Zen Aquatics - Palm Desert, California

Andrew msdlfanslgibnasds

Cool shop. Owned by a real human being, not some crazy company that doesn’t care. helps you get through any issues you have with the tank so you can remain successful. Sells used equipment for affordable price. Helps keep the hobby affordable and alive.

Jeremy Bucher

Been here a couple times now and this is my new go-to store for fish. They have a pretty big selection of fish and you can tell all the fish tanks are clean and the fish are healthy. The staff are always happy to feed fish for me which is super important when picking out new fish. Prices are labeled here, which is nice. I like to buy my fish in batches so I can quarantine them at home and it's nice to walk the store and have an idea how much the total price is going to be, rather than having to ask the price of every single fish as I go. Besides fish they keep a decent selection of corals and dry goods and the display tanks are also very nice. Overall, my experiences here have always been positive with the staff being friendly and helpful. I'm definitely coming back and I highly recommend this place!

Jose Garibaldo

Transitioning from freshwater to saltwater was made easy by JP's (owner) expertise and guidance. The store was clean, the fishes and corals were very well cared for, and they had an amazing selection of aquariums. Brandon (staff) went above and beyond to make sure I was taken care of. I have nothing but good things to say about Zen.

justin morreale

3rd strike…. I’ve visited this store 3 times over the last few months, each time with money to spend and excited to add to my tank. All 3 times I’ve left with nothing but a bad taste in my mouth. I usually go on Saturdays as that’s when I have time off work. I walk through the store in silence. Before today the largest interaction I’ve had with any employee here has been an unfriendly “sup” as the guy passed me on his way to the back that I initiated with a smile and a hello. I had a Wednesday off today so I figured I’d give them another shot, not on a weekend, maybe they have better staff during the week. Today the kid that works there was preoccupied with someone who was obviously a service guy buying a group of green chromis. No worries, I’ll wait till he’s done and ask some questions. In passing (after he had gotten the other guy all of his fish) I asked the kid working about the price of a melanurus wrasse as it was unlabeled, his answer was “uhm…”. Ok. I asked about some hammer frags that are on a rack marked $55. “Uh I dunno, someone just brought those in…” Ok, I get it, he’s busy, I’ll wait. Next thing I know, I’m the only person in the store. I walked to the back to see if he was doing something back there., Nope, maybe he’s in the restroom., I waited for 10 minutes, alone, before I stood in front of the cctv camera over the cash register, threw my arms up and said out loud “wtf, no one works here” Then I left for the final time. I had been there for nearly an hour.

I was going to ask about a group of chalk bass, but no one would help me. I was going to ask about a group of lemon chromis, no one was there to help me. I keep hearing from other people how great JP is, he may very well be. But I’ve never met him. And the guys that are there seem disinterested in my business. May as well shut the doors to the public and focus on custom service like Viscious Fishes if it’s like that. As a hobbiest, my experience has been that these guys have no time or energy for me unless I want to pay them to come take care of my tank for me. Guess I’ll continue buying my livestock online…. Disappointed once again.

During my extended solo wait I had time to take a closer look at everything., Frag tanks are infested with Aiptasia…. Main display tank is infested with ich to the point that I thought they had marine velvet at first glance. Another tank has a hippo tang with such bad hlle deterioration that you can see exposed face bones and is so thin id bet it’ll be dead within the next month.

In retrospect, it’s a good thing I can’t get anyone over there to give me the time of day, as the poor customer service overcame my enthusiasm to purchase live stock that more than likely would have either died in quarantine or destroyed my tank with pests.

Dustin Wade

This has been my go to store for reef supplies, fish and coral. JP and Brandon are super friendly and very helpful. They have been more than willing to give advice and even let me borrow equipment to see if I like it before I buy it. You can put in orders if there are specific things you want that they don't have in stock and they will usually have it for you in a couple of days. Brandon and JP give great consideration to your tank and its inhabitants as if they were your own. I wouldn't be as far as I am in this hobby without this shop and then wonderful employees that work there.

James Hall

Zen Aquatics is my favorite fish store in the desert. The staff are very helpful and they keep a large inventory of dry goods as well as some beautiful fish and coral. I highly recommend that you give them a visit.

Steve Boger

Far and away the best aquarium store in the valley.

Sheri Johnson

We just left after spending about an hour picking the owners brain, going over our fish list and ultimately purchasing our first few fish. JP is super knowledgeable, and I appreciate his honesty. There were a few things we wanted to purchase but he advised against them. We appreciate not being upsold and taken advantage of and look forward to coming back!