Big Kahuna Tropical Fish Introduce
For Wisconsin residents captivated by the vibrant and intricate world beneath the water's surface, Big Kahuna Tropical Fish in Madison offers a truly immersive and specialized experience. Unlike general pet stores that dabble in various animals, Big Kahuna Tropical Fish is a dedicated aquatic haven, boasting an extensive selection of fish, corals, and all the essential supplies needed to create and maintain thriving aquariums. If you're in Madison or the surrounding areas and passionate about freshwater, saltwater, or even pond keeping, this local establishment aims to be your premier destination for all things aquatic.
With over thirty years of experience in the aquarium business, Big Kahuna Tropical Fish prides itself on its deep understanding of the hobbyist's needs. This longevity speaks volumes about their commitment to the aquatic community in Wisconsin. While one customer review highlights a challenging experience with fish mortality, the overall feedback from other sources and the general reputation suggest a store with a vast inventory and knowledgeable staff who strive to provide good customer service. Their focus is on offering quality products at fair prices, always willing to discuss your aquarium needs and help you find the right additions and supplies to ensure your aquatic pets are healthy and happy.
Big Kahuna Tropical Fish is located at 1010 Stewart St, Madison, WI 53713, USA. This central Madison address makes it highly accessible for residents throughout the city and surrounding Dane County communities. Stewart Street provides straightforward access, and its proximity to other city amenities can make a trip to Big Kahuna convenient for many Wisconsin pet owners. While hours can vary, their listed opening times indicate a consistent schedule designed to accommodate visitors.
The accessibility of Big Kahuna Tropical Fish is a significant advantage for Madison's aquatic enthusiasts. Its physical presence allows customers to personally explore the vast selection of live fish and corals, examine equipment, and engage directly with staff for advice – an experience that online shopping simply cannot replicate. For those seeking specific species or requiring immediate assistance with their tanks, a local, well-stocked store like Big Kahuna provides invaluable convenience. This strong local presence ensures that Madison area fish keepers have a dedicated and substantial resource right in their backyard.
- Extensive Live Fish Selection: Big Kahuna Tropical Fish offers a "huge" variety of live fish, encompassing both freshwater and saltwater species. They hold all livestock for a minimum of two weeks to ensure fish are healthy and eating before being sold.
- Live Corals: For saltwater enthusiasts, they provide a selection of live corals, including LPS (Large Polyp Stony) and SPS (Small Polyp Stony) corals, as well as beginner corals.
- Comprehensive Aquarium Supplies: The store stocks a wide range of dry goods and aquarium products, including filters (canister, HOB, sponge), filter media (floss, GFO, carbon), heaters, lighting, food (flake, pellet, freeze-dried, frozen, Koi food), medications, water conditioners, and test kits. They also have an entire section dedicated to shrimp.
- Live Plants and Rock: They offer live aquatic plants, freshwater rock, and live rock for marine setups, essential for creating balanced and aesthetically pleasing aquariums.
- Aquarium Design & Installation: Big Kahuna Tropical Fish provides professional aquarium consultation, design, and installation services for any aquarium, regardless of size.
- Aquarium Maintenance Services: They offer comprehensive maintenance services including glass/acrylic cleaning, filter media changes, substrate vacuuming, water testing, RO fresh/saltwater supply and changes, decoration cleaning, medicating sick fish, and holding sick fish.
- Custom Food Preparation: The store can prepare custom food for specific aquatic inhabitants, catering to unique dietary needs.
- Aquarium Tear Down: For those looking to dismantle an existing setup, Big Kahuna also offers aquarium tear down services.
- Aquarium Rental Program: For those interested in aquatic life without a permanent commitment, the venue offers an aquarium rental program.
- Vast Inventory and Variety: Customers frequently highlight the "huge" selection of fish and supplies. This extensive inventory means hobbyists are likely to find specific species, rare items, or all their regular necessities in one place.
- Specialization in Aquatics: With over thirty years in the aquarium business, Big Kahuna Tropical Fish possesses deep, specialized knowledge in both freshwater and saltwater aquatics, making them a go-to source for expert advice.
- Commitment to Livestock Health: Their practice of holding all livestock for a minimum of two weeks ensures that fish are healthy and eating before sale, reducing potential issues for customers. They also state they guarantee their livestock, including saltwater fish.
- Comprehensive Services Beyond Retail: Offering installation, maintenance, and even tear down services, Big Kahuna provides a full-spectrum solution for aquarium owners, from initial setup to ongoing care.
- Knowledgeable Staff: While experiences can vary, reviews generally praise the "top notch" customer service and knowledgeable team members who are willing to discuss aquariums and answer questions.
- Reputable Online Presence: As indicated by search results, Big Kahuna Tropical Fish also operates as an online seller, suggesting a well-established operation with a wide reach for their quality products.
Address: 1010 Stewart St, Madison, WI 53713, USA
Phone: (608) 848-1288
For Wisconsin residents, particularly those in the Madison area, Big Kahuna Tropical Fish stands out as a highly suitable and essential resource for all things aquatic. Its suitability for locals is multifaceted, beginning with its deep specialization. Unlike general pet stores, Big Kahuna's singular focus on tropical fish and aquariums means they offer an unparalleled breadth of knowledge and an extensive inventory that caters specifically to the unique demands of this hobby. This expertise ensures that Madison-area fish keepers have access to the right species, equipment, and advice needed to create thriving underwater worlds.
The sheer size and variety of their stock, as noted by customers, is a significant draw. For a local enthusiast, this means less time searching for specific items and more time enjoying their passion. Coupled with their comprehensive service offerings—from tank installation and maintenance to custom food preparation—Big Kahuna transcends the role of a simple retail store to become a full-service partner in aquarium care. This integrated approach simplifies the hobby, making it more accessible and enjoyable for busy Wisconsinites.
Furthermore, the decades of experience that Big Kahuna Tropical Fish brings to the table instill confidence. While individual experiences may vary, their long-standing presence in the Madison community and commitment to ensuring livestock health demonstrate a dedication to the hobby and their customers. For any Wisconsin resident, whether a novice just starting with a single betta or a seasoned aquarist managing complex reef systems, Big Kahuna Tropical Fish offers the local expertise, vast resources, and supportive environment necessary to ensure their aquatic ventures are successful and rewarding.
Big Kahuna Tropical Fish Photos










Big Kahuna Tropical Fish Location
Big Kahuna Tropical Fish
1010 Stewart St, Madison, WI 53713, USA
Big Kahuna Tropical Fish Reviews
Purchased a fish tank from Big Kahuna in November 2024, setup and let acclimate. Purchased 5 fish Jan. 2025 and they all died. Went back informed them of this and had them test my water that checked out Good.They said nothing they can do. No warranty. bought 3 more fish and all 3 fish died. Yet fish I have from other stores are still alive? All fish purchased there have died within 2 to 3 weeks. So tread carefully. I do regular water changes, good lighting, live rock and corals, no predator fish.
Apr 12, 2025 · Chad Peterson5.18.24 - Huge! This store has so many fish that it'll take a cool minute to walk through this place. It's freaking amazing. The fish variety, fish supplies, and customer service are top notch.
May 19, 2024 · StephaniePretty big store! No nanofish really if you're into that sort of thing. Pretty wide variety of fish but not as many as I thought. It looks like they aren't quite done setting up. Arrows on the floor to create some sort of direction for people to walk and view the tanks because it gets difficult to walk down an aisle when they're is just people standing in the middle and there's trying to look. Have a number ticketing system for people who are interested in fish from a tank so they can grab the number and wait outside of the isles while an employee frees up to be able to help them. But sweet fish otherwise. Tons of tank accessories
Mar 30, 2023 · Christine PowersIt’s a little weird finding the door since it’s a warehouse, but it’s on the side of the building. They have a lot available! Great pricing all around. Super cool saltwater pool with some show fish in there for guests to see. Many plants, food and saltwater/freshwater tank friends available. They even have an aquarium rental program! Definitely worth the stop. I almost didn’t write this because I wanted to keep this gem to myself! 😂 My daughter picked up this guy, and he’s been super healthy!
Mar 20, 2024 · John LevanderWhat a cool spot! So much going on here, and I'll definitely be back again. Nice selection of plants, decor, both fresh and saltwater critters. Not to mention all the hardware you'd need to get your tanks ready to go.
Mar 19, 2025 · Shawn Beissel
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