Elmer’s Aquarium & Pet Center

Nice selection, can special order fish if they normally don’t have them. Staff has always proved to be very resourceful with me. They sometimes have really great sales too!

I have been going to Elmer’s for a long time, lately they have been firing all the employees who knew about my saltwater tank. The last time I went in, I got some lady who has no idea what fish are reef safe and told me that my goby eats ich. Where do you people get your information! Never returning!

I love going here for our fish supplies. Everyone’s so nice, helpful, and knowledgable. Everytime I visit, there’s always quite a few other customers as well which tells me other people feel the same as I do! I would much rather support this store than a big chain like Petco & Petsmart.

Best customer service around! They tend to recognize regulars and make sure you know what you’re bringing home. They will also patiently chase down that one specific fish you want in that tank full (I wanted a particular flowerhorn yrs ago). I had a bad experience at petsmart many years ago and the associates were acting very condescending towards me like I didn’t know what I was buying… then I told them the size and quantity of my tanks. At elmers, on the other hand, they ask what size tank and filtration you have to ensure the capability of keeping the fish. They also know my stock and will steer me clear if the fish is clearly too aggressive for my tanks. Keep up the great work!

I always get the best help and advice from Elmer’s compared to the chain stores. I’m not hating on chain stores, but the Elmer’s staff are very knowledgeable about their fish and usually steer me in the right direction.

Compared to all of the other Pet stores around, I find that Elmer’s is the most consistent and has the most products based on my own personal needs. I own a turtle (Red Eared Slider), and other pet stores just do not have some of the supplies. Elmer’s also has always had great service and I recommend that everyone at least checks the store out.

Best aquarium center in Pittsburgh; friendly, knowledgeable, cheaper, and they take great care of their fish there. We always come here for everything, from supplies, decorations, and fish! We live in downtown and make the drive to Monroeville every week. Also, we love the fact that they are open tip 9pm! Unlike other stores that close their doors at 6pm.

I had no idea that they accept pets inside of a fish store. I seen a lady in there with her cat one day and decided… hey why not bring my puppy with me. So me and Bella too a trip to store. Bella of course is the name of my pretty puppy.
The store is full of all the fish and aquarium supplies you’d need for an average aquarium. By average i mean nothing above 220 gallons. I purchased a little 10 gallon tank because they were on sale for $ 10. I was originally going to use it as a fish hospital/​nursery/​separator. I wanted a small tank to help to heal some fish that get sick or to separate the dad from the baby fish who were just born. After viewing some of the fish in the tanks i decided to make this tank my own personal one. Some of the people who work there are really knowledgable. You got to speak to one of the older folks if you really need help. The older guy with the long pony tail is very knowledgable about each of the fish they housed and the differences in water. An older woman whose name skips my mind was a lot of help as well. She spent a whole hour discussing the up and down of owning a saltwater tank over a freshwater tank. I ended up choosing the freshwater tank because they are easier to manage when they are small.
They have loads of tanks each fish species swimming with its own king typically. Alot of african cichlids but lot of other species that i’ve never heard of. They have about 4 to 5 aisles of fish, half fresh water, half salt water. Tons of accessories rocks, coral reefs, sand, real and fake greenery as well as colorful plants. They also have larger rocks, smooth stone and drift wood to add an authentic feel to your tank. They have shelves full of different varities of fish food from frozen blood worms and krill to floating pellets and flakes. I love the assortment.
I ended up buying a hood/​light combo, filter and heater for $ 90 and all the decorations cost about $ 50. I have yet to buy the fish so for $ 150 you can get everything you need for your 10 gallon tank. I used my own water and conditioned it but this store does sell fresh and saltwater by the gallon. Other than fish the store also has turtles, snails and eels as well as rabbits!
My hubby loves this store and we shop there at least two times a month which is always fun to see the new fish they have in stock as well as specials. The had a sale $ 10 a cichlid last time i was there. The cichlids can be carnivorous and eat each other so for my tank i’m deciding to go with smaller fish that are friendlier. I can’t wait to buy them!

If you are thinking about getting an aquarium or just need some new fish, Elmer’s is the place to go. The best thing about Elmer’s is the staff. They are very knowledgable about this hobby. If you are having problems with your setup, a staff member can usually solve it.
The other great thing about Elmer’s is their selection of fish. You will find both freshwater and saltwater here. Much bigger selection than the chain stores.
Although they sell small pets and supplies, their main focus is aquariums and fish. You may find some supplies cheaper at other stores but overall I think Elmer’s is the best choice in this area for aquarium supplies.

We love Elmer’s. the fish are so healthy, and the selection is way better than a commercial store. They are so kind to my 5 and 7 year old boys who pick their freshwater fish here, and the staff actually take time ti teach them about compatability. My boyfriend gets his marine fish here too with great results.

I been coming to Elmer’s more recently because I got Aquarium form here for my birthday. My most recent visit was to buy a new snail and a net. Most of the visit my wife and me just walked around looking at all the fresh and saltwater fish. We also look at some fake plants and decoration for my aquarium. When it comes to fish needs, Elmer’s has everything for a decent price. They also have a small section for cats, dogs, and small animals. We found are net and found the snail I wanted. Now it was pretty busy and most employees were busy helping other customers. I ended up having to find someone. I told him are snail died and ask if there was any reason why it may have died. He suggested we get algae tablets think that may have been the reason. They were cheap, so I got them. Elmer’s has knowledgeable staff and all your fish needs you could possible need. After getting a aquarium and being happy with Elmer’s. I will be here more often. Just if you hate the smell of fish, you will not like how Elmer’s smells. But here its a aquarium.

My husband is definitely obsessed with Elmer’s, as we go there very often. I bought an aquarium for him a few years ago, and he always wants to go to Elmer’s to get fish or supplies. They have a great selection and great prices. It’s also nice to get coupons from the loyalty program that they have.
The only reason that I give them 4 instead of 5 stars is because we seem to get different answers from different staff members — so I’d recommend doing your own research to back up what the staff is telling you.

We’ve gone to Elmer’s for almost all of our fishy needs. Most of the staff are very knowledgeable about their aquarium stock — it’s nice to go to a pet store and have people actually know what they are talking about regarding care. They have a nice loyalty card program — we’d never even heard of a non-​chain pet store with a loyalty program, but we love it. They send coupons too! Items are well-​priced, and they have a large selection of fish-​related products — medicine, foods, filters, etc. We have noticed some dead or sick fish in their tanks — more than we’ve seen at other aquarium stores — now that happens at plenty of pet stores, sometimes fish just die. But I wish the staff would be a little more mindful of it and remove them from the tanks — it doesn’t make you eager to buy. They do get busy sometimes, they even have a «call-​a-​number» system, but it’s fun to browse and look at the beautiful fish while you wait. And they have a parking lot, and a convenient location right off of the turnpike.

When I lived in Pittsburgh I bought almost all of my aquarium supplies here. I love this place. I found it through other hobbyists who told me this was definitely the place to go.
Their selection is awesome. I used to show up every Thursday just to window shop.