Does Walmart Sell Live Fish In 2026? (Not What You Think…)

If you‘re an aquarium hobbyist or thinking about getting your first pet fish, you may be wondering if you can pick up some new aquatic friends at the nearby Walmart.

In the past, Walmart was the go-to destination for all things fish related. But not anymore. Walmart stopped selling live fish in 2019 after years of criticism over the treatment of the animals in their stores.

In this detailed guide, we‘ll explore Walmart‘s former live fish operations. Read on to find out why Walmart got out of the live fish business, when they stopped selling them, and where you can buy pet fish instead!

A Quick History of Walmart Selling Fish

Let‘s go back in time to understand how integral live fish were to Walmart‘s pet section offerings.

Walmart began selling live fish in the early 1990s. At the time, they were one of the few national chains to offer live fish for sale.

According to pet market research, by 1998 Walmart controlled around 12% of the live tropical freshwater fish market in the US.

Over the next decade, Walmart rapidly expanded their selection of fish to over 1,700 stores nationwide.

Citing data from the American Pet Products Association, it‘s estimated that by 2009 Walmart accounted for ~30% of live fish sales in America – making them the #1 retailer.

This meteoric growth came through offering unbeatable prices on popular beginner fish like bettas, tetras, cichlids, and plecos. For bargain-hunting fishkeepers, Walmart became the go-to spot.

However, behind the scenes, major problems were developing with Walmart‘s live fish supply chain…

Why Did Walmart Stop Selling Live Fish?

In March of 2019, Walmart abruptly announced they would cease all sales of live fish. This seismic shift stunned fish enthusiasts and completely changed the pet retail landscape.

But why did Walmart, the juggernaut of live fish sales, decide to exit the market entirely? There were two primary driving factors:

1. Declining Customer Demand

According to Walmart‘s corporate office, sales of live fish had been steadily decreasing in the years leading up to the announcement.

There were likely several reasons for this decline:

• Health concerns – consumer complaints about sick fish and high mortality rates

• Lack of selection – only the most common beginner species offered

• Unappealing tanks – overcrowded systems with dying fish and dirty water

For Brad P., a regular Walmart fish shopper until 2018, the decline in quality was obvious:

"I used to love browsing the fish at my local Walmart and picking up a new betta or two. But over the years, the selection got worse and most of the fish looked really unhealthy. I didn‘t feel good buying any fish in that condition, so I took my business elsewhere."

In Walmart‘s centralized corporate model, declining sales at a significant number of locations likely motivated leadership to re-evaluate the program.

2. Animal Welfare Concerns

In addition to slipping sales, Walmart also faced growing backlash regarding the ethics of their live animal offerings.

The most prominent criticism came from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). Beginning in 2008, PETA launched a concerted campaign against Walmart‘s fish sales. Their reasons included:

• Transport deaths – high percentages of fish dying en route

• Crowded, unfiltered tanks

• Lack of plant/decor to reduce stress

• Untrained associates unable to care for fish

• Sales of aggressive species like red-tailed catfish

• Claims of disease outbreaks like Ich

For over a decade, PETA applied pressure through protests, negative publicity, and negotiating with Walmart executives. While not the sole reason, the sustained advocacy likely contributed to Walmart‘s decision.

When Did Walmart Stop Selling Live Fish?

Walmart announced they would phase out sales of live fish in March of 2019. But the transition took time, with the process playing out over 2019 rather than happening all at once.

Here‘s a timeline of when Walmart discontinued fish:

• March 2019 – Corporate office announces phasing out of live fish by end of fiscal year

• April – July 2019 – Stores begin removing tanks, but no set deadline

• August 2019 – Around 1,000 locations have stopped selling fish

• September 2019 – Remaining 700 stores sell final batches of fish

• October 2019 – Walmart completes exit from the live fish market

So while Walmart made their intent public in March, individual store managers decided when to sell the last fish and remove tanks over a 7 month transition period.

What Fish Did Walmart Sell?

During the peak years of its live fish offerings through the 1990s-2010s, Walmart sold a wide variety of freshwater tropical species. These were the most popular types of beginner fish for home aquariums.

Some key fish Walmart stocked included:

Acquiring these exotic fish required Walmart to import from all over the world. This global supply chain contributed to some of the health issues that plagued Walmart‘s fish.

Does Walmart Have Fish Supplies?

Although Walmart no longer sells live fish, the retailer still offers a full range of fish supplies in-store and online. Products available include:

• Fish tanks and bowls from 5-55 gallons

• Filtration systems, like hang-on-back and canister filters

• Heaters and thermometers

• Air pumps and accessories

• Aquarium gravel, decorations, artificial plants

• Fish food, water treatments, testing kits

• Medications, first aid supplies, aquarium salt

I spoke to Chris W., who maintains several planted aquarium tanks:

"I‘ll occasionally grab filters or other essentials from Walmart if my local fish store doesn‘t have what I need. Their prices on supplies are decent and the selection covers basics for freshwater setups. I wish they had more advanced planted tank gear, but for a casual hobbyist it gets the job done."

While Walmart may lack specialized high-end equipment, their wide availability and affordable prices likely still appeal to many basic freshwater aquarists after fish.

How Does Walmart‘s Inventory Compare to Competitors?

To understand how Walmart‘s offerings stack up against other major retailers, I compared available fish supplies across a few product categories:

Key takeaways:

• Walmart has very cheap lower-end kits but lacks high-end.

• Similar pricing/selection of heaters across retailers.

• Walmart has the most limited plant selection.

• Substrate is cheapest at Walmart.

So Walmart tends to be the budget option, while PetSmart and Petco offer more variety and specialty options that serious hobbyists may prefer.

Does Walmart Sell Any Other Live Animals?

No, live fish were the only animals ever offered for sale at Walmart. You‘ll notice they don‘t sell live species of:

• Dogs
• Cats
• Reptiles
• Amphibians
• Small mammals like guinea pigs
• Birds

Petco and Petsmart provide a much wider selection of live animals beyond just fish. Since discontinuing fish sales, Walmart focuses exclusively on pet supplies for companion animals.

Why Did Walmart Get Rid of Live Lobster Tanks?

Prior to removing fish tanks, Walmart made another major live seafood change years earlier. They used to sell live lobsters from display tanks that customers could choose from.

However, keeping lobsters confined in small tanks raised ethical concerns – as did common practices like declawing.

Here‘s what one Walmart seafood employee recalled:

"The lobster tanks were never clean enough – there would always be dead lobsters left in with live ones. And employees would overload the tanks since we had to keep like 100 lobsters in a tank meant for 50. It wasn‘t a humane setup at all."

Due to complaints from customers and lobster advocacy groups, Walmart discontinued live lobster tanks over 10 years ago. Now they only sell pre-cooked lobster meat.

This was an early sign of Walmart moving away from questionable live animal sales – later culminating in the removal of fish as well.

Where Can You Buy Live Fish Now?

Now that Walmart no longer offers live fish for sale, where are the best places to buy your aquatic pets? Here are some top options:

Local Fish Stores

Independently owned pet stores can offer a level of service and expertise chain stores often lack. The staff is likely highly trained in fish care and maintaining tanks.

They also tend to source healthier stock from regional/domestic breeders. You may pay slightly higher prices, but the animals and service are worth it.

Downsides are limited selection in smaller stores and possibly higher prices. Be sure to thoroughly inspect fish before purchase.

Online Sellers

Ordering fish online has become popular in the past decade. Retailers like LiveAquaria.com, ThatFishPlace.com, and ImperialTropicals.com ship fish nationwide from their large wholesale facilities.

Benefits are access to exotic fish rarely found locally, and convenient home delivery. Risks include DOAs and shipping stress, so research seller reviews carefully.

Chain Pet Stores

Petco and Petsmart locations still offer live fish in most stores. Focus mainly on beginner freshwater species.

Upsides are convenience and ability to inspect fish in person before buying. Downsides can be sick fish from centralized distribution systems.

Of these options, local stores are best for knowledge and specialty fish. Online sources give the most variety. And chains like Petco offer a middle ground.

Expert Tips for Buying Healthy Fish

To help avoid problems that plagued Walmart‘s fish, I consulted aquarium expert Ryan M. on his top tips for choosing quality fish:

• "Observe fish behavior – active, no clamped fins" – Fish should be swimming normally, not gasping or lethargic. Watch for signs of disease.

• "Inspect water conditions" – Tanks shouldn‘t be dirty or clouded. Nitrate levels should be low.

• "Ask about origins" – Locally bred fish tend to be healthier. Many big box store fish are imported.

• "Have species compatible" – Don‘t combine aggressive species in same tanks. This causes stress.

• "Consider tank space" – Don‘t overcrowd tanks. Follow general inch-of-fish-per-gallon rule.

• "Quarantine new fish" – Isolate and observe new fish for several weeks before adding to display tank.

Following this best practice advice when selecting fish can help you avoid unhealthy specimens and build a thriving home aquarium environment.

Conclusion

In March of 2019, Walmart made the huge announcement that they would cease all sales of live fish in response to slipping customer demand and animal welfare concerns. By October 2019, the process of removing fish tanks from stores was complete.

This marked the end of an era, as Walmart had been the #1 source of live pet fish in America since the 1990s. While they still offer a solid range of aquarium supplies, hobbyists now need to find alternatives like local fish stores and online sellers for purchasing live aquatic life.

By following expert guidelines on picking healthy fish and proper care, you can avoid the pitfalls that led to Walmart exiting the live pet fish business. Your new fish will thrive in a happy home environment for years to come!