Big Al's Aquarium Supercentres - Edmonton

1817 reviews

3511 99 St NW, Edmonton, AB T6E 6S2, Canada

www.bigals.ca

+17804353474

About

Big Al's Aquarium Supercentres - Edmonton is a Pet store located at 3511 99 St NW, Edmonton, AB T6E 6S2, Canada. It has received 1817 reviews with an average rating of 4.3 stars.

Photos

Hours

Monday10AM-9PM
Tuesday10AM-6PM
Wednesday10AM-6PM
Thursday10AM-9PM
Friday10AM-9PM
Saturday10AM-9PM
Sunday10AM-9PM

F.A.Q

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The address of Big Al's Aquarium Supercentres - Edmonton: 3511 99 St NW, Edmonton, AB T6E 6S2, Canada

  • Big Al's Aquarium Supercentres - Edmonton has 4.3 stars from 1817 reviews

  • Pet store

  • "The staff is not knowledgable enough and have a very bad professional approach to deal with problems faced by customers"

    "I love Big Al's and usually have a good experience there"

    "Experiences are very hit or miss here, and seem to vary greatly day to day"

    "The store has a great selection & the staff who helped us pick out a new tank light were great but the staff working in the fish department were not"

    "I go to Big Al's over big box pet stores for my aquatic needs"

Reviews

  • Gagandeep Khosa

The staff is not knowledgable enough and have a very bad professional approach to deal with problems faced by customers. After I moved from Calgary to Edmonton in the end of January 2019. I wanted to have an aquarium. Because I had a betta fish when I was in Atlantic Canada and I had him for about an year, I wanted to have another betta fish. Last time I got the betta fish from Kijiji and the previous owner told me that she feed only two pallets a day to her betta fish. This time in Edmonton I went into BigAl’s, just because I’m starting of this hobby and wanted to have a full aquarium instead of a betta bowl and needed advice. The first time I went to the store on March 11, 2019 and bought my first aquarium. I have bought two aquariums, all my supplies and many fishes from them. I bought red, white and blue Dumbo half moon betta on March 16, 2019. Every time I went in to buy anything I always ask questions so that I’m not doing anything wrong later. Hence while I was buying my betta fish. One of the questions I asked was how much should I feed him and how often. And this particular store employee told me that feed one pallet at a time and if He take it then give another, keep doing it until he stopped eating any further. He also told me that remove the remaining one pallet once he’s done. I clearly remember that I even asked this guy that my goal is to introduce this better fish to my 15 gallon tank along with some other fish after the tank is cycled. But how I will feed him the way you are telling me once there other fish is also in the tank. To that he replied, that is one of the reasons why I do not recommend bettas to be in a community tank. So I started feeding him the way he prescribed. To my surprise he would eat 10 - 12 pallets a day. He kept on eating this way for about for 4 to 5 weeks. And then he stopped eating altogether. It was three days since he hadn’t eaten anything that I went into Pet Value near my house for my pet dog grooming. They also carry betta fishes. When I told them about what’s happening with my beta fish they were surprised that how can anybody from a specialty store can give me such a bad advice to feed my betta fish. The girl over there told me that they feed one pallet every other day to the bettas they have. And I was thinking that maybe I was starving the previous betta fish that I had after this bad advice from the big Al’s employee. I found my betta fish dead after not eating for seven days in the morning of the 14 April 2019. I was so much in love with him, I had named him Freddy and he was on my YouTube channel all my viewers knows that. I don’t want to share the links to my videos here because then some people may think that I’m trying to promote my channel. But there is a recording of the day when I found him dead and anybody can feel the pain that I was going through. being a responsible person I went into their store on 17th April 2019 to inform them about the whole incident. I talked to some other person because I couldn’t find this guy at first. While I was talking to this other employee I saw this guy who gave me the wrong advice and informer the other employee about him. He asked me “now what do you want” I wasn’t expecting that question because I have done professional work all my life and would never treat any of my clients like that. So I replied to him politely at least talk to this person and let him know that please do not give such a bad advice to somebody else who rely on you for the correct professional advice because many people like me do not have much information about this hobby when we are starting off. I was also told that maybe your tank wasn’t cycled. But my answer is this betta fish remained in a bowl for 4 weeks. And I introduce to him to Aquarium after my aquarium water cycled. Again following the advice given to me by them. just a couple of weeks ago I bought another Blue and white half moon betta fish from bigAl and I was feeding him the same way until got to know the right way to feed him from Pet Value. ******* word limit exceeded!

  • Krystal Elder

I love Big Al's and usually have a good experience there. I'm giving them 4 stars because historically they've been great. My last visited warranted 2 stars, however, so I thought this was a fair compromise. [Review has been edited since this post - addition at the bottom] The biggest issue was one team member who seemed to take a liking to the friend and I that visited. I'm not new to fish keeping but had to take down my tank a few years back and am just starting it up again. I went for supplies and a look around to try to decide what direction to take with it. The staff member lingered too much. They were very helpful but were just too overstimulating, and I really wanted to just check things out. Towards the end of our visit conversation went way off topic and went into personal matters. When my friend and I corrected him on some of his information that was obviously not his expertise, he was offended. It made for a very awkward experience. When I checked out I asked different staff members that were at the desk if I could get a hand carrying the heavy items I purchased to the car. They hesitated to answer and just looked at each other. It is not apparent to most people but I have disabilities, and lifting heavy objects is incredibly hard for me. I have help at home to move these kinds of things. My friend took them instead, but that hesitation and no response was an answer in itself. We were literally parked right in front of the door. Hopefully my next visit will go better. Edit: my next visit wasn't better. I've been keeping fish for well over 20 years. My tanks have been down for the last few years because we moved and keeping the tank running wasn't feasible. I went in to get some starter fish after getting my tank cycled again and simply asked for a few specific fish. The gentleman helping wanted nto help, I get it, but I was in a hurry and had to ask a couple of times just to get the fish and that I was confident that my tank had cycled and I didn't need to run through the basics with him. I asked for a male and two females - you know, keep things even, don't stress the girls with too many boys, so on. I wasn't given a chance to see what was getting bagged because another employee engaged with me and distracted me. I wasn't terribly worried and was ok with whatever colors. Except I ended up coming home with two males and a gravid female who is showing signs of spawning only two days after getting her home. Moving gravid females is risky to her health and I'm disappointed that that's the girl that was chosen. I used to frequent Big Al's while our tanks were active and the service was great and the people knowledgable, but I'm losing my confidence in them quickly. My online account is inaccessible and customer service wouldn't help, the store didn't have what I had tried to order online but had technical issues, and I think it's simply time to try some other aquatic specialty stores.

  • Marcus

Experiences are very hit or miss here, and seem to vary greatly day to day. Their dry goods are typically well stocked and have a good variety. I've purchased much personally and professionally. They offer a good selection of high to low quality of equipment you could need for most setups. Prices that are not fixed by the manufacturer can vary above and below market value quite a bit, so I always ensure that I research any products prior to purchasing. I've found the hi tech desk staff to be knowledgeable about their equipment and very helpful even aiding in finding specialty items that they don't carry themselves. I do not buy any fresh water livestock from here anymore as I've had too many negative experiences with purchasing diseased or parasite ridden fish and invertebrates. When problems are pointed out about their tanks (hydra with shrimp, ick, velvet, etc.) I've been ensured that that is normal and they are okay to purchase. On more than one occasion, I've refused to purchase fish due to improper handling (catching barbed catfish with nets). I've encountered a couple very knowledgeable and caring staff, but the majority appear to be severely under trained or lacking knowledge. I cannot speak to their reptiles and amphibians, for the same reason I wouldn't order sushi from a steakhouse. It might be fine, but I'd rather not.

  • steve lawrence

The store has a great selection & the staff who helped us pick out a new tank light were great but the staff working in the fish department were not. 2 of them wouldn't even acknowledge us. Finally found another guy who was super busy because he was the only one who would do anything. While we waited we heard him offering bad advice to a couple people, reccomend way bigger thanks than necessary. When he finally got to us we asked for some glasscats & he was pretty rude telling us they don't do anything. We already knew this because we already had some. Then we asked for some Gourami's. And then a Panda Moor. This is when he started arguing gourami's can't live with a Moor because the moor would die. We already had some living with a black moor & knew this was a good pair but this should also be common knowledge. He had zero clue what temperatures any fish live in, not once did he even question the size of the tank or if he would have any other moon's with him which should have been the real concerns. Finally he said we could get them but with no guarantee. We're from out of town so we wouldn't be coming back over a head fish anyways. He dramatically wrote all over our sales slip "NO GUARANTEE" on any of the fish. And here's that panda moor 9 months later doing great with his gourami friends

  • Rayne-Anne Latchford Oosterveld

I go to Big Al's over big box pet stores for my aquatic needs. The reason I do that is because they take better care of their animals than I find other sellers do. With the exception of breeders of course. And they acquire their fish from better sources typically. Unfortunately I do find that this fish store also promotes chemical "cycling" (if you just add 'this' and wait a couple days you can add fish) and in-fish cycling. Both of which do not cycle your tank as communicated. This is unfortunate because a lot of new fish owners end up having a lot of dead fish on their hands and a lot of diseases and issues they're trying to fix. All that could be avoided if they took the time to put their aquarium through the proper nitrogen cycle. Also unfortunately antibiotics for aquatics are no longer available in Canada so all of the issues that come to fish with an uncycled tank are not easily solvable anymore. Anyways, aside from that I find that it's hard to find assistance when you need it. It seems like everybody is busy all the time. But on the occasion that I have been able to get help from someone they have been very helpful. Normally for me it's just if I'm finding something or need someone to actually get fish out of an aquarium for me to buy.

  • Michaela B

I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Anthony, who works in the dry goods department at Big Al's in Edmonton. I was looking for a saltwater aquarium and he provided exceptional customer service that exceeded my expectations. Anthony took the time to answer all of my questions and provided me with valuable insights that helped me make the right decision. He was patient and knowledgeable, and his expertise in the field was evident. Anthony not only recommended the products I needed, but he also advised me on what to watch for and how to maintain the aquarium properly. I truly appreciated Anthony's attention to detail and his willingness to go above and beyond to ensure that I was satisfied with my purchase. His friendly demeanor and professional approach made the entire process a delight, and I left the store feeling confident and well-informed. I highly recommend Anthony and the dry goods department at Big Al's in Edmonton to anyone who is looking for exceptional customer service and quality products. Thank you, Anthony, for your outstanding assistance and for helping me create the perfect saltwater aquarium!

  • Ms Me

I came in today thinking I needed to buy another pump for my fish tank. A gentleman by the name of Damon helped me out. I explained that my pump hadn't been working for a couple days and I just realized it today???!!!??? He asked if I brought it with me as he said he may be able to fix it and I said no. Went home, got the pump and he showed me 2 new things about the pump I wasn't aware of. He got the pump working and I was so grateful!! I will be back to get the other tank I was looking at!! Thanks Damon!! I had to go back again as the pump was making a nasty sound which would cut in and out?? Damon, I can not say enough about the level of service I received from you regarding the pump issue. It was above and beyond!!!! Again, you showed me 2 more things I didn't know about the pump and after much more trouble shooting and you explaining to me what I needed to know and what to do when I got home was a huge benefit.

  • J G

I gave this place 4 stars in the past, however with my last 4 experiences, it should only have one star. the customer service and employee knowledge is awful. from giving the wrong information on fish, to having no idea on how many gallons there display tanks are. to make matters worse rather then other employees try to help find this information they would rather gather by the cash, to socialize with each other, while they one employee who is trying to help you has no idea on what the answers are to your question. im glade i looked into the actual gallons on tank on my own considering i was told that a tank was 90gallon but in actual fact was only 50gallon. i dont think i will be returning to this place. by the way save yourself the stress and avoid there complicated website at all costs.

  • Zero Talent

Ya know.. I've been buying from this store for well over a decade now and this is the first time I've had four staff come up to me and preach about water parameters for buying two fish.. and then deny me warranty on said fish. I'm not some drop in family buying a plastic fish bowl and a gold fish without treating the water first I have multiple established aquariums and if you bothered to look at my account you'd see I've never had to return a dead fish cause MY fish live their full lifespan tyvm. Even a little past it. Maybe you should clean the dead fish and fin rot out of your tanks before preaching to someone you know nothing about on tank cycling. Prices are already outrageous. This was just the icing on the cake. I'll take my business elsewhere from now on..

  • Kristinn Maile

Loved the store, amazing selection of fish, marine life, reptiles, and even a few of my favourite breeds of tarantulas. A beautiful selection of coral as well as living rocks for them as well. Shelves were all well stocked and the building was well maintained. The only real issue I had was when someone brought in a pair of small Chihuahuas in with him and they would not stop barking and even running up to me and my wife and barking and snapping at us as well as others. While bringing in dogs is allowed, I was extremely disappointed that no one on staff asked the owner to either control his animals or leave. The barking got so bad that it gave us both a headache and we had to leave. Other than that I wholesale recommend them for any aquatic needs.

  • Chris Jugandi

This place is a dodgy hit and miss at best. They are more frequently out of stock, and then they have stock. Trying to get service in the fish room is almost impossible due to lazy customers asking questions, a simple Google search would answer. Their livestock frequently come pree infected with diseases that you can't cure due to a federal medication ban. They do have a return policy that requires a water sample. A quick trip to any convince store will remedy this. Purchase a bottle of filtered water, and you will pass any water test. They do have a handy points program. It is good when you buy your sundries here, when they are in stock. Overall, this location has lots of potential, but I wouldn't depend anything on them.

  • Derek Reinders

Went into big Al's the other day for the first time in a couple years. I was having some behavioral based problems with my fish and David helped me out, gave me a possible solution that has greatly minimized the problem i was having. We ended up talking for about an hour and he helped me make a few choices on changes to my main tank as well as some tips starting my second tank. He is an extremely knowledgeable employee. The stores selection on EVERYTHING is amazing, huge selection of freshwater and marine fish, plants, decore, tanks, lights and more. If you need something for an aquarium or help with anything aquarium related this is the place to go.

  • Mark

This is one of the best pet stores in Edmonton. They have a huge selection of fish and reptiles (including supplies). There is limited parking, however, so there is possibility that you'll have to park across the street. The assistance from employees is fairly good, but quite slow to asking if you need help when you're looking at things. Several times when I've been there and had a question about a reptile supply, I was passed along 3 times through different people because they didn't actually know who was in that department. It seems to me that communication between departments could be a bit better, but other than that it's quite good.

  • Pankaj Sinha

Not happy with customer service 'I bought the the fish as per there suggestion and then that fish killed my 3 fish in the tank so I want to exchange that with another community fish but they don't want to do that cause it's against there policy. If its against there policy then don't suggest wrong fish to your customer. I am.never coming back to that store . And I would never suggest anyone to go there cause if you going back with your fish for exchange they will take as donation so bater you donate your money to someone needy not that Big Al's greedy store who doest want to co operate with there custome .

  • Random Human

Just bought a beautiful betta fish, labeled half moon. We where not able to look at him up close, and realized once we brought him home he was extremely bloated! I’ve been feeding him very little for the past few weeks and he’s continuously getting bloated! I’ve been feeding him frozen food and another formula called bug bites. And recently we found out he might have fin rot too? Really not happy. he was $50. Edit: he did die early 2022, found him still bloated and liked ones. This was maybe a few months after I got him. His tank was cycled, we treated him with many things, yet he died.

  • Geof2312

Went yesterday to purchase a cannister pump for our turtle tank at the Southside location in Edmonton The young lady that assisted me in selecting the best option was a gem, she had extensive knowledge, the price however, was a bit expensive, I did enquire about any discounts, of which I was informed, no, I was disappointed that outside of their "in house" rewards program, nothing else exist. The person at the check out counter was a bit hostile, probably had not eaten for the day.

  • Flatland Digger

Unreal store.I drove from Saskatoon to Edmonton just to see/shop as I heard so much about it. Worth the drive!Everything you can think of for aquariums/terrariums.Tons of fish and reptiles.All the decorations and foods/items you need all in one. Staff is super friendly and helpful. The manager Damon personally went over every question I had.This was many….He is very knowledgeable.Listen to him you will learn so much.Just tell him what your plan is and he will set you up!

  • Danni Lambert

So the good. The staff I spoke to on the phone and in person were excellent. Some types of fish had an excellent selection and they had some interesting products I haven't found elsewhere. The bad. Their goldfish selection was poor, even compared to another pet store near by. The staff were run off their feet and the fish prices were all over the place. Some seemed pretty standard, others were extremely expensive compared to the same fish or plant a 5 minute drive away.

  • Stephen Wright

Love big als! If you have fish or reptiles, it's the place to go in edmonton. The hi-tech department has the best selection of quality lights,skimmer,filters, pumps etc. Damen is absolutely the best manager and even if he's busy he takes the time to say he and he will remember you even if you don't go there for years. All staff are friendly and knowledgeable and if the don't know the answer to a question they will take the time to find it for you. Great bunch of people!

  • Trenton Down

Amazing store and prices are truly best around Alberta, I mean I've never seen a brand new tank over 100gallans for just 300-600 and most tanks you can spend a lil extra a get a deal for the stand to cuz I'ma be honest the tank I'm going back there to buy is probably worth 1000 anywhere else. They truly care about there costumers there so friendly I was approached by probably at least 6 staff asking if I needed help. I appreciate this store alot!

  • will davey

Store is a great place to get started or to satisfy all you're aquarium needs but other than that they don't do good enough with making sure their fish are free of sickness and healthy. Decided to bring more life into my long standing, healthy aquarium where all fish have been healthy for min 4 years. Biggest regret as the new fish infected tank with ick all died and killed multiple of the original fish. Very upsetting.

  • Keegan V.R.

Quite expensive compared to other fish stores. Some specialty colour variations available but generally at least 20% more for all products than other places. Fair selection of freshwater and saltwater fish and plants. Very good selection for setup and supplies. Customer service is minimal usually. Hard to find someone to grab fish, especially weekends when it's busy. Find that some employees know very little as well.

  • Mark Dunbar

Update.... Most recent visit standards haven't fallen crew is still well knowledgeable and friendly. Enjoy some pictures from my last visit Pros: Variety is wide alot to choose from. Prices are reasonable. Live shark feeding. Aren't rushed to purchase anything. Crew is well informed. Cons: Unable to return dead fish like other places. When you finally fill out your list an associate isn't easy to track down.

  • Leo Gomez

I live out of town (~6 hours away), and upon buying some fish and explaining my situation, i was provided with an sterile foam box with the fish in it and was packed by an associate. The fish made it fine and i couldn't be any happier for the service and purchase of healthy fish. 10/10 and i will be a long customer, products are also available online which makes it easier to restock.

  • Nizam Ibrahim

I went to Big Al's in Edmonton with my daughters (6 & 8 years old) to purchase 2 small aquariums for their rooms. The selection of fish was great and the staff especially Gary were very helpful with my purchase. They provided really good service and let me know all that was required to ensure that the fish I purchase would survive . Overall a very good experience at the store.

  • Brian Cleland

We wanted to get an aquarium and were unsure of the process. We came here based on a recommendation from a friend and the staff were all phenomenal. Kayla, and Luis helped us out so much and now we have our own little fish at home. They provide free water testing as well to make sure your water at home is safe for the fish. You can tell when people care!

  • David Hannaa

Amazing staff , variety and selection regarding any of your aquarium needs ! Staff even recommend if you are adding too much items to your tank or if one fish might not be good with another that you are getting rather than focusing on selling you as much as they can. Great honest people. I drive from St.Albert to Big Al’s for their excellent service.

  • Phillip Robertson

This is the best place I've found in the city for purchasing fish. Much better selection then PetSmart and petland, and the people are great and very helpful. Even when it's packed the staff are quick and willing to help with anything you need. Also their fish seem very healthy and well kept. My guppies are happy in their new home now :)

  • Anne Sup

We love this place! My husband’s hobby is a saltwater tank. He started a year ago. So far, it has been a success. I can't thank you enough for the knowledgeable staff that works here who helped us through out when we were starting, and until now, they continue to educate us. We love Kayla, she is incredible! Thank you, big Al’s! ❤️

  • Shae Morin

This is the only place a go for fish related supplies and they have good items and the staff are very knowledgeable about fish keeping and always want to make sure you are running a functional tank. However, I often have to wait at the desk for assistance with water jugs and find the customer service to be significantly lacking.

  • Matt Misner

Knowledgeable and friendly staff, great service, clean environment, great stock selection, excellent prices. I love these types of specialty stores. Aquariums require a lot of knowledge and this store can help you achieve your dream tank without having to learn everything the hard way or putting your creatures through hell.

  • A. I.

The owner was so helpful in educating us about our fish. Although we didn't get a huge tank, just a couple of betta's, I wanted to make sure they thrived in the environment. The details and explanation given were not overwhelming and made it easy and manageable to have fish! Thanks for the info and all the help!

  • Nicole Vanlimbeek

Great place for buy fish/reptiles and supplies and have a huge selection of aquarium/terrarium supplies. The staff are friendly and very informative. Although they can be a bit pricey, their selection is worth it. I would love to be able to buy items on their website, as right now it only displays their flyer.

  • Christine Lueck

Be careful if you want to buy any fish from here, had a healthy tank until I decided to add a new saltwater fish from here. We ended up with a case of ich from one fish and have now had every fish in my tank die within 2 weeks including ones that were perfect healthy before the new addition buyer beware.

  • MM

Bald guy with glasses working there - no clue and arrogant. Stated there is no ammonia in city water. Go to Epcors webpage - states ammonia and chlorine added. That’s the problem with these stores. There are no real experts, just high school graduates that own a fish tank and think they are experts.

  • Kyrsten Nielsen

Sold me a sick fish with ICK (purchased an hour before closing time and called within an hour of them opening the next morning to tell them). Told me they only guarantee the fish if they DIE within 5 days. Seriously? Then said I can come in and spend more money to buy a treatment. I won't be back.

  • G Antatico

The place is great… no question on that!!! But the staff is slower than the turtle… Take us forever to prepare our order… This is the second time!!! The first was during Covid… I understand that we need to wait for certain time… But this time, I don’t think it will take us to eternity to wait!!!!

  • Reigh-Leigh Foster DeBaie

We finally got to the store for the shark feeding, it was a lot of fun for our 6 year old. The person doing the show was friendly and engaged with the kids; her script was great, it taught us about the sharks. My experiences at Big Al's have always been good. The store is clean and fun to visit!

  • nicole Bennett

A big thank you to David W! He is amazing at his job! My daughter had a very hard time cycling her tank and David answered all her questions, made suggestions and encouraged her not to give up telling that she would get there! She now has fish and is looking forward to cycling a bigger tank!

  • Jim Zhang

Waited 15 minutes couldn’t find someone to buy the fish. Talked to 4 guys who either busy or don’t know fish. The last bold man seems to be a manager and very rude said ‘I have 4 staffs. Just keep waiting and be patient’. This manger should be fired. Super bad experience. Don’t recommend.

  • Big Nate

This is a great store for reptile, arachnid, and Aquarium needs! They have a wide variety of species to choose from and staff are very helpful and knowledgeable. First time I came in it was crazy busy and still got the help I needed. Prices are also competitive to others on the market!

  • Colin Hatch

Excellent staff and very knowledgeable. Started a first aquarium since I was a kid and they walked me throught every step to ensure my new hobby will be a success. Still cycling my tank so just a few minnos, but so far the quality of the fish and plants are stellar. Thanks Big Al's!

  • Derek Duchene

Super knowledgeable. Great selection of fresh water and salt water fish. Lots of aquariums and accessories. Food. Filters. Terrariums. Anything you need really. I visit every time I go to edmonton. Plus there's a liquidation world type store right beside it which the wife loves.

  • Sonya Sharma Kapoor

Excellent service and assistance from Gary! He is so knowledgeable and helped us out while choosing products for starting our aquarium. We were discouraged from our fish dying in our new tank but he provided a lot of information and gave us the right steps to start. Thank you!

  • c lon

Big Al' s was amazing. An awesome shark and Manta rays and seahorses make it really worth the trip. I was like a kid in a candy store! Recommend checking it out to anyone who loves marine life. It was like visiting an aquarium except you can actually purchase the animals!

  • Andrew S

Nice big store. The aquarium prices were good, but the stands seemed over priced. There was a great variety of items with the exception of titanium or alternative heaters to glass available. Staff was helpful and approached several times if we needed assistance.

  • David “GilbertRedfish” Martin-Wilkinson

Always a great place to shop. Great selection, super friendly and knowledgeable staff make shopping there a real treat. Wether you are just browsing, shopping for that first time starter kit or are a seasoned pro, you will always find something here for you.

  • Justin Isaacson

The tank you guys sold me for ~$550 is defective... It did not stand up to an axe like it is supposed to. Lol just kidding, you guys are great and always deliver a positive experience. The tank served it's purpose for years but I didn't need it anymore.

  • Michelle Brunken

The staff at Big Al's is wonderful. I bought an axolotl and a new tank there as my tank failed just as I was going to get the axolotl. Dave W was amazing as well as the rest of the staff. Will definitely be back for more for my tank, in the future.

  • Bhavna Prajapati

May 2023 - I went to purchase some supplies for my fish tank and Gary was very helpful. He gave me lots of tips and advice about my purchase. He was very pleasant and friendly person. People like Gary make the customer experience exemplary!

  • Mars

Big Al's has always been a staple for fish equipment. Such a huge variety of fish to choose from. Even some species that I couldn't find in other pet stores. They always have more exotic sea life here too. Great place to even just browse.

  • Keri Abel

Bought 8 guppies, Two died the next day. They were 2 that came out of the tank that finished being treated for ick, but were suppose to be good to sell. When I took them back I was told it was likely my tank I should have brought them a

  • Jacob Thalen

Quick, Easy, Fair price. I wish they had more cherry shrimp varieties but their fish stock is excellent. Updated Jan(2023): The stock that Big Al's brings in is getting more and more interesting. They manage to bring in some species not

  • Jason Gacek

Wow! I walked in to Big Al’s as a noob, but wanting to buy a 24x12ish tank and buy everything I need to get started. Ready to spend $300-$600 dollars on a modest start. I was there for about 1/2 hour looking at the tanks and packages.

  • Scott Haseniuk

Nice place and well stocked and organized, considering they are a larger store. Very friendly and helpful staff, also considering how busy they were. They had a wide and varied selection, and most livestock/ corals/ etc. were decently

  • Jack of all Wades

My go to place for Fish and sometimes Reptile Supplies. Almost like going to the Aquarium as they always have a variety of different species. I always enjoy my time there and always end up getting either supplies or a critter.

  • Martin Taylor

Amazing place. Great selection of fish. Reasonable prices. Tanks are immaculate. Spoke to one of the staff (apologies, cant remember his name) on Sunday - extremely knowledgeable on Cichlids and really helpful. Will be back!

  • Joe

Love this place. Very helpful staff and they love to engage with their customers. I'm not sure how they do it but they run a tight ship. Thanks for the help I will be back to make decent size salt water aquarium purchases.

  • B

a friend said that there would be a shark feeding... I asked, sadly covid restrictions one day I would like to see it live... added some photos of cool stuff and products worth buying slimy eeew... pretty cool …

  • Halo Exe

Awesome experience and thank you to the kind workers for helping me out. Wouldve killed my fish if I didn't get minnows to start off my tank. Good prices and a LARGE selection. Very LARGE gotta emphasize the LARGE part.

  • Ken Fulcher

Good selection, prices what you'd expect, most employees are quite knowledgeable, the others are learning! I've found only people who care about animals work there, and have been buying from there for 10 years.

  • Third Gear NO FEAR (HamBon3)

Didn't seem to have a large enough selection of fish food. I understand they can't stock everything, but a better selection of larger quantity would be nice. Other than that It's my favorite place hands down.

  • Joan Bancroft

We love Big Al’s. Though parking can be precarious (often packed!) once you are in the store its a great experience. Staff are knowledgeable, friendly to our kids and never ignore us even when they are busy.

  • A. Spencer

What a great Pet Store but just Fish !! From fresh go salt water they have it ALL and a great place to even just visit or tour. They even have a Shark that you can watch feedings. They have Reptiles too!!

  • C J (xcheryl)

Got the substrate, sand and plants here. Happy with the selections. Purchased a 29 gallon aquarium, plants and various other aquarium related items. It is now my dark water tank since I added driftwood.

  • YEG VLOGER REVIEWER - Google Reviewer

The owner likes when you make cheeky jokes he may even give you a discount if you can make him laugh .... Excellent selection of fresh water plant and fish species. Betta variety is unmatched …

  • Andrea Lopez

Been buying pet food here for over 10 years great aquarium inside with lots of selection of fish. Personally I buy rats for my snake good quality decent price better value than local pet shops.

  • Donna Carlson Gillis

They are always so helpful when I get feeders for my snake and the size just leaves my brain they are always right about what size I need even when I needed to size up! Absolutely love it here

  • Melanie Gallie

LOTS of fish! Great selection for saltwater tanks. Obviously most of them are pretty expensive for my 8 year old who is obsessed but we made a list of what she'd like & she can save up for it.

  • cindi mapplebeck

This shop has tons of cool fish to see, sting rays, and lizards. The staff are so friendly and informative. I heard they have daycares and kindergarten classes come for walk arounds.

  • Kimberly Dunn

Great place for fish information. Got a new Betta fish and have had a lot of questions. They have been great and patient, answering all my questions. They are very pleasant as well.

  • Alexandra Kulak

Great selection of dry goods. I was looking for rock to do my Aquascape in my 130G Reef tank. Found the glue and epoxy too. Their fish didn't look so good, tanks had lots of algea.

  • Dande GR

Good service and some interesting prices on corals. Fresh water fish are top but very low quality of salt water fish. Lots of products to find and stuff is very helpful .

  • David Brooks

The staff is friendly and helpful . Their fish prices are not to expensive just wish they would carry more products for reef aquariums like brightwell or aqua forest

  • Arden Shibley

Loved visiting the stingrays, iguana, fish and urchins! The staff were knowledgeable and kind, happy to have us just browsing and enjoying the fish! Thanks Big Al’s!

  • Kelly Price

The Best pet store in Edmonton for exotic pet products, and anything you could ever need for fish, and reptiles. And great prices. The staff are very knowledgeable.

  • Melissa Schafer

Loved it! So many things to look at. The staff were friendly and answered our questions we had just out of curiosity. It was a fun place to check out

  • afshin behroozi

Awesome place for fish lovers and definitely kids. I was amazed by beautiful see water fishes. Very helpful and knowledgeable staff. A bit pricy!

  • Sara Mercer

Lots of variety of fish and aquatic life. Low stock of reptiles. Nice selection of tanks, aquariums, and bowls. Clean and not busy.

  • Haley Oatway

Great selection! Found some very happy fish for my aquarium. Staff are very knowledgeable and obviously care about the animals.

  • Nigel Bissoondatt

Great knowledge of aquarium setups and any guidance needed with any ongoing aquarium issues. Great variety of fish as well.

  • Gunner

This place has almost everything you could think of to put inside an aquarium, including the aquarium. Friendly staff too.

  • Joseph X

I loved it, many fish for cheap as well as all the aquarium products you would ever need!! All aquarists must come here!

  • Randall Bennett

Great selection, a bit short staffed, so took some work to get help, but when i did get someone they were excellent.

  • Aiden Schamehorn

Friendly staff, a great selection of fish, plants, and other aquarium essentials, for both freshwater and saltwater

  • Dan

Staff were very helpful in getting us the stuff we needed for a new planted tank. Also answering all our questions!

  • Sylvester Palmer

Wow what a collection and awesome place to buy Aquarium. They have lots of variety and staff also knowledgeable

  • Peter van Santen

Best place in town for all your aquarium needs. Fish fish food and on and on and on I was definitely amazed

  • Marissa den Dulk

So many things to see! Fantastic service, knowledgeable staff. I'm always there for at least an hour lol

  • Keifer Erikson

Absolutely love this place. Massive selection of common and rare fish. Best aquarium in town hands down.

  • Jana Haveman

We loved seeing the selection of fish and the staff were very helpful! Our tank is busy and very happy.

  • thereturnofX420

terrible customer service, the staff are moody and not very helpful. some of the prices are rediculous

  • Karla Nevins

Fun place to go. Always has a good stock of fish and accessories. Staff is helpful and knowledgeable.

  • Ty Kubel

Good selection, prices are good too, staff well informed about the products and fish they sell

  • Marc BLACK PANTHER

Great place if you're interested in fishing and aquariums for fish, not ideal for reptiles.

  • Jabir Dawid

Big fish store. You can find everything you need for your fish. Friendly and helpful stuff

  • Dusty

Fun place to go on a Sunday afternoon if your bored. My kids love seeing the fish.

  • Patrick Burneau

Very helpful. Quickly helped us get everything we needed for own new Musk Turtle

  • Stephen Salvador

Lovely place and tons of supplies to fill all your fishes' needs!

  • Scott Loewen

Super great store! Amazing vibe. Staff helpful. Good selection.

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