Numerous reviews highlighted severe neglect and poor living conditions for animals, including overcrowding, lack of proper care, and visible signs of distress or illness.
Customer Service
While some customers praised the staff for being friendly and knowledgeable, others reported rude interactions and unhelpful responses to concerns.
Store Condition
Many customers noted the store's cleanliness issues, with reports of foul odors and dirty enclosures contributing to a negative shopping experience.
Product Quality
Customers expressed dissatisfaction with the health of animals purchased, with many reporting that their pets died shortly after being bought.
Longstanding Reputation
Despite the negative feedback, some long-time customers appreciated the store's history and expressed loyalty, indicating a mixed perception of the business.
JK
Jasper Krohn
Nov 9, 2025
1.0
I was beyond disturbed walking to this store today. The smell was atrocious.
A fish in the tank at the front has fin rot and the other fish are trying to eat him alive. The animals are all crammed into small enclosures, especially the large bearded dragons, rabbits, guinea pigs, and rats!
All of the enclosures are disgusting and it’s obvious they haven’t been cleaned properly in a long time. The rabbits feet are stained dark yellow and the ferrets had a pile of shit in their enclosure. Shit all over the floor in the bird room too! There were like 20 rats in a small fish tank!
my husband and i walked out of there feeling terrible for the animals. two of the employees were just sitting there, while the one person in a dress was doing all of the work trying to catch up with cleaning.
this store needs a MAJOR job training reset and needs to be fixed immediately for the safety of the animals AND and people that shop there.
CC
Chris
Nov 9, 2025
1.0
Disgusting conditions. Rodents and rabbits stacked on each other in cages they can barely turn around in, sleeping and eating in piles of their own feces. 5 fully grown bearded dragons stuffed into a 40 gallon tank, priced at $250 each so only god knows how long they’ve been subject to these conditions, because they sure won’t be selling any time soon. Emaciated baby bearded dragons with one dead in the corner of a 15 gallon vertical (why vertical?) up on their front counter. Ball pythons housed in what equates to Tupperware that barely fits them coiled.
If you have a love for animals, or even basic respect, don’t enter this store unless you want to have your day ruined. Not a dime should be spent here. If a place can’t manage to treat animals at least as well as the big box stores (providing bare minimum conditions) it doesn’t deserve to be in business.
Sickening to see.
HG
husky gamer
Nov 5, 2025
5.0
We’ve been going to this pet store for years! My sister has bought Guinea pigs from here and I bought a kitten years ago from here! Just recently my granddaughter purchased 2 mice from here because they had great color patterns to pick from. They were so sweet and did not bite. She also purchased 2 from a well known pet store. The ones from the pet store were very aggressive and tried biting her when she would change the cage. They also fought with the two original ones we had. We ended up rehoming the pet store ones and bought 2 more from Aqualand pets and they all got along together even though there was an age difference. We also got two rats and they are very intelligent and very tame. The animals there seem to be very healthy to me. We haven’t had any problems at all and they’re not as stressed out as pet store animals are plus we buy our bulk rat food there and it’s way cheaper than the pet store so we’ll continue to go there, we have no problems with them.So glad they’re still in business!
AG
Avery Goodknight
Oct 24, 2025
5.0
Cute Variety and informative workers. Was grabbing a feeder rat and was givin information on that as well.
KB
Kira Brown-Lett
Oct 20, 2025
1.0
It’s been 15 years since Ive visited this store. I used to go in 80’s and 90’s as a kid. It was never a fancy store but yesterday it was beyond gross!! I was disturbed seeing the animals. I have never seen bunnies and ferrets look so horrible. They laid in a pile on top of each other, on their backs, their bellies sunken in and they just laid there with their eyes opened. They looked dead, didn’t move even when talking to them, they just stared frozen. Probably 20 Snakes piled up in tiny little plastic travel containers stacked on top of each other. A shelf with probably 20 betta fish in containers-half were belly up. A gold fish tank with half of them dead at the bottom. And the smell, was like death. Ceiling and floors were falling apart. It looked like no one has touched anything to update in there in 40 years. Horrible experience, still upset the next day. They should be ashamed to be open.
Frequently Asked Questions About Aqualand Pets Plus
What are the main animals available at Aqualand Pets Plus?
Aqualand Pets Plus offers tropical fish, reptiles, birds, hamsters, guinea pigs, bunny rabbits, rats, and mice.
What are the store hours for Aqualand Pets Plus?
The store is open Monday to Friday from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, Saturday from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, and Sunday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
Does Aqualand Pets Plus accept walk-in customers?
Yes, walk-ins are welcome at Aqualand Pets Plus.
What payment methods are accepted at Aqualand Pets Plus?
They accept American Express, Cash, Discover, MasterCard, and Visa.
Where is Aqualand Pets Plus located?
It is located at 3600 6th Ave, Des Moines, IA 50313, United States.
How can I contact Aqualand Pets Plus?
You can call their main phone at +1 515-206-2372 or alternate phone at +1 515-283-0300, or email aqualand3600@aol.com.
Is Aqualand Pets Plus affiliated with any business organizations?
Yes, they are associated with NFIB.
What languages are spoken at Aqualand Pets Plus?
English is spoken at Aqualand Pets Plus.
What nearby places can I visit when coming to Aqualand Pets Plus?
Nearby you can visit Des Moines Mixed Martial Arts, Chuck's Restaurant for Italian and pizza, The Slow Down Coffee Co. for coffee, and Northside Market for arts and crafts.
How can I get to Aqualand Pets Plus using nearby amenities?
You can combine your visit with nearby fitness centers like Highland Park Fitness or Sultry Dance and Fitness, or grab a meal at nearby eateries such as Hiland Park Bakery or Sabor Boricua In Des Moines.
Are there any interesting shops near Aqualand Pets Plus for a complete shopping experience?
Yes, you can explore The Collective department store for shopping and hair supplies, Wayback Records for vinyl records, and Divine Times Vintage for antiques and vintage items.