AA
Austin Aqua-Dome
Your local oasis for aquatic life and reef supplies in Austin.
4.4(5 reviews)
retail-store
$$
Your local oasis for aquatic life and reef supplies in Austin.
Austin Aqua-Dome is a beloved mom-and-pop pet store specializing in freshwater and saltwater fish, reef tanks, and aquarium supplies. With over 1,000 positive reviews, we pride ourselves on a massive inventory including African cichlids, tetras, plecos, arowanas, and exotic corals. Our knowledgeable staff offers friendly guidance on fish care, aquascaping, and tank maintenance. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced hobbyist, visit us for competitive prices, unique driftwood, and a community-focused experience that supports local business in Austin, TX.
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Wide selection of tetras, cichlids, plecos, and specialty fish for home aquariums.
Corals, anemones, and marine fish with expert advice on reef tank setup and maintenance.
Unique driftwood, rocks, and plants to create stunning underwater landscapes.
Filters, lighting, and accessories from popular brands to keep your tank healthy.
Knowledgeable staff assistance on water quality, feeding, and fish health.
Kudos to a business that has been around as long as this one has! That being said...it shows. The building is so dim on the first floor you can hardly see anything, and the fish are a bit overpriced, in my opinion. Nice place to go for something to do, for sure. Just needs a fresh paint job on the walls, ceiling and rusty stairs, and some better lighting. But do I recommend? Definitely.
So, I love this place simply for the fact of the variety of fish stock that they have. They have African cichlids out the wazoo. They have your common fish like tetras and platies and Angel fish among many others.They have a large variety of algae eaters and plecos. And they have a decent variety of specialty fish like arowanas and fancy goldfish among many others. They do have other specialty fish that I cannot remember right now. Now, mind you this is a mom-and-pop shop. Which is another reason I love this place. What I do not love about this place is the customer service. The owner is frequently there and is always ready to help. He is advanced in years and does what he can. The rest of his staff, how can I put this lightly? The rest of his staff seems like family members that were hired on that really don't want to be there. Maybe it's just me but when I go in there I never get asked if I need help. Never. Not once. So, when I do finally go and ask for help, the employee that I ask, no matter who it is, always seems put out. You know how when a clerk is helping you at the mall or wherever and they seemed standoffish like they want you to hurry up? That's how it is with these folk. Especially the young skinny girl with freckles and blue eyes. But, like I said it's a mom and pop shop. So, every time I go in there it's like I'm in a movie. I have to go in there and find exactly what I want and figure out what question I'm going to ask before I even bother the employee. This is for the owner: Encourage your employees or relatives to be kinder and more patient with the customers. But maybe it's just me. Because now that I think about it I have seen them with other customers with smiles on their faces and very chatty and talkative. Oh well, I will continue to shop at this place because they have a great fish stock. However they might ban me after this post...
Had the opportunity to visit the Austin Aqua Dome this weekend. Made a trip specifically to check out the saltwater. The store was awesome and staff very friendly. We picked up a long tenacle anemone and some shrooms to add to our reef tank. Spent about an hour looking around. Everyone was friendly and very helpful and prices seem reasonable. Very busy for a Sunday. Will stop in again when in town. Happy reefing!
High quality care and standards. I have always had healthy fish and great success from my purchases here. I leave with knowledge I didn't have before every visit. The staff is friendly and happy to answer questions. The saltwater section is fun to explore (especially when it's feeding time for the ray tank), since we only have freshwater tanks. We go well out of our way to purchase our fish here instead of the big stores, and leave knowing it was worth it every time.
My first experience with this LFS could not have been better. Friendly and knowledgeable staff who answered my questions. Super great selection and massive inventory of popular items and products. You will likely see prices that are extremely competitive as well as some that are fairly high. Just keep in mind that you are supporting a local, small business in a hobby not exactly known for its low cost. And consider what the electrical bill looks like, not to mention water changes and maintenance costs for all the systems in the entire store. Before you go to a chain store or Amazon. Please stop by and give this place a look. You will be glad you did no matter what you decide to do. It's tough to beat their selection of aquascaping materials, be sure and check out the driftwood section! Unparalleled pieces for you to choose from, true center pieces for you to build a system around.
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