Any LFS in the DC Area Worth Visiting?

[PugsAndFish]

I have 2 days in DC and am wondering if there are any LFS worth making a trip to. I don't have a car so the place would have to be accessible by public transporation, mainly the subway.

 

[Big G]

Bump

 

[puffy127]

What are you looking for?

Not many LFS options near metro stations.

Tropical Lagoon in Silver Spring is probably your best best - it is 1/2 mile walk from the Forest Glen metro station (Red Line). He has some coral frags and a decent selection of fish at good prices, but not sure it would be worth going to visit. He does have a decent selection of dry goods (but they are all behind the counter, so hard to see and access - you have to ask them for prices, etc.)

There's also Congressional Aquarium in Rockville. About 1/2 mile walk from the Twinbrook metro (Red line). Not many frags, fish are not so healthy, overpriced dry goods, and not worth the trip IMHO.

Alternatively, if you just want to look at reef tanks, there's a large reef tank in the National History museum (Federal Triangle/Smithsonian on the Orange Line) you can go look at for free.

Also there's a few reef tanks at the Smithsonian National Zoo's Coral Lab exhibit (in the Amazonia exhibit) (Cleveland Park/Woodley Park on the Red Line) you can go look at for free too. If going to the zoo, get off on Cleveland Park on the way there, then it will be a 1/2 mile walk (downhill). Then take the Woodley Park metro when leaving (1/2 mile walk downhill).

 

[puffy127]

@PugsAndFish Were you able to visit any of these places?

 

[VR28man]

I would say, in general, there are no LFS' worth visiting in and of themselves in metro range of DC. (I've never been to Tropical Lagoon) I also personally don't think either of the Smithsonian tanks are worth the visit in of themselves, though if you're in the zoo or museum they're definitely worth a stop.

The National Aquarium in Baltimore is nice, but they charge a $40 a ticket, which IMO is very steep. It's been about 10 years since I've gone; I don't remember it being stellar. (that being said, I'll visit again this summer. My recommendations of the ones I've been to: Osaka, Omaha, Berlin. San Diego is nice too). If one went out there by car, I'm told there are 1-2 good stores in between DC and there, but I don't go out to suburban MD a lot so I don't know which ones.

IME, the best LFS in the DC area is Blue Ribbon Koi. They are good LFS, but not worth the visit by themselves for visitors, IMO. BUT, they are like a 5 minute drive from Manassas Battlefield National Park.

Going further afield, SaltwaterAquarium.com is near Gettysburg, about 1.5 hours from DC. (and therefore next to said battle's national park - most of the big name US Civil War Battles, as well as a lot of smaller Civil War History, is within 3 hours drive of DC)

A drive through the Chesapeake Bay area from DC is also very nice and relaxing; about 2 hours from DC on the Eastern Shore of MD is @PacificEastAquaculture which I've had great experiences with, though I've never visited in person.

 

[ExoticAquaticsVa]

Not sure where you’re coming from, but I own AquaHaus in Springfield. We’re about a 5 minute walk from the Springfield stop.

I can get anything you need. I don’t stock a ton of dry goods but have some nice fish and some corals in stock, but building that selection up. I’m the new owner, First year

lmk if you’re in search of anything

-Adam