A&R Aquariums

About A&R Aquariums

A&R Aquariums is a small, family-run shop on Bay Pines Boulevard in St. Petersburg, operated by husband-and-wife team Adam and Lisa, who between them bring decades of hands-on fishkeeping experience to the counter. Unlike many Tampa Bay shops that split floor space between fresh and saltwater, A&R leans heavily freshwater, and its live plant selection is the draw customers mention most, some say they make an hour-plus drive just to pick through the aquatic plant tanks. Reviewers repeatedly note that prices on both fish and plants undercut the big-box chains nearby, while staff still take time to answer beginner questions about cycling a tank or matching compatible species. The store's footprint is modest compared to some Florida competitors, but what it lacks in scale it makes up in personal attention, this is the kind of shop where the owners recognize repeat customers and remember what's in their tanks at home. For freshwater and planted-tank hobbyists on the west side of Tampa Bay, A&R has become a trusted, independently-owned alternative to chain pet stores.

Specialties

• Freshwater fish
• Live aquatic plants
• Tank setups