The lady's in the front are so rude they just seem to rush out of there asap. Am not returning to this store anymore.

HORRIBLE HORRIBLE HORRIBLE. I've never had such bad customer service before I went here. Me and my boyfriend went to go fish hunting and stopped here, When going to look at the fish the guy working was scooping dead fish out like it was nothing.. in front of us!! The other lady working with the fish is just plain rude. When we wanted the fish we were asked a bunch of questions before telling us the fish is going to die. Need to tell my boyfriend bought the fish and he is happy and healthier than ever. We also have some water dragons from them that had mouth rot and were so skinny from them that we brought back to health. The place is not taken care of what so ever. Bugs everywhere. The prices are amazing! But they act like they do not want my money so I will not give it to them, I'll pay more for better customer service any day. read more

I enjoy going to this place. My boy and I like the verity of aquatic fish and cichlids. It's worth the visit. They do not have much staff and if you have the patience. They will attend to you. read more

The customer service is horrible the ladies that work there are grumpy and rude. Except for one named Debbie she's actually nice and knows what she's talking about. The older gentleman was incredibly nice and helpful. Every time I go there I feel bad about spending my money there that place could be great if only they would be more friendly. I keep going because of the cheap prices. If I had another choice I would go there. read more

Bad bad bad bad customer service lady gave me attitude when I called to ask if they Have something and hung up on me.

Little expensive but knowledgeable staff.....get your answers here then go home and find it on ebay for much less

Great place to go if you need fish or have free time to burn! They have the biggest variety of fish Ive ever seen. The prices on these fish you can't beat! They have bunnies, reptiles and birds too. This young lady name Katrina was very helpful when i had question about certain fishes for my tank. Its a mom and pop store though so don't expected it to be like petco. read more

Well if you want discount prices on some things I would suggest going here.it is dirty and staff people aren't the best out there. But I think the fast moving items are pretty cheap and make up for the lack of upkeep in store. This place gets 3 stars from me.ive been there 6 or 7 times for saltwater fish supplies and fish.hit and miss with the livestock and they do not offer guarantee on live saltwater fish.the more on salt is 19.99 to 69.99 for huge buckets. price is a little negotiable if you talk to the right person. AKA the owner.if you spend a good amount. 10% off for first time customers.tell that and they will honor it read more

Well it's not a bad store. Their fish don't show well. Alot of the tanks lights where out there were a few dead fish. All and all the place isn't organized well. On the plus side they seem to have everything under the sun. Customer service is ok I had to go and find someone to help me. Once I had there attention they were helpful. I'm looking for a new tank and they seem to push old technology there. From my research under gravel filtration is out of date with improvements in hang on filtration and canisters being really the best way to go yet under gravel seemed to be the guys fav thing. As for their pricing nothing is labeled which leads me to believe that prices are adjustable depending on who you are and who you are dealing with. I was offered a package discount on each item I looked at but the discounted prices were for the most part the same as every other store I have been into. All in all the store isn't bad like I said they seem to have everything there. Would I make the half hour trip there again, not unless I can't find an item some where else. read more

First off I was greeted upon entering the store. Sure the aisles are a little dusty but the live fish side was very nice. The tanks were clean and the fish were lively. Not like the big pet stores where you seem to see a couple of dead fish in almost every other tank. Prices were reasonable and in some cases cheaper than the big box stores. A little tricky to figure out prices for fish since some of the tanks were mislabeled. Customer service is hit or miss. No one is in the aquarium area and the employees don't always seem to get when customers need help. Not the biggest fan of their return policy for fish. I believe it's like 14d and only 50% of retail and no returns for tanks less than 50d old (not that mine qualifies with that) and some other sticklers. I'll probably be back because of their low prices for some fish and plants read more

I bought an African dwarf frog, and he died within HOURS of taking him home. I took him in the next day with my reciept, expecting to get back my THREE DOLLARS, but instead got ONE DOLLAR AND TWENTY CENTS in STORE CREDIT. They sold me a sick animal, and they are so stingy they couldn't refund my three dollars? They can keep it because I'm never shopping here again. If you decide to shop here, just know that they do not make good on fish / animals that don't make it. Even PetSmart has a two-week FULL REFUND guarantee! read more

Tropical Haven has a great selection of fish and birds. And, they carry good quality dog food. They are the only pet store in Modesto that carries dog food recommended for my Great Danes. read more

I really cannot say enough positive about this place. I'v been an aquarist for about 6 years now and have visited lots of local fish stores, so I'veexperienced many flavors of service and products in that time. On a scale of 1-10, this is how Tropical Haven scores: Available general products: 10 Fish inventory: 7-10 Prices: 10 (They have the lowest prices you can find in 47 states in the U.S. and that's a fact) Service: 10. Explanation: Ted, the owner, has been in the business for decades. I have dealt with him personally and via email since I moved to the area 2 years ago. He is the best. He works hard in keeping his prices down and that is his main goal. The best quality possible for the lowest possible prices. He is unusually responsive to customer service and how he deals personally with each customer. He goes out of his way to remain involved with every customers needs. Profit for him is as important as any other business owner I'm sure, yet that aspect seems almost secondary to how he offers such amazing prices AND quality. GO TROPICAL HAVEN!!!! To get the best out of your Tropical Haven experience deal with Ted the owner. However, I noticed that none of the employees lifts a finger without going through Ted. That's how it should be. read more

Large store with a great selection of fish and supplies and low prices. Would have given a 5 star but a lot of the fish tanks had no description or price on them. read more

It's an okay store. Lots of fish - HUGE selection as far as fish go. Not much for reptiles, but they do have other stuff for more common pets - cats/dogs, as well as food ect for reptiles. As far as live pets go, fish seem to be their main deal! read more

I'm unable to carry the dog food bag I purchase due to injury. The staff is always more than willing to carry it for me & load it into my car. Every experience so far has been wonderful (over 12 visits in the last 18 months) thanks to their friendly staff. Their prices are great too. I always buy extras (treats)...my dog loves that I found this place I'm sure! :) read more

I read the reviews prior to coming here, but I have to say this place is great!! We were greeted as soon as we walked in by a pleasant young lady. We were interested in purchasing a fish tank but it seemed like majority of the employees were busy somewhere else. We ended up running into Ted the owner and this guy is awesome!! The prices here are amazing as well. Their fish selection is huge, waaaay better than the larger pet stores. This is a place we will be coming to for a long time. Definitely worth the 45 minute drive for us. Thanks Ted!!! read more

This group can talk you purple about everything from turtles to tang fish. Sure it's not the cleanest place, but equipment prices are good. Fish (Salt). and reef livestock watch for sickness. Freshwater and other animals are great. read more

I love going to this place. It is the first pet store I usually go to when I need food for my critters. Also, their assortment of fish is amazing. They last longer than any other fish from other pet stores. read more

I have never had an issue with customer service at tropical haven. In fact I would rate their service higher than all other pet stores I have visited and I have been to every pet store in the area. The only concern I have is that they have some fish that have been there a long time and have outgrown their tanks by far. They need to set up a huge tank for the monters that out grow the small ones. read more

This place is horrible! Everyone of there fish tanks are disgusting, the bird cages are nasty and some of the fish tanks you can't even see through them there so dirty! And there's a Dead Sea horse that's looks to have been dead for months. read more

See all

Not much goin on here. Fish selection is on the lower end.. store needs touch ups. Old and run down looking. If youre in need of the basic necessities in your aquarium theyll probably carry it other than that not worth coming back. Petsmart is a better choice. read more

Been there twice since last review and experience has been excellent! Lots of help, happy to help me with questions, even prevented me from buying an invert that would terrorize my coral. I drive 1 and half hours to get here and Will continue business surely read more

Awesome selection, awesome staff, everybody knows what they are talking about, prices are way better than chain pet stores, I will only be buying tanks and tank supplies from these guys! read more

Tropical Haven has the largest variety of fish I've seen and their prices seem fair as well. They have Plenty of supplies for just about any pet you may have. They were able to answer some questions I had regarding a certain fish I owned that I thought was ill and offered to test my aquarium water for free. read more

This is the best tropical fish store that I've been to (I've been to ones in Stockton, Lodi, Dublin, Pleasanton, Campbell, and San Jose). They have the best selection of freshwater fish, best prices, and best customer service. I bought my tank and stand there for an awesome price. And Ted is just the best. He's friendly and very knowledgeable. read more

I give this place 3 stars because they have good variety, healthy and hearty fish, and good prices on supplies and feed. However, customer service is downhill!!! People at the register are friendly but the staff in the aquarium area are curt, sarcastic, and down right rude!! The aquarium area is also very disorganized. We are new to aquarium hobby and the tanks rarely have correct labels. We got confused about the fish species and were treated rudely. The place should be more organized. Then we would not have to ask so much because we could google it on our phone to weed out simple questions. They also appear to be understaffed which may contribute to employees rude, abrupt behavior. read more

I needed a special aquatic species for my saltwater aquarium. I inquired about this item and the owner went above and beyond providing amazing customer service to get this special shrimp into his shop for me. From the ownership of this store to his friendly and knowledgeable staff, you can't go wrong shopping here for anything you need aquatic related. Their prices are amazing compared to big box stores and you have to ask for Ted to do magic when you are in his shop. My kids are still amazing and talk about that experience even today. read more

I've been going to Tropical Haven for almost 10 years now. Ted, the proprietor is very knowledgeable of the products he sells and he'll tell you what will be the best for your pet(s). read more

Well I have been shopping at tropical haven for about 5 years now and ever time I go in the store everyone is so nice. They even know me and my family by name. They are never rude always helpful respectful. I highly recommend them to any one that is looking for good help with animal care including fish frogs turtles any kind of animal. You can think of. read more

The store is good, but it could use a little help. Some of their tanks are not well taken care of, while they generally have a great selection of fish (more freshwater) they are not always quick to take care of your needs. The workers are hit and miss about how attentive and polite they are to you. I enjoy their prices and knowledge, but dislike the lack of store and customer care. read more

I have been coming here since I was a kid and its my favorite pet store. They usually have the cheapest prices on anything you'd want to buy supply wise. The employees seem to be very knowledgeable about pet care and can intelligently answer any questions I might throw at them. read more

this store is pretty big lots of fishes BUT CUSTOMER SERVICE . not good . we asked for a check price on a tank , asked an older woman who was working she came was not looking happy , and complained and said look the price is on the tank & walked away after . they need a new crew to lighten up the place honestly . & all the fishes seem hungry LITERALLY . go up to any tank and put your finger as if your about to open the lid and they go so quick. read more

I've giving Tropical Haven 2 Stars, so my review will be seen--oftentimes, Yelp hides 1 star reviews. Petsmart sent me here to find a certain kind of Cichlid. I was pleased to learn about a family owned business. The store front windows were broken....not a good first impression. Upon walking in the store, I passed two employees at the register who did not say anything to me when I walked by. Also, not a good first impression. I walked around the entire store before figuring out where the fish tanks were. I found three fish tanks full of the Convict Cichlids--one tank had no light. I studied the fish for awhile and then went to find someone to help me. I tried to make eye contact with two women in the fish area, but to no avail. A woman at the register told me that the employees who help with fish were in the fish area and to look for a "young, skinny girl." I found her and asked if she could help me if she was not helping another customer (she was not helping another customer but was working on a tank filter). She replied with, "Well, I'm really busy right now." I almost laughed because I couldn't believe she just said that to a paying customer! I said "I'm interested in the Convict Cichlids," as I went to wait by the tanks. She called after me, "I don't know how much they are." She joined me after about one minute. I asked her about the dark tank and if those were male ones. She responded with, "I don't know much about fish. I'll have to borrow a light." She used her cell phone light to shine it into the tank. I said that I'd go ahead and get a female one first in a different tank. Her response was, "They are really hard to catch. It'll probably take me 30 minutes. I'm not kidding." She caught the two fish in different tanks that I wanted within 5 minutes, using her cell phone light to see in the one tank. Today I rescued two fish who were living in ghetto conditions--in the female tank, the fish were trying to hide in the peeling paper in the back of the tank. I will never, ever go back to this store. I will tell anyone I know to never go here. Poor conditions for fish and very poor customer service. I'm curious who owns this place? Was the owner there that day? Do they know how their employees act? I am a former biz owner and customer service was our priority. So sad to see it's not a priority at this shop. read more

I Went in Tropical Haven with my friend who did is African American and was treated poorly compared to the other customers who were checking out the fish. I was never acknowledged when I entered the store and when I asked questions about the different species of fish, I was given very short and inaccurate information. I felt ignored and insignificant. I am not racist in anyway and don't judge anyone for anything. This is my first experience with discrimination and never expected it to be at a fish aquarium. I am very disappointed with how they treat paying customers. read more

The service is really awful. I typically spend between $100 and $200 each visit. When I ask if they have something or where an item is located I get a vague wave of the hand while being told it's somewhere over there. When I purchase dog food (35 pound bags) they have never offered to help me to the car even though I have several other bags with toys and treats. I have shopped there a dozen times in the last year thinking it was the only place in town to buy canidade dog food. I finally found out that pet choice at tully and standiford stocks it. I went there and not only did they immediately offer to carry it to the counter, they picked it up and took it to my car without asking. When I asked about different items they walked to the shelf with me and were knowledgable on everything I asked about. I'll never go back to tropical haven. I always felt that I was inconveniencing them by shopping there. read more

employees are very disrespectful and rude there, if you ask a question they will get mad and give attitude some of the fish are dead in the tanks they aren't well taken care of read more

This business has been around forever. You can not find such a wide aquatic selection anywhere else. The staff is incredibly knowledgeable and we have been treated like gold whenever we shop here. Yes, it's dark, yes it's old, but the variety and information available here more than makes up for the lack of ambiance. read more

So I've bought atleast 6 saltwater fish in this store && so far they have all died,it is not my tank because I have everything clean and water is checked regularly and all my other fish are fine besides the ones I bought from here....the customer service is okay but they really have no idea what they are talking about when it comes to saltwater.! I asked the girl if the last fish I bought May have been sick she said no so I went ahead and bought him and he died tonight only lasted for maybe 3 weeks also I bought a filter from there and found a huge cacaroach inside the box.!!!!!! This place needs some new management & good cleaning if your doing saltwater or freshwater I'd recommend "pets choice" all my fish from there have survived for about 2 years now :) read more

Let me start by saying that I have been shopping here with a fair amount of enjoyment. In fact our family patronage to this place goes back to my great grandpa selling birds to the owner. So I can honestly tell you that I have seen the degradation of the customer service. The help has not been that great for the last few years but the price were decent enough to warrant it and I did appreciate the information I could receive from those who actually were there to help you. However, as of January 19, 2013, neither I nor my family it friends will step foot in this store. I own two well behaved pure bred blue nose pits. They are both 45lbs and not massive beasts or even frighten looking; now I do know the reputation that follows these dogs but I would hope a 'Pet Store" would be accepting of all breeds and not make efforts to make certain owners and breeds feel unwelcome. My one two year old female has come into the store multiple times before and this time I had brought my 7 month old puppy. As my mother walked to the door, a female customer walked out of the door and frightened my older dog, she barked a couple times and stopped, the customer was slightly caught off guard but quickly laughed, smile and complimented on how beautiful my dog was; never once showed fear or that she was upset. This was the only thing that happened, no signs of aggression or anything. The moment the girl who was working behind the counter on the right saw my girls, she immediately felt she needed to "remind" us that if my dogs scare anyone or bite that I'm responsible (duh, Im fully aware that anytime you own a dog, I am liable for their actions) but my mother said "ok, I know that" and still was going to shop there. I then walked in with my female puppy (who is nothing but a love) and I heard the girl on the left continuing to hassle my mother regarding the 'responsibility' we had and how we were frightening their customers, after repeated requests from my mom for the girl to stop, I informed them that we'd be happy to shop somewhere, at which point the blonde girl on the right continues to chime in her two cents, yet now she's begging us to stay. I told them no and that we no longer feel comfortable shopping here and informed them that after decades of patronage we would never be back. As we walked to our car the girl who came off so discriminatory in the beginning began following us and once again begged us not to go and that she was misunderstood (her words). Then some muscle bound, steroided, Meat head of a guy comes out like he's actually going to do something (mind you there was no reason for there to be a "bouncer" coming out towards us. Anyways, we went to Petco and didnt have a single problem. My dog did bark the same number of couple times when the same thing happened, their employees simply smiled and knelt down for her to smell them and next thing I know my girls are getting treats and compliments and didn't cause a single issue. Obviously, it wasn't the dogs fault at Tropical Haven. I encourage everyone to stay away from this store. Customer service has gone out the window and to have employees working their who act that way towards certain breeds is not right, mind you she claims she has pits too (then why single us out for a "scolding". I hope they read this and make changes because this was the worst experience I've ever had at any store. Anyone that knows me and my pits knows how well mannered they are and knows that I've put every effort in to ensure that they never cause harm to someone. This girl does not belong around pets or people. STAY AWAY from this store. read more