Preuss Pets

It's Preuss pets, a premier pet store and staple in mid Michigan for decades. I've been going there since they were on Saginaw st next to the knife shop. My most recent visit was for CO2 supplies for my planted aquarium. I noticed the aquariums in the fresh water section had poorly cleaned glass, algae build up, aging fish, and poorer fish care then I've come to expect from Preuss'. Their marine section was top notch though. The bird smell is heavy, but it is a pet store. Preuss has always been a little unorganized, so expect that. But they are experts in the trade.

Literally no complaints, I love this place sm everytime I come its always so clean and the pets are either always so happy or cuddled up sleeping, and I absolutely love how the workers take care of their pets, definitely better then every pets smart LOL

I have gotten four birds from here. My first cockatiel lived a healthy ten years but every other bird I have gotten has died of crop infections within months of getting them. I know that the infections were not my fault as I have had birds my entire life and they all get fed the highest quality food. I've also found plastic in their feed they give with purchasing a bird. I've gotten a baby cockatiel with wastings disease too (he's sick in the picture, had him for two months 😠). Safe to say I won't buy their birds ever again. I will say the atmosphere and the staff are excellent. They have a great selection of fish and reptiles. The leopard gecko I got from them as a baby is 13 years old and healthy as can be. Just don't buy their birds! Go to a bird rehab if you want a good bird.

I have always loved this place, but I haven't been able to visit in over a decade. I was finally able to stop back in, and I enjoyed every moment of my visit. This place is just as fun as I always remembered it to be. Even if you do not have plans to add a new pet to your family right now, this is a great place to just walk around and appreciate the wide variety of pets available. The atmosphere is well maintained and they keep it very clean. All of the animals seem well cared for. The staff were extremely kind and attentive, and I feel it was quite obvious that everyone who works there loves animals. They are located downtown and they have ample parking available. All around, a great place to visit!

I’ve been going to this place for years, and for the most recent visits, Gianna in the rodent section was amazing. Extremely knowledgeable, and she made my kids feel seen with all of the questions they had. Not once did she seem annoyed by the questions. I don’t usually write reviews, but this young lady truly did stand out to me. She remembered us from recent visits and truly made that connection with my family. From rats to geckos to frogs, she knew it all. I’m shocked that she’s still a trainee with everything she knew. I highly recommend speaking to that young lady. It was impressive seeing someone so young carry such a fun personality.

This place was the most JAW DROPPING pet store I have ever been into. The workers were absolutely amazing and very welcoming and inviting. I came in looking for some stuff to start building a new tank and there selection of plants was astonishing. All of the plants and fish looked so healthy. I’ve never been in a more amazing fish store. I can tell this place is very well taken care of! I will definitely keep coming back here even though it’s 2 hours from me!

They had some pretty unique animals, fish, & reptiles. The layout of the store was really neat, definitely 1 of a kind 👍 I just saw some really large fish in unusually small tanks and their prices were a bit on the higher side, But definitely worth the visit

Always a great place to visit. The selection of pet supplies, fish and reptiles is extremely varied. This is one of the best places in the state for salt water aquarium supplies. The staff is always very knowledgeable and willing to answer questions.

A very unique collection of reptiles, fish and birds. They are well cared for and the staff is very informed about helping potential pet owners.

The place has an amazing range of animals and so much to look at. The downside - under maintenance. I feel bad for the animals. When we came in we were greeted by a worker and asked if we needed assistance. Asked about prices on mealworms. Sheet is on the table. Asked about spiders, took us straight to the spiders! Sadly - I think the business would be better off with hiring more employees or cutting down on animals to keep up with housekeeping. It's understandable being short staff nowadays but the poor animals don't deserve to be in dirty tanks or crammed spaces. Many meals, accessories and supplies to choose from for your pet. We spent a good thirty minutes in the store. It is a decently sized store - when you think you hit the end you hit another corner. Kid-friendly. We had a friendly older gentleman who informed us of the sea hare slugs that surrounded the tree that was growing in a water tank. It was pretty cool!

I have a love/hate relationship with Preuss Pets. It smells, it's humid, it sells small mammals for profit, and the pricing system absolutely sucks. Preuss also sells very high quality products, has knowledge staff (sometimes), recommends Cedar Creek Veterinary Clinic, and offers unique items that aren't available at big franchise pet stores. This place does a lot of things right and a few things wrong. My absolute biggest complaint is pricing issue when the cashier has nothing to scan so they ask me, the customer, "do you know the price for this?" There are two reference books at the checkout with product pictures and prices. I've seen them in previous visits when I've had items without a price tag or thing to scan. Why the hell are cashiers asking me how much things cost?! To their credit, the price tags have become more prevalent in the past five years. However, there is still a disconnect between item, price tag, and what actually gets rung up. For example, a few days ago I got a foraging ring that's normally $1.50 which had a tag for $15.99 and scanned as a $19.99 toy. If a customer buys a lot of items at once (as I usually do) or isn't familiar which how much items usually costs, questionable pricing practices at this store can overcharge a customer because the clerical staff certainly don't recognize any discrepancies.

Bought a fish here and added it to my tank. 4 hours later that fish is dead. There are no signs about any live fish policies at all. The employee helping me was great versus other times when I would be ignored. It's a mixed bag here even if they do have a "great" variety of fish for Michigan. I have been to smaller and more well run aquarium stores and would suggest going to a smaller one for higher quality of fish.

This place is sooo cool. Probably the most unique pet store I've ever seen. Very wide selection of items and such cool animals!

This place is so cool. Such a unique set up, I kind of felt like I was at a hands on zoo. Friendly knowledgeable staff, great selection.

This is the coolest pet store I've ever been to. From the outside, you can tell it's going to be special! The staff is very knowledgeable and friendly, and you can tell that they take pet ownership very seriously here. They offer classes and it looks like they'll help you get started if you're new to the exotic pet or aquarium world. This would be a great place to take the kids on a rainy day - it's almost like visiting a zoo. Lots of lizards, frogs, spiders, scorpions, ferrets, birds and FISH! So many fish! Freshwater and saltwater. HUGE tanks. So many beautiful corals. And ANYTHING you could want to decorate your tank. From false plants to real ones, Spongebob houses to driftwood. Amazing! There is a waterfall outside and a huge sculpture creature - you can't miss it! I'd recommend this place for anyone visiting the Lansing area, for sure.

One of the coolest pet stores I've ever been to. We got to look at lots of birds. There was sooo many fish there. They sold the suckers with the bugs in them. It was very neat on the inside and out.

This place never fails to amaze me. The freshwater fish in particular. I went in, extremely excited, because every time I've been here, I had an extremely good time. The staff are always super knowledgeable, and are extremely nice. I enjoyed talking to Nikki, she helped me out a ton, and we shared some experiences with our fish. And don't even get me started with the display tanks. They were gorgeous, just, gorgeous. There was one in particular that looked like maybe a 75g long female Betta sorority with CPDs (Celestial Pearl Danios) and it was so beautiful. The fish in the picture are what I decided to pick up, and are still thriving. I live about 1 hour and 30 minutes from there so we don't get to go often, but when we do, I'm stoked. But even if you don't buy anything, it's still a wonderful trip with the family and I hope to be here soon. Note: If there were one thing I would change would be the price, and that's all. Pricey, but worth it.

Disappointed at the manager here today. I come here every week. Backed up at the cashier. A lady not in the line was taken before me. The manager said she arrived first. I've been standing in line for at least 3 minutes. He said she didn't know, well you did for at least 3 minutes. Why didn't he tell her to get in line when she arrived. Did not even apologize. Tall Grey hair and beard. Today is Oct 17 2023 2:43 pm

It was my first time visiting Preuss Pets. I drove all the way from Grand Rapids as I have been following their Facebook page for over a year and have heard from other individuals what a fantastic store it is. It definitely blew my expectations right from the get go. I can see why it's been a gem in Lansing, Michigan for several years. I highly recommend this store to everyone - the animals are in excellent shape, the customer service is wonderful, staff are very knowledgeable, enclosures were kept in pristine condition, and there's such a large selection of toys, cages, and anything else your heart desires!

I have had a fish tanks for years. I recently started a new one with my existing fish. I wanted to be safe before I added new fish into their environment, so I took a water sample in to get test. I was told by Preuss staff the water was okay and I could add more fish. So I spent a ridiculous amount of money on 6 fish. I spent a long time assimilating them to their new environment. 3 transferred beautifully into my new tank. When I added the fish from the 2nd bag, I could only find 2. I assumed the third was hiding but I never actually saw or found it. Another one died right away. One lived. I scooped out the dead fish to take it back with a water sample the next day. My water tested exactly as the day before and was told it was fine. I explained how I assimilated the fish and was basically degraded for suggesting that their fish were not healthy. These were the tiniest rainbow fish in America (see picture, not my actual fish but the kind I bought for $5 each) there was a huge tank full of them. When I mentioned that I only ever saw 2, I was mocked and spoken to like a child. The kid I spoke with refunded the fish I brought in but then continued to use air quotation marks about the invisible missing fish. But he said he would work with me if it never turned up. It never did dead or alive. The replacement fish he sent me home with died next day. I am not even going back in there to try and replace it because the whole experience was uncomfortable. I went here because I thought I would get the best customer service and healthiest fish. Don't waste your time or money. I went to pets mart and received the best customer service and fun lively fish. I am not going back to Preuss's. They made me feel like a pile of dog poop.

Preuss Pets is a really neat pet store located just North East of the Lansing City Center in the heart of Lansing's Old town district. Aside from pet supplies and food, they have everything from small mammals to birds, fish, arachnids, and reptiles to explore while visiting. It's also a great day date location for animal lovers, or it could be a cool spot for a pre-dinner date that would give you plenty to talk about during your meal!

What an incredible pet store. Preuss pets has everything you could ever need for your pets, and much more. Their aquarium selection is top-notch, and their staff are exceptionally knowledgeable. I have been coming to Pruess for over two decades, first for the exotic birds, and now for their aquariums, fish, and and other pet supplies. Look... a lot of people complain about their prices, and a lot of the reviews here are saying that they can find things cheaper online. Yes, yes you can. Everything is cheaper when you dont have to pay rent on a storefront. But you will not find the level of dedication, knowledge, assistance, or expertise that this company provides anywhere online. That is what you are paying for when you go to this store, and let me tell you, it is worth every penny. I have saved more money following their advice than i ever could have saved buying the items online. Whenever I purchase new fish or equipment, the staff of Preuss are there to provide any instruction or help that I need, to ensure my pets are safe and happy.

Exceptional animal husbandry and service. Preuss also has a large variety of food choices and supplies to help your pet thrive. Kirbay is an asset to the future of this Lansing staple! This is our family's go-to shop for a fun experience and great products.

Preuss pets is like walking into a small zoo. Beautiful well cared for animals here. Everyone knows what they are taking about no guessing when it come to exotics. Highly recommended. It's worth just the drive to come check this place out

Preuss Pets if for sure the highlight of Lansing. I LOVE stopping in when I am in town just to take my baby around to see all the exotic critters. The one downfall is the darn fish department. I've had tanks for years. I'm a freshwater gal and have been through it all tank wise. It's helpful that they have free water testing but they are such gatekeepers when it comes to taking a fish home. You could have lovely levels and they still drag on the fish buying process to barrage you with questions. Quizzing someone on their tank size and what's already in there is standard. But lecturing on pump types, bacteria questionnaire and so on is just so freaking over the top. I'm buying guppies for goodness sake. I tried buying a betta here once and turned my butt right around. I'm getting a 15$ fish calm down. I get it. You have people coming in with new tanks, never cycled and city tap water. I hear yah. But when I come in with a 40gal tank cycling for well over a month I'm a fish murdered in the making. You can't win with that department.

This store is the best. they have a wide variety of animals and fish, it feels like a mini zoo. the employees are really caring and helpful, they are always interested in our pets that we bring

this place always fills me with joy and leaves me with a smile. the workers are so awesome and friendly, the selection of fish is awesome! i can never go anywhere else!

Prices are a bit steep but a wide selection I cannot complain. Very pleased with the fish I did get and the rocks also.

Love Preuss's! We are so lucky to have such an establishment here in Lansing - it could stand its ground in any large metropolitan city. Where do I start.. the employees are incredibly knowledgeable, genuinely love creatures, and are kind and helpful. They have a HUGE selection of reptiles, fish, birds (hand raised), arachnids, amphibians, small mammals... They also have a show room with tons of different aquariums and very reasonable pricing. They do free water checks. Did I mention kids also love this place? So much to see and explore. I'm starting my first planted aquarium this month, and cannot wait to work with the people at Pruess's to set it up, start to finish.

Preuss pets exceeds all expectations as a pet store. Hands down the nicest aquatics and small pets offerings I jave ever seen. We traveled to Lansing from South Bend specifically to see the aquatics department. Its worth the trip just to look...they had a wide selection of food and equipment for both marine and fresh tanks. They have really great driftwood and rock selection...words do not do this store justice. The display tanks are beautiful and the selection of freshwater fish and invertebrates is astonishing. I am not the type of person to keep reptiles, bur they had a better variety and better kept environments than most small zoos... So i found myself wandering around looking at lizards and turtles for quite some time. The staff was cheerful and helpful...everyone seemed genuinely happy to be there. We are so glad we went to Pruess Pets today

This is probably the best pet and fish store in the surrounding Lansing/Mid-Michigan area. They have everything you may need regarding the proper care of your pet. There are many different kinds of fish, both tropical and freshwater. If you have questions one of the associates will answer questions with expertise. Love this store and the care shown by the employees. Trust.

Rewarding my granddaughter with her first pet beta fish. I was talked to for 45 minutes. I was told I HAVE to buy certain water, rocks, a plant, certain food, paid a deposit for extra water. At the end of the lecture I spent $35 in supplies for a $5 beta fish. Came home and followed all directions printed off. Before I went to bed the fish was down low looking like it was sleeping. In the morning it was in same spot still not moving. I felt horrible for having to explain why her dish was dead. Not fun explaining death to my 5 year old granddaughter. I called and left a message no return call. I posted a message to them on their website and did get a return message to come in next day and they would help me. I brought water container that I had to put a deposit on back with remaining water and receipt with all products purchased. I was told my manager they could only refund the water container and fish so basically $10. Asked for owner he said I should have brought all stuff back in. I had pictures and receipt. So because I didn't want to torture my granddaughter with a container with her dead fish I was not given a refund. I was told they could have bleached products and resold them. I am completely frustrated and upset with how we were handled by them. My grand was tell them how she felt and how he was praying the fish was asleep. I will never walk into Preuss' again. I hope anyone reading this won't make the same mistakes I did by going to this store!

Easily, the coolest pet store I've ever come across to Michigan. Tons of variety. My only real complaint is how busy they get on weekends especially when it's the only time I can get out there to get things I actually need for animals that I actually keep. Tends to become a tourist trap and littered with children everywhere. Makes it really hard to get the help you need. But other than that a wonderful place for exotic animal keepers.

Preuss is such a fantastic community resource! Beyond having a fantastic store, the Preuss family is very active in supporting other local businesses, events, and even other pet stores! I do my best to only shop locally for my animals and will always recommend Preuss Pets. I would give more than 5 stars if I could!

Great selection of fish, reptiles and other animals/plants. Very poor staff in the fish/aquarium section. Every time I've been here, I've spent more than 15 minutes trying to get out of a one sided "conversation" with an aquarium staff member about one minor question. They have poor social skills, make me uncomfortable, and obsess about things I'm not interested in. This applies to everyone except Jeremiah....he's a G.

I really want to like this place. I guess it depends on what I am rating it as. For a place to take visitors to feed the fish, marvel at the colorful and creative decor, and visit with giant birds, then they are the best of the best. Really a gem in Lansing, and a highlight of any Old Town visit with out-of-town guests. However, as a pet store, I have experienced some flaws. Their phone system is terrible. Every time I have called Preuss, the connection has been poor and disconnections occur more often than not. Shopping there is hit or miss, at least for cat or dog supplies. The prices seem high and the selection always seems a little sparse. They seem to have lots of stuff for birds and fish, and a good variety of birds, fish, and lizard-type pets. If I were in the market for those things, I might have a different perception of their level of service and product variety.

This is a great pet shop, not only for actual pets, but for your current pet's needs as well. They have a huge variety of dog food, cat food, toys for all of your animals, along with grooming supplies and sundry other pet supplies. They also have supplies for every kind of other pet under the sun. However, they are not just a pet shop. They have what pretty much amounts to an aquarium in the back of the store, and they sell freshwater fish, tropical fish, saltwater fish, basically everything. And yes, that includes axolotls and sea anemones, piranhas, and gold fish. Running through the right side of the store, separating the dog and cat supplies from the birds and bird supplies is a river with a bridge; in the river reside koi fish. There is also a super awesome reptile and small animal section, and there are even some tarantulas and goliath bird eating spiders. So definitely don't miss that. I could go on forever about their wide selection, but I really think that everyone should take an afternoon to check out for themselves. And if you end up falling in love with a particular bird/reptile/marine life/small animal, or if you just have questions about your pets in general, do not ever hesitate to ask an associate for advice/help/literally anything pet-related. This includes (but is not limited to) recommendations for your dog/cat's diet, what kind of chew toys your rabbit/guinea pig should have, or the kind of insect your particular species of spider should be eating for optimum nutrients.

Fish are way more expensive compare to other local store. I found some Neon Tetra and Zebra danio were more than 50% cheaper at other local store. Never buy fish here. Everything was expensive too. The only plus was they have a huge variety of option to choose from. WOULD NOT RECOMMEND.

They are AMAZING here! So knowledgeable and will tell you things as they are. I walked in there asking questions after doing confusing research and they made things seem so easy. I was totally overthinking my future fish tank. Will always come here for animals and information. Also, they don't mess around with quality!

This place is absolutely amazing. We passed through Memorial Day weekend after visiting in town. The family was intrigued especially the kids - just by the exterior front, alone. With its colorful festive mural wall entrance accented with a full out waterfall and pond, it's hard to miss! We found EVERY kind of fish inside and plenty of birds too. We poked around until we saw the koi fish but we also enthralled by the saltwater life forms including the living plants. A real life indoor pond landscaped as though it were an outdoor version runs through the east side of the building with loads of big beautiful fish running through the pond & a little waterfall too. We were very tempted to take Home a bag of fish for our modest pond but after a lengthy conversation were advised by a knowledgeable store "trainer" (aka employee) that we should wait until our little pond back home was done with early season cleaning and leak plugs. We were pointed in the direction of & purchased the barley straw to help keep our pond clean. Nice addition to the otherwise lackluster Lansing area!

I drive 81 miles to get to Preuss Pets and it seems I have to go 3 times a month at least. I only wish I would have found it many years ago. The first time I walked into this store I couldnt get the smile off my face. This is the fish store I have always wanted from the time I was a little boy. I am going again in the morning, its been 6 days and I must go get my fix

I went in primarily for saltwater stuff, but it looks like they have allot of bird and fresh water stuff. The prices are a little high, but they have a large selection and the quality seems to be good. If your looking for something specific they can order it. They also have octopus tanks. If your a saltwater fanatic like me, you have to check it out.

Staff is vary helpful have gotten fish and supplies and birds supplies the kids love looking at all the different animals

I was trying to find something fun and free to do with my kiddos while in Lansing. This store did not disappoint. In fact it makes me want to own fish so I have more of a reason to make the hour long trip. The kids had a blast. Their selection here is way beyond anything I've ever seen before. Preuss you did not disappoint.

This is like the ultimate in pet store fun! A little river actually runs through the store and it features the most enormous koi/catfish I've ever seen in my life. For a $1 donation you can feed them! It was absolutely amazing to see my son feed the fish. Their selection of freshwater/marine fish doesn't seem beatable and it's worth noting that their tanks were pristine. The best part were the employees. Prior to coming, I saw a few YouTube videos and noted that the owner opened the door for us. That honestly felt like a special touch. Then, while drooling at the healthy, gorgeous fish, Jess asked me if I needed any help. There was no hard selling, no you need this and this and that, she actually had me leave the store nearly empty handed because she agreed that my fish tank still needed more time to cycle. She told me about what fish I should start thinking about, she was absolutely phenomenal, I can't say it enough, I told the cashier who was also really nice that I found a soul sister, lol. It's rare to find such an awesomely sustained privately owned store with obvious pride in ownership. They obviously go above and beyond finding knowledgeable employees, and the quality of their fish was unmistakable. I can't wait until my tank is cycled!!!!

Preuss used to be one of my favorite pet stores. Their non-standard pet selections is one of the best in the area. My problem is that their fish/aquarium staff is often rude. I have never had a problem with the staff that works in the other areas. They have been very helpful with all my exotics or pocket pets. The first problem I had is I wanted to purchase plant life and fish for a small aquarium that I had. It was a busy day and I dutifully joined the queue of people waiting to be helped. I waited about 25 minutes for the person to get free, when he decided that a new person who just walked into the store (obviously wealthy) was more important than the line. He didn't ask us to wait a moment while he found someone else to help us he just left to help this other person. I understand that you need to keep your best customers happy but spending the 10 minutes to grab someone else to help the line that has been waiting for you for quite a while is good business also. Everyone in my line then had to go get in the back of the other lines for employees and I ended up having to wait another 30 minutes to get helped. Then I went there when they were having one of their awesome large tank sales. I thought it would be a great time to upgrade my little tank to a big one and a great price. The sales person went to grab the tank and it was so heavy she needed to get another girl to help. When she got it out it the heaviness was because they had stored all the tank tops to all their other tanks inside of this one. I was a little worried about buying the tank after that, but they assured me it would be ok. I took the tank home and filled it up. About 2 days later the tank leaked ALL of the water onto my carpets. I had to take the day off work and shampoo my carpets to get everything clean. The tank was warrantied and I had the receipt so I took it back to exchange for a new one (within 2 days of purchase). It wasn't a huge deal. I hadn't added fish yet and I was able to save all the plants, but it was a bit of an inconvenience. The guy working the aquarium portion of the store was a jerk! He told me that the reason it leaked was because we didn't buy our aquarium stand from them. We used one that I already had that was designed for that size tank. He said their aquarium stands were completely different then everyone else's and of course our tank leaked. They wouldn't replace it since it was our fault for not purchasing one of their stands. I pulled the tag that came with the tank that stated that if any weight was stored in the tank that it would leak. Explained that they were the ones that had stored over 80lbs of tank tops inside of it and it was much more likely that this was the reason it leaked. Especially since the manufacturer documentation states nothing should be stored in it. The manufacturer documentation also made no mention that the tank requires anything but a normal tank stand. We argued for a while. He kept claiming it had nothing to do with how they stored it, but because we didn't buy a stand from him. It finally came down to me telling him I was leaving the tank. Either they were giving me a new one or I was calling my credit card and denying the purchase. When he realized I wasn't going to back down and no matter how he treated me I wasn't just going to leave they gave me the new tank. I haven't been back. I can't imagine I'm the only one who has had this problem. I wonder how many other people they bully. I also wonder how many people get conned into buying their stands. The new tank that never had weight stored in it worked just find in my NON-Preuss Exlusive :P stand. I'm very sad that this happened because they used to be one of my favorite stores. I now shop at Soldan's. While their staff is much friendlier, their exotic selections aren't nearly as large.

I just tried to call to find out whether the store had blood worms. I was transferred to the freshwater fish dept. The first person put me on hold for over 5 minutes and my call was disconnected. The second person put me on hold for 3 minutes and when I got the third person, I tried to explain that I had been on hold for 8 minutes. He cut me off, seeming disinterested and asked what I needed. This staff seems very apathetic. I have worked in customer service the past 8 years at the same job, so trust me, I know when customers are rude, it's hard to care about them and because I know how hateful some customers can be, I try hard to be polite. Obviously, this staff doesn't care about you either way. UPDATE: The manager messaged me and apologized profusely. I've never had that happen before. I will give them another chance.

Preuss' wouldn't sell my roommate a mantis over their concern for its safety. I love to laugh about it, but if a store is going to sell live creatures - it better care about them. This store has a huge selection of exotic animals and the staff members are very knowledgable. They will not hesitate to spend time with you here. If you want to make sure your pet is getting the best care possible, Preuss' is a great option.

Wow, Preuss. I've been coming here since I was a tiny child, back when they were located in Haslett. From elementary school through high school, I loved to stop in after school and pet the kitties and look at the fish - yeah, that was how i spent my free time. I'd been to their new store once before, but not in a long time. I stopped in with a bunch of people on Friday, including my boyfriend and his dad, who are both fish hobbyists/aficionados (a-fish-ionados?) We were all immediately impressed. The store sort of looks like....I don't know how to describe it....like an emporium. Like an amusement park of pet products. The layout is incredibly unique - you almost feel like you're outside, on an exploration. There are ponds of large fish with a small bridge running over it, an extensive fish department, and lots of creative decor. My boyfriend and his dad bought a fish, and spent 30 minutes talking to one of the staff members, who was a passionate fish owner and was incredibly helpful to them. My boyfriend says that all of the fish staff were knowledgeable, and they seem to have specialties (some know more about freshwater fish, some know more about saltwater fish). They quarantine all new fish meticulously, so you are less likely to take home a sick fish. We didn't see any dead fish in the tanks, and any quarantined tanks were clearly being closely monitored. They had a great selection of fish, a large number of tanks, and some lovely show tanks with great lighting. Their selection of products was excellent, in his opinion. I asked him to weigh in on this review since he's the fish expert, and we both agreed - 5 stars to Preuss. Come here for all your pet needs - please don't go to the chain pet stores! The staff here can't be beaten in terms of knowledge, eagerness, and their passion for the animals.

What a great locally owned business. I love going to Preuss and picking up the supplies for my different pets. They have all the different kinds of food I need for my pet rat, excellent fish equipment, and a knowledgeable staff. I do wish they kept their pocket pets in better tanks, preferably not tanks by actual small animal cages, but I understand they they don't. They seem to treat their animals well and try not to sell their pocket pets as feeders. This is a quality business that I will continue to patronize!

Awesome small animal department. Staff knows their stuff; we've bought several guinea pigs and now have a Preuss bunny. They know how to handle him when his nails get trimmed and treat him like a rock star when we board him (his favorite spa as Preuss doesn't board dogs). I can also attest that Preuss does get busy and doesn't spawn additional employees when this happens. I can also verify when I'm being helped the employee doesn't leave me halfway to assist another customer. Hope that helps clear up the negative reviews.

I've been a Preuss customer since before they moved to Old Town. My first purchase was a Beta in a bowl. That grew to three tanks, 20 fish, one cat and a need to visit at least once a week! The staff is so knowledgeable. If you haven't experienced Preuss you must go. You'll never go to a chain again. Also the Preusses walk the walk. They advocate cleaning up the Grand River and the CSO project which will result in less sewage in the river. They do educational programs with kids. This is a quality family-owned shop that deserves your come-look-see.

This place is full of animals! They don't do dogs, but they have almost everything else. Including: Fish, Frogs, Spiders, Reptiles, Birds, and Cats. In the past I have had many different animals, but right now fish are what I am focused on. Preuss has a large selection of both fresh and saltwater fish, and are one of the few pet stores out there which will special order basically anything you want. In return for their relatively high prices you can expect unique fish. Particularly, lots of angel fish (they have an in house breeder), rare plecos, rainbow fish, and a large selection of African cichlids. Their fish staff tend to be aggressive in their tank starting recommendations, and have a little more knowledge and a lot more passion than your typical Big Box store employee. Another key, they give discounts if you buy fish in large groups.

We've been to Preuss several times for fish, plants, etc. for our freshwater aquarium. The staff is very knowledgeable (the posters on many aquarium forums seem to agree) and helpful. They will NOT let you do a setup that is going to hurt your fish -- I remember awhile ago, someone wrote to the LSJ in a snit because Preuss wouldn't let sell them goldfish that they intended to keep in a bowl. I say, good for Preuss! The store itself is amazing to visit. There are tons of gorgeous aquariums, in addition to the fish that are actually for sale, and there's also a bird room, a stream with some massive koi, and lots more. We took our 17-month-old son on our last visit, and he loved everything! They don't sell puppies, which makes me happy, but I am a little disappointed to see kittens for sale. A friend used to work there, though, and assured me that they try to find the kittens good home, so I guess I can cope :)

Is it a pet store or a mini-zoo? This place goes beyond just being a store and is an experience in of itself. Don't expect any dogs for sale, and just a few token cats. The rest is a wide selection of birds (big and small), fish (regular and exotic), small furry critters from weasels to hamsters, snakes, turtles, spiders, lizards etc. You can easily spend a hour just walking around this place looking at everything and then feel compelled to buy "something" just as the cost of "admission". This store is an example of what happens when an owner goes all in with their passion, and the store has become a destination place for the community.

An impressive pet store. There's a waterfall outside, and a stream running through the building inside -- segregating the birds from the rest of the store. If you're into fish and birds, this is the store for you. Tons of bird cages, and some birds you can check out. I spent most of my time looking at the various fish. Tons of different kinds available, including single fish in plastic bags, and everything you'd need to house and take care of them. But given that C.'s folks have a cat -- Miss Kitty -- I concentrated on the cat toy aisle and walked away with a feather string rod and a catnip frog for the little tiger. She liked both. Meow.

I had a very good experience purchasing a snake from Preuss Pets. Staff took their time and made sure that I had everything I needed. Preuss Pets also does exhibits and demonstrations in the community, such as LCC's STEM fest, to educate children. Great place!