Something Fishy Pets - Fox Lake, Illinois

Good P.

Here is another local business that is unique to have in a small town. Fish stores are going away, like many of our cherished businesses, but we are lucky to have Something Fishy! I have not needed to buy pet supplies, but I do drop off all of my UPS packages at this location.

All you do is bring it up to the cash register and they scan the package for you. They will also ask if you want a receipt texted to you. I have never had a problem with my packages being dropped off.

I do like to browse the store and see all of the animals! This is a rather large store with tons of supplies and live animals to check out. They have been working at cleaning the store and the cages and tanks look great.

The staff is always ready to help with a pet question and even though I'm just browsing they ask if I need help or have any questions.

That is not to say I know nothing about fish and animals, in fact I used to run multiple fish tanks with South African Cichlids and enjoyed that hobby very much. I'm currently in the market for a new fish tank and will be getting back into the hobby and plan on buying my fish from here.

Take your time walking the isles and checking out the store because there is a lot to take in! Talk to the birds! Let them know they are loved. Pet a few furry critters and tell them they are also important and loved.

Deanna B.

I have bought 11 pets from Something Fishy, get all of their supplies from here, and always given the best customer service. They have helped me learn more about animals than any where I’ve been. They have some of the best employees you could ask for! They even ask me every time I come in if I’m getting a new pet yet lol that’s how well they remember their customers. If they don’t have an item, they help look online and will have it shipped to their store for you. They are amazing with their animals and take great care of them! Best pet store I’ve ever been and will go to!

Misses C.

I have purchased 5 snakes, 2 bunnies, many fish, and a cat over the past 13 years from Something Fishy. I go in every weekend to buy feeder mice. It is under new ownership and it's going back to its former glory, but nicer. The new owners take a lot of pride in their work and are very friendly. Highly recommend checking them out.

Shan W.

The new owners taking over are so nice and sweet. Very personable! Both were awesome and talkative and showed me the best and better dog food. And have us a free bag to try out. Along with 2 treats. They seem like really great people and I look forward to going back in there!!

Jay S.

I've always Loved going here for my pet needs, but today when I came in for some dog treats I was greeted by some new friendly faces. They were genuinely great people so I was delighted when they told me they were the new owners! I will miss the old owner but I believe this company got sold to the right family!

Allyse B.

WARNING: NEW OWNERS
I had to update my previous review of Something Fishy. Unfortunately the owner who has run this local pet shop for my entire life is moving on to bigger and better things, leaving the business to seemingly inexperienced, financially driven new owners.

Immediately upon entering the store today, the atmosphere seemed very different from the warm, homey, animal-centric atmosphere prior to the new ownership. The animals are in bare minimum or sub-standard living conditions, commonly being subjected to unfair treatment in the name of driving business. It was not apparent that the new ownership have more than basic knowledge about caring for different kinds of animals. Ron and the previous staff were very attentive to the animal’s wellbeing, and were eager to share their knowledge with their customers. The new ownership is blatantly unprepared to care for these animals and tend to the needs of their species. While in store, a small child asked to touch a bird, of which is a no-go for small children due to bites and bird’s erogenous zones being in common petting locations. The owner was quick to try and find a bird for this child to pet.

There was also a man there in store with his personal cockatoos, who was obviously touching his birds in erogenous zones, likely sexually frustrating them and forming a human-bird relationship with them. It was deeply unsettling and disgusting as a bird owner.

As happy as I am for Ron in his next adventures, I am deeply saddened by the current state and impending trajectory of Something Fishy. The reptiles were moved to retail shelving with limited necessary environmental conditions, the mice and rats have been reported to be in filthy, unhealthy conditions, a conure was roaming free in the back among children’s toys with no supervision, and the blatant allowance of sexually frustrating birds, not to mention bringing in personal pet birds poses a high risk of transferring avian illnesses all points to the inexperienced and financially driven new ownership’s inability to prioritize the animals over business profit margins.

I have been visiting this store ever since I was a child, and have gotten several of my pets from here in my lifetime, however sadly I will not be returning. It was a depressing turn of events and a loss of an amazing business Ron and Wendy had cultivated. Best wishes to Ron, Wendy, and her son who were the best to visit while in store. Thank you for all the amazing childhood and adult memories and wonderful loving pets over the years ❤️

Amanda Z.

This place is Amazing ! The employees are friendly and knowledgeable! Wendy is #1 I love going there and seeing here and talking to her about my bearded dragons ! Ron is another good person his sense of humor is great ! They’re animals are very well taken care of and this place is clean

Jennifer C.

I’ve been a customer at this store out of convenience. The store is under new management. The store has gone down hill.
The store lacks quality control.

I went in for wax worms; the refrigerator that wax worms are kept in had been used a storage refrigerator- had food and some personal items in it.

I owned tons of rats in the past. The rats kept in the aquarium in the far corner along the wall to the right of the entrance is inhumane. Even though they are feeder rats they should have a clean cage, more bedding, and instead be housed in a medium animal cage with adequate ventilation. The cage they are kept in is a glass aquarium and covered in urine.

There was or is a cockatiel in the back living in a cage covered in bird poop. The bird box in its cage and the other bird breeder cages are chewed and should be replaced. The birds do not have adequate light. The cockatiel was upset upon approach; it hissed. As a cockatiel owner I was disappointed seeing how the bird is not properly taken care of.

The vibe in this store is off putting. I won’t be returning even for wax worms. As an animal lover, who owns and has owned tons of animals, I’m done turning a blind eye.

Painting the mural in the room right of the front entrance isn’t as important as taking care of and improving the animals living conditions.