After multiple calls, speaking with multiple helpful staff, I'm happy to announce the their guidance and recommendations have taken my betta fish off death's doorstep! Thanks for your patience dealing with me and my anxiety. You all rock! read more

I started my saltwater journey back when you were out by the airport and visited you for all my saltwater fish and corals. WTF happened? Place is a shell of its past and makes me sad. Stopped in the other day to see how it looked and won't visit again. No saltwater fish anymore and what corals they had in their frag tanks were all dead or on their way. Thanks for helping me get started in the saltwater hobby and hope the best for this local fish shop. I'll be headed north for my saltwater addiction from this point as you were the only shop in town. read more

Fish stores aren't exactly in abundance in Salem and even for the ones that do exist, I would reckon The Premium Aquarium is the most versatile of them all. Located just down South on Liberty Rd, they have some of the best fish selection and equipment in all of the city. The place is stacked with custom sized tanks, an incredible variety of items, and lots of cool stuff to make a tank really stand out. They have all sorts of freshwater tanks throughout the joint and the customer service is outstanding. They'll take their time to answer dumb questions (#1) and show folks what to get for their setup. Most of all, they accept fish donations. This was particularly important to me since our family had some koi to give away and they took it without any fuss. If folks are needing to give away any fish, this place will absolutely do it. _____________ (#1) Which are essentially all I have to ask. I guess salmon, crabs, and sardine are totally out of the question. read more

I will start off by saying the store itself is well stocked. Lots of fish, plants, equipment, etc. If you have an aquarium, they probably have stuff for you to find. This is in particular about the care of their bettas, which is to say gently - not great. I went in to purchase plants for a 2 of my fish tanks, neither of which had fish. All was normal-ish until I saw a little, tiny baby betta fish in what was basically a half-filled jam jar with some plants. I thought it was dead at first, and was really concerned about it. The rest of their betta selection was in cups with plants, which made me a little upset. Some of their bettas were in plant tanks, but this guy was in a jar without a filter or a heater in the front of a cold store. It did have some plant snipping, but that's just less than the bare minimum of the care needs. Went home with my plants, but couldn't shake the feeling that something was just really wrong with that betta fish and that I needed to go give it a better home. Went back same day, and asked the person at the front what they knew about the fish - they couldn't give me any answers besides "it's a baby and we got it from a breeder". I kept on asking the employee if the fish was ok, if it had any problems, etc. They said, "no". I didn't really believe it given the state the fish was in, but proceeded to purchase it anyways. I am incredibly glad I did. Not because it perked up immediately, but because the entire front of the face of the fish was covered in ammonia burns, and the fish had an awful case of ammonia poisoning, complete with red stripes and inflamed gills. I am so upset that a company that sells fish not only put a fish in that condition, but didn't recognize the fact that scales were falling off the face of a baby betta fish. That's just negligence of livestock IMO. To be fair, it looked to be the most neglected fish in the store and I bought it because I thought it was going to die soon. And if I left it there, I would have probably been right. Not to say that they don't do a good job with other livestock, but it's a giant red flag - especially if you know anything about baby bettas and know they require more care and are more sensitive to changing water parameters than a regular betta fish. The betta is now named Kuma, and am trying to heal him up nicely in a planted 14 gallon tank. But I really won't ever forget the feeling when I realized literally the entire face of the fish was burned, scaleless, with red stripes running down the sides, fin rot, and clamped fins. It's gotten better over the past couple of days after I brought him home, but still. And the employees didn't recognize it - which is the most upsetting part to me. I just can't support a fish store that treats any kind of fish like that, I'm sorry. read more

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This store is amazing. The customer service is great. There was never a time that I entered this store without seeing how well cared for the fish are. If there is a sick fish the staff will quarantine the tank and set forth in caring for the fish. If I have problems with my fish at home, the store owner will take the time to help solve the problem. They are knowledgeable and helpful. I would highly recommend you buying your fish at Premium Aquarium. read more

I have been maintaining aquariums for over 60 years, sometimes having as many as 10 aquariums at a time. I read the mixed reviews for Premium Aquarium and decided to pay them a visit. As I entered the store, I noticed I was the only customer. There were two employees visable. I looked at aquarium accessories for several minutes before one of the employees approached me to ask what I was looking for. I indicated I was looking for a under gravel filter and he indicated they had none. With that I mentioned I was going to look around the store to view fish and underwater plants. There was a very low inventory of fish and many of them did not look healthy and I observed one dead red sword laying on the bottom of a tank. Many of the tanks were not well maintained and many of the plant had a layer of black algae on them. In summation, the prices on accesories and fish were quite high and selection was very limitted. I like to do business with local establishments, but I will not venture into this store again. read more

Surprisingly good and large store! When I first drove by I thought it would be TINY but nope! Absolutely filled with coral frags and saltwater fish, along with an impressively nice looking freshwater set up,l. I'm pretty slcertain every freshwater tank had plants and healthy fishes in it. They seemed very knowledgeable about everything they had in as well. Any question I asked they had a response for! Was truly lucky to stop by here when I was in town read more

I strictly purchase supplies (testing kits, filter media, sponges, etc) and avoid purchasing fish, shrimp, and plants because of the experiences I had with their live stock two years back. I purchased a beautiful betta fish that had a white spot on his forehead, didn't think much of it since I thought it was a part of his "look." Over a few weeks time I started noticing the patch growing and he had cottony like lesions on his mouth. I initially thought it was ick but the treatment didn't work. I received a second opinion and turned out he had now late stage columnaris disease. This meant I now had to tear down my tank (bye porous decor and live plants) and disinfect the aquarium in a bleach solution and place him in separate tank for treatment. He died in his hospital tank a few weeks later. Thinking it was my error, I waited a few months and bought three guppies from them - they died in their separate quarantine tubs a few days later (keep in mind quarantine tanks require daily water changes and water testing so parameters were fine). Thought it was me again, so I was like maybe plants? Nope, melted and died. So I said screw it and purchased a betta fish from a different aquarium shop near Hillsboro and plants from etsy - they have been thriving for the past two years. read more

Really nice to have someone who really knows what they're doing and amazing collection of corals! In my opinion, if they can raise corals, they are doing something right and care a lot about what they do. I got some electric blue Demsey's from them and they are doing so well! read more

The Premium Aquarium - My electric blue. - Aquarium Services Near Me - Salem, Oregon

Oh, how I love The Premium Aquarium. I recently started a planted, freshwater nano-tank. DISCLAIMER: I am the epitome of 'newbie' regarding all things fish. The guys at TPA seem to really enjoy the hobby, each other and their clients. They are friendly, knowledgeable and (gasp) they actually LISTEN to you. They know which fish can cohabitate, which plants are low maintenance and they can recommend food for picky eaters. They even NAME some of their tenants (adorable, I know). Never once have I felt belittled or taken advantage of because I am new to the hobby. Typical conversation at TPA: Me: OMG! I love these tiny, chubby fish! I want one! Josh: No, you don't. They jump. They are prolific jumpers. Me: Eww, eww, eww! Ok, I want this one! What is THIS ONE? He knows my tank is on my desk at work and that I am still getting used to the possibility of one of my fish escaping. *Shivers After your fish are secured in their plastic baggies, they put them in a paper bag so they aren't as stressed during transportation. I love that they are open until 7pm on Sundays, too! Highly recommend! read more

Customer service is....horrible. No one greets you when you enter the store, the employees are all chatting with each other by the desk or in the office, takes absolutely forever for them to help you. Last time I was there I was only asked if I needed something as I was walking out. It's also very dirty with the tanks looking like they haven't been cleaned in months and floors looking like they've never seen a mop. Half the tanks were under observation, which I know isn't their fault but still. Their fish tanks have tons of fish that don't have tags so you have no idea what costs what or even what kind of fish it is. The store is a mess! read more

I stopped in today and was very impressed! Very clean shop, I did not see any dead or ill-looking fish. I bought a swordtail and two Cory catfish and the gentleman was so careful with them, not allowing them to thrash in the net and then also taping the corners of the bag so they wouldn't get stuck in the corners on the drive home. The workers show they care and are not impatient while I was spending who knows how long trying to decide what fish I wanted. The worker that helped me was knowledgeable and helpful on my questions. Would highly recommend this fish store!! read more

TPA is the best saltwater and reef shop in Salem, and probably the best in the entire Portland area. HUGE selection of fish and corals, and an impressive selection of dry goods as well. They also always have reallycool inverts available. The staff is super friendly and very knowledgable and can advise you in anything. They also have a freshwater selection as well. Two huge thumbs up. Update : been reefing here with garret on and off for ten olus years. The guy always delivers cool stuff! The store has just expanded and the selection is bette lr than ever...making the short 45 minute drive for me well worth it! Plus there is almost never traffic on i5 down there...not like there is up north anyhow! read more

Premium Aquarium is my Favorite place to go for freshwater fish, shrimp, plants and supplies. friendly and very helpful staff. I am even thinking of starting a saltwater tank because I feel confident in Premium aquarium to help me along my journey. read more

Went to this business several days ago and have been debating a review ever since. This is probably one of the worst examples of customer service I've ever seen, period. I was literally waiting for Ashton Kutcher to jump out from somewhere to tell me I'd been punk'd. The arrogance and condescending attitudes were dripping from staff. My only hope is that one of the individuals manning the store was an owner and approved of the atmosphere and its financial survivability. I'll be avoiding this business in the future and advising fellow reefers to do the same. Regrettable for the hobby. read more

We love supporting our local fish store! Every time, we've gotten one on one attention (and we ask a ton of questions!) We have bought both fresh and saltwater fish and supplies here (both tanks are thriving). Chris has been awesome helping us choose fish that are not aggressive with one another, and giving us important information on the timeline of how to do things so that the animals all stay healthy. Knock on wood- we haven't lost a single animal so far. Our family loves this store!! read more

This place is the real deal. I read great stories on various reef forums about how The Premium Aquarium has high quality corals and wow, they sure do. I was down in Salem for work and decided to swing by and see for myself (I live in Portland). The selection was great and all the coral healthy and vibrant. If I were in the market for a clam WOWZERS! they have some beautiful ones. I think this place has the highest quality coral in the greater Portland area. I definitely intend to buy from them again. I was also told that I can place an order for specific colors etc and they can usually get what you need. HIGHLY RECOMMEND! read more

Been doing business with these guys for more than four years here in Salem. They helped me though a huge tank upgrade about 18 months ago and now we're working on another tank upgrade. Joy! I do all my work myself, but they're always there for me if I have a question. (Currently building a custom sump for my new 105...OMG) They're knowledgeable about equipment, livestock, and supplements. I've been in the hobby for 18 years. I've done business with every shop in town and most shops in Portland. Since I found The Premium Aquarium, I rarely do business with anyone else. read more

I cautiously stopped by here yesterday after reading reviews; and I was surprisingly impressed! The staff were pleasant and helpful and they had a great product selection! read more

First, let me tell you how great it was to walk into a store and have knowledgeable staff that were eager to help and not just trying to make a sale. My family arrived looking for a couple of fish for our freshwater aquarium, and left with fish and an education. The store's focus is on saltwater but it also has a wide variety of freshwater fish. After our trip today, we will not buy fish or supplies elsewhere. read more

We are new to Aquariums and have been to Premium Aquarium and we'll return they are all so nice and knowledgeable, very helpful and not pushy. My husband is very hard of hearing and they took time to talk with him and he had a great experience as well. We were just donated a second tank and gettin it ready to stock. Looking forward to visiting Premium Aquarium again. read more

Nice store, I would say nice little store but it's big for a small business! I love all the fish, but MAN that freshwater show tank with the angelfish and discus is my favorite!!! Yes, I am biased lol read more

Was excited to visit this store as there are not many options in my local area. Was impressed with the variety but not by the staff or overall health of the fish. Ended up purchasing some dwarf water lettuce and a nerite snail. Quarantined them for 4 days and placed in separate tanks. Now both have Ich. Lost a guppy last night in one and the plecos in both look like they may not make it. Currently treating with Imagitarium parasite remedy, raised temperatures and did 50% water changes prior and hoping for the best. The staff was pre-occupied with gossip at the front counter and seemed irritated when we asked for help. Definitely will not be returning and hoping all of my fish don't die. read more

The Premium Aquarium is simply the best saltwater shop around and I have been to most of the shops in Oregon. They have both economical and more professional dry goods. The coral and fish selection is very reasonable. If you want something special they will make sure that they will get it with a smile on their face. This is what a small shop should be! This shop has loyal customers from Portland to Eugene. I am from Eugene and have been going to Garrett's since he had his shop in his garage. Garrett and his staff are also the nicest people you will ever meet! You owe it to yourself to visit! read more

We are regular customers of The Premium Aquarium. We are there every week, sometimes more than once a week, as we have multiple salt water aquariums. Garrett, Chris, Josh, Colton and the rest of the staff are the best ever. We really appreciate the excellent customer service, and all of their advice as we have advanced in this hobby. We have a 180 gallon reef tank, a 35 gallon seahorse tank, a 40 gallon reef tank, and a 55 gallon reef tank. ALL of our livestock is from The Premium Aquarium. This includes our corals. This also includes our 180 tank and all of the accessories for same. We started out years ago with fresh water fish, and slowly changed over to salt water. To the person that complained about ich, they should know, as EVERYONE in the hobby should, that you need to QUARANTINE your new fish. This is standard and really a NO-BRAINER. No fish is disease proof. I don't care where you bought your fish. Garrett and the guys are not raising fish out in the back of their store. They have them shipped across the country, just as every other store does. Unfortunately, this stresses the fish. It cannot be helped. When (and this is rare) we ever had a problem with any livestock, we received in-store credit, or a replacement of same. I do not believe that the guys would not stand 100% behind their fish. I have seen them in action standing behind their livestock for other customers. Remember we are there every single week. Heck, I had a heater die right after the warranty expired. Garrett gave me a brand new one. He did not have to do that. To sum up, we have NEVER had poor customer service here. In fact, we now consider all of the guys our friends. We can highly recommend The Premium Aquarium. Stewart p.s. I've been to all of the other local fish stores. I witnessed the owner of one place in Keizer tell a customer that all of the fish she wanted were compatible for the same tank. She bought fresh water puffer fish, gold fish, cichlids, a betta, and guppies, for THE SAME TANK! This guy was seriously in it for the money. I could not create a worse group of livestock for a tank if I tried. All I can say is wow. Just wow. That would have NEVER happened at The Premium Aquarium. Never. read more

Terrible, terrible, terrible service. Was in the store for more than 15 minutes and wasn't approached once by the various employees working there. Had previously purchased some fish there and one died hours after I got it. I called them same day and they said "we don't know what happens when the fish leave our store." After two negative experiences I won't be going back. read more

Worst store I have ever been to. Me and my fiancé decided to stop in and check out what they had. Upon doing so I fell in love with a Boxfish which they informed me would be perfect for my tank. There was over 8 dead fish in multiple tanks and when we notified garret of it he just went back over and starting playing on his phone. Absolutely the worst customer service. I asked if the fish had ever had a illness which they informed me no. I got the fish home only to have it pass away from ich and pass it to my entire tank! When I called and confronted them asking them what they would do regarding the situation they said absolutely nothing! And that I probably had ich in my tank long before I bought the Boxfish. Which I have had my tank for two years with NO issues. And he also informed me that they would no give me In store credit or anything for it. And it was just a risk I took on myself. I spend over 2000 dollars on stuff every two months and they will never ever get my business. Since then I have found out about the coral reef. They are half the price and will talk and answer any questions you have with out making there phones more important! read more

The Premium Aquarium - Dead fish they leave in there tanks. And every time I have gone in its this way! Sad - Aquarium Services Near Me - Salem, Oregon

Hands down one of my favorite Saltwater stores ive shopped at. Unfortunately its not close to home, thats why it falls to my second favorite but a great layout. Doesnt feel cramped at all. Everyone is extremely knowledgeable about their fish and tank questions. They have a section dedicated to useful and known products for sale. They have a wide selection of fish and corals and and anemones. Their tanks are great size to see the fish as well. Their show tank is awesome and huge! Everything is all reasonably priced. I can't say enough about this place thanks for a amazing experience!! read more

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Great store with great staff and variety! They keep their Facebook page well updated, so check there for the latest stock and sales! The staff has been helpful with me and everyone I have seen them helping. They do not talk down on new people to the hobby, but help get them started on the right track without taking advantage of their lack of knowledge. They have a nice selection of some hard to find plants and freshwater fish, along with some really cool rimless tanks for sale. The gorgeous frag tank in the center of the store really shows off the healthy and colorful corals, with some gorgeous smaller budget-friendly frags in tanks along the edge. read more

Well..the owners are more friendly since they cut their expenses..therefore, their stress. However, I am done buying from them. Asked if they had a particular type of fish..they said yes..went in shortly thereafter..no such fish. Bought a different kind anyway..as I like supporting the local store owners..it died within two weeks..dying shortly after buying them has happened too many times. My water parameters are good and my other fish are healthy. read more

I love this place. They are so knowledgeable, friendly and willing to stop and explain. They are very "Noob" friendly and were very patient with me while I asked a lot of questions. They took the time to tell me the "why" in addition to the "what". I could not recommend them any more highly. If they don't have something. They offer to order it. Excellent place. read more

We love this place and these guys! Super knowledgeable and always willing to help. We make the drive from McMinnville often, just because and end up spending a bunch of $$ and never regretting it! read more

Best place for sps corals in Salem by far!!! Cheap prices and quality across. Highly recommended. Wish I had found it sooner

I've dropped in to this store three times the service has been mediocre to abysmal. The staff is always busy with other chores and strives to stay in the office cubicle up front when not working on a tank. They have been consistently brusque in their responses. What supplies they have are limited. I did once manage to get them to sell me four plants, two of which died pretty promptly. Not necessarily their fault but I have, since then, had much better results with plants from other places. I've never managed to get any live fish from them. They really just seem uninterested in selling much of anything. read more

Great service, awesome selection and tons of advice! These guys are great.

took about 20 minutes for someone to help us out, while they sat at their counter eating pizza. a guy sold us some top floating plants with no roots and said they would grow back fast, they all died within the next week, spent $10 for a small hand full and they died. thanks. read more

Staff needs to be better informed. Seemed like they were just trying to make a sale. Set up a new tank that had only been set up for a couple weeks with a few fish. Was told I would be fine adding 4 fish. Lost all 4 of them within two days of adding them and then lost my original fish as well. When I went back to the store the same guy that sold them to me said I should not have added all of them so quick. If you don't know, don't make it up! I would recomend the coral reef hands down. read more