll just have divided loyalties. read more

An update: Since we are keeping saltwater now: OD Aquarium has STILL been the best source of all info salt! We've been to the Devon Street fish place (great selection, higher prices) and Old World in Chicago (sometimes great prices, and they can get you what you want)...Pound for pound I feel like this place has given us the best attention and advice. Salt specimens can't compete with Devon and Old Town, but, then, again...I can't say I trust those places for quality of fish/corals. You might have to wait to get in something you want here, but I'm sure it'll be worth it. Again: We have never gotten unhealthy fish from them! Would trust them above most. read more

I came in looking for some aquarium ideas. I am really impressed with this place. The girl that helped me seemed to really know her stuff. It's definitely not inexpensive though but I think worth a few extra bucks to get more professional help than you'll find at the discount pet stores. read more

I really like this store. They have a great freshwater selection, with some cool oddball stuff. All the fish and shrimp I've purchased here are healthy and thriving. The owner is knowledgeable and helpful. read more

I always found their selection of fish to be decent, but their prices are on the high side, particularly for live food like blackworms. Usually, their live food is in pretty good shape, but I've had it die with 24 hours of buying it as well. However, they were pretty good about replacing it. With rare exception, the staff in this store is usually rude and unfriendly, particularly the blond, who apparently believes she's irreplaceable because she's supposedly related somehow to the owner. The exception is a long-haired brunette, who is always very pleasant and professional. I tolerated the unfriendly atmosphere to purchase live food because it was convenient. I never bought any fish there because I knew I could find better deals elsewhere. However, the straw that broke the camel's back was when the blond quoted me a particular price for something I was buying for a friend. After I agreed to the price and stood at the register to pay for it, she claimed that she'd made a mistake and that the price was actually a couple bucks higher. If the price change was legitimate, it had been changed recently as I'd purchased at that initially quoted price before . However, she insisted that I pay the revised price. I of course asked her to honor the price which she first quoted. She refused, and I've never returned. Their loss (and at those high margins for live food, it's not an insignificant one) and my gain. I found a less expensive and closer alternative. read more

I had been searching online for fish stores in the Chicago area and came across this place. Boy, am I glad this place is so far away or I would be broke. As it is, I will definitely be back to purchase more freshwater plants. Their selection is amazing and the man who helped me is incredibly knowledgable. Without asking, he shared how long certain plants or fish had been at the store. Without expecting me to purchase, he showed several different plants that would suit my lighting setup, recommended a new light fixture (which I'll be saving up for), and then introduced me to his collection of shrimp. He carried both saltwater and freshwater fish. I didn't look too close at the SW and am not an expert, but both the salt and freshwater fish tanks looked well cared for. Plants were abundant and in great shape (he even said he was between shipments and didn't have the best selection). Can't wait to bring a friend this summer who is looking to stock her cycled tank... 5+ stars read more

Are you lying awake at night fretting about the size of your turtle dock? Then you need to get your ass in here. They've got a crapload of turtle gear and aquarium supplies and a fine assortment of freshwater and marine fish for sale. read more

My boyfriend and I went there yesterday for supplies, and found an EMPTY store! Oh no! How could our fav. pet shop be closed? After a quick look at their website we find out that they just moved! Oh, thank goodness! Their new location is not too far from their previous strip mall place. According to the website, they were closed yesterday for a family wedding, so we couldn't check out the new place. So, like any normal pet lover, we did a drive-by. It looks pretty darn cool. The windows are painted really cute, just can't tell if its bigger or smaller than the last. Hopefully its a bit bigger. I'm curious to see the inside and learn why they moved. read more