What Is That Fish Place / That Pet Place? Everything You Need to Know About This Aquarium Retailer
If you're shopping for aquarium supplies, fish, plants, or other aquatic pets, you've likely encountered That Fish Place / That Pet Place in your search results. It's one of the larger specialty retailers in the aquarium hobby space, but understanding what they offer—and how they fit into your shopping options—requires knowing their business model, reputation factors, and how they compare to other sources for aquarium supplies.
The Company: What They Actually Do
That Fish Place / That Pet Place operates as a combined brick-and-mortar and online retailer specializing in aquarium fish, plants, equipment, and supplies. The company maintains a physical store location in Pennsylvania (Lancaster) while also fulfilling orders nationally through their website and mail operations.
The retailer carries a broad inventory typical of full-service aquarium shops: live fish and aquatic plants, tanks and enclosures, filtration systems, lighting, heating equipment, water treatments, food, testing kits, and decorative elements. They also stock products for other pets, though their aquarium focus is what distinguishes them in the market.
This dual retail model—physical store plus online shipping—means their operational structure differs significantly from pure online retailers (like some Amazon sellers) and from local independent shops (which typically have no shipping operation). That distinction affects everything from inventory availability to customer service channels to shipping speed and cost.
How They Source and Stock Products 🐠
Like most established aquarium retailers, That Fish Place / That Pet Place maintains relationships with wholesale distributors and direct manufacturers. This supply chain structure is standard industry practice—most retailers don't breed their own fish or manufacture their own equipment; they buy from specialized producers and resellers.
For live animals (fish and plants), they typically source from both domestic breeders and aquaculture facilities. Some stock comes from large commercial breeding operations; some from smaller specialized breeders. The specific origins of individual animals vary, and traceability isn't always transparent to the end customer—a common reality across the industry.
For equipment and supplies, they stock major brands alongside less-known manufacturers, giving them a range of price points and performance tiers. Whether they emphasize premium or budget-friendly options in any category depends on their purchasing strategy, which isn't publicly detailed.
This sourcing model means availability fluctuates. If a particular fish species is out of stock, or if a new filter model hasn't arrived at their warehouse yet, you may need to wait or look elsewhere. This is true of any retailer with physical inventory constraints.
Reputation and Customer Experience Factors 📋
When evaluating any retailer—including this one—several variables shape what individual customers experience:
| Factor | What It Means for Your Experience |
|---|---|
| Store size and traffic | Larger stores handle more orders but may have longer response times for customer service questions |
| Shipping method | Standard ground shipping is slower and cheaper; expedited options cost more but arrive faster |
| Return/guarantee policies | Live animal guarantees typically come with specific conditions (arrival time, photo documentation, etc.) |
| Product pricing | Specialty items and premium brands often cost more than discount retailers; bulk orders may offer better per-unit pricing |
| Staff expertise | Aquarium specialty retailers typically employ more knowledgeable staff than big-box pet chains, but depth varies |
| Inventory currency | What's shown as "in stock" online may not reflect real-time availability, especially for live animals |
Customer experiences with any retailer—including this one—vary based on which products they buy, when they order, and how they interact with customer service. Online reviews will reflect this spectrum: some customers report smooth experiences; others report shipping delays, quality issues, or unresponsive support. Neither tells the complete story.
How They Compare to Other Aquarium Shopping Options
Understanding where That Fish Place / That Pet Place fits in your shopping landscape requires knowing the main alternatives:
Local Independent Aquarium Shops
- Pros: Walk-in selection, hands-on inspection of animals before purchase, immediate answers from local experts, no shipping risk
- Cons: Limited inventory, typically higher prices, may not stock specialty items
- Why it differs: These shops handle individual customers directly; That Fish Place / That Pet Place operates at larger scale with correspondingly different tradeoffs
Big-Box Pet Retailers (Petco, PetSmart)
- Pros: Convenient locations, competitive pricing on basic supplies, same-day availability
- Cons: Limited live fish selection, often less knowledgeable staff, equipment choices skew toward mass-market brands
- Why it differs: These stores prioritize accessibility and low prices over specialty depth
Pure Online Retailers and Marketplaces
- Pros: Broadest selection, competitive pricing, delivery to your home
- Cons: Shipping costs and delays, no chance to inspect products before delivery, customer service through chat or email only
- Why it differs: Online-only retailers have no physical footprint, so different cost structures and service models
Direct-to-Consumer Breeding and Specialty Operations
- Pros: Highest quality genetics for fish, direct relationship with breeders, competitive prices
- Cons: Availability limited to what specific breeders currently have, typically requires patience and knowledge
- Why it differs: These operations serve enthusiasts rather than casual buyers
That Fish Place / That Pet Place positions itself as a middle ground: larger than a local shop (broader inventory, mail shipping), more specialized than big-box retailers (more fish species, more equipment depth), but with some online-order friction compared to pure digital retailers.
What Affects Your Actual Experience
Several practical factors will shape whether this retailer works well for your specific needs:
Live Animal Shipping Shipping live fish and plants involves inherent risk. Temperature fluctuations, transit time, handling, and acclimation all affect survival and health. Most specialty retailers, including this one, have live arrival guarantees—but these typically require photo documentation and come with specific conditions about timing and handling. The more hardy the species, the higher typical survival rates; delicate species carry more risk regardless of retailer quality.
Product Availability What's listed online doesn't always mean immediate shipment. For live animals especially, availability is often real-time and limited. If a species is out of stock, you may wait weeks for the next shipment, or they may direct you to alternatives. Fast-moving specialty items (like certain filtration equipment) may also have stock delays during busy seasons.
Pricing Strategy Specialty retailers typically carry higher prices than discount sources for the same products, reflecting their overhead and inventory costs. However, some items may be competitively priced, especially if they're clearing old stock or running promotions. Comparing unit prices across retailers before ordering is standard practice for budget-conscious shoppers.
Shipping Costs Live animals require faster shipping methods than dry goods. Shipping costs for fish, plants, and heavy equipment (filters, tanks) are often substantial and aren't always obvious until checkout. Some orders qualify for free shipping thresholds; others don't, making total cost unclear until you build your cart.
How to Evaluate This Retailer for Your Situation
Rather than a generic recommendation, consider these questions specific to your needs:
- What are you buying? (Common items like filters and food are widely available elsewhere; rare fish or specialty plants may be harder to source)
- How time-sensitive is your purchase? (Local pickup beats mail shipping; but this retailer primarily ships)
- How much shipping cost matters to you? (Specialty shipping for live animals isn't cheap; bulk supply orders may be more economical than frequent small purchases)
- How risk-tolerant are you with live shipments? (First-time shippers often prefer in-person purchases; experienced aquarists may accept shipping risks for access to specialty stock)
- Do you need expert advice? (This retailer has staff and online resources; local shops offer face-to-face consultation)
Different aquarists will reach different conclusions based on these variables. The same retailer might be ideal for one customer's needs and inconvenient for another's.
The Bottom Line
That Fish Place / That Pet Place is an established specialty aquarium retailer with a hybrid retail model—physical store, mail order, and online presence. They carry legitimate inventory across equipment and live animals, operate with industry-standard supply chains, and have years of operational history. Customer experiences vary based on which products they purchase, when they order, shipping circumstances, and how responsive they find customer service in their specific situation.
Whether they're the right source for your aquarium needs depends on what you're buying, your priorities (price, speed, live animal access, specialty items), and how those align with their inventory, pricing, and shipping model. The best approach is comparing their specific offerings and costs against local shops and other online retailers for your particular order.