As one of the largest pet retailers in the US, Petco is a go-to destination for many aquarium hobbyists looking to stock their freshwater or saltwater tanks. According to the 2021-2022 APPA National Pet Owners Survey, over 11 million US households keep freshwater fish, and nearly 3 million have saltwater aquariums.
The total pet fish population nationwide is estimated at nearly 118 million individuals. With over 1,500 retail locations, Petco captures a significant portion of the $4.5+ billion aquarium industry market.
But as any frequent Petco shopper knows, the availability and variety of live fish, plants, and coral can vary quite a bit from store to store and week to week. If you‘ve ever gone in to pick up a new scaly friend only to find barren tanks, you may be wondering: when exactly does Petco restock its aquatic life?
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll dive into the details of Petco‘s fish department operations. From shipment schedules to supplier relationships to seasonal merchandising shifts, we‘ll cover everything you need to know to optimize your shopping experience as an aquarium hobbyist.
Whether you‘re planning a new tank setup or just want the best selection for your existing aquarium, read on for expert insights, insider tips, and a bit of geeky fish data.
Petco‘s Weekly Fish Restocking Schedule
Let‘s start with the question on every aquarist‘s mind: when can you expect to find those tanks at your local Petco full of new fish? While there is some variability between locations, most stores follow a standard weekly restocking schedule.
The main livestock shipment typically arrives on Wednesday morning. This is when you‘ll see the widest variety hit the shelves, especially for freshwater species. Employees spend a few hours acclimating the new arrivals before adding them to displays.
According to a Reddit AMA with a former Petco aquatics specialist, "Fish are almost always added to the floor in the morning, before the store opens. This gives them time to adjust to the new tanks and for us to monitor for any DOAs or signs of illness."
For the best selection, plan your shopping trip for Wednesday afternoon or evening. However, many high-volume locations receive a second, smaller shipment on Friday or Saturday. It‘s also common for the most popular species that sell out quickly to be restocked in between shipments.
If you‘re after a specific fish, it‘s always a good idea to call your local store and ask about their next expected shipment. Petco.com also allows you to check stock at stores in your area, though the numbers aren‘t always updated in real time.
Freshwater Fish
Freshwater species make up the bulk of Petco‘s fish sales and are restocked most consistently. Most stores receive 50-100+ individual fish across 20-30 different species each week.
Staples like neon tetras, guppies, platies, mollies, and angelfish are almost always available. But if you‘re looking for a specific nano fish, exotic pleco, or other uncommon species, you may need to shop around or special order.
Some Petco locations are designated as "Aquatic Specialists" and tend to carry a wider variety of freshwater livestock. Use the store locator feature on Petco‘s website to find one in your area.
Saltwater Fish & Coral
Compared to freshwater, the saltwater selection at Petco tends to be more limited, especially for rarer species. Most stores stock a core lineup of beginner-friendly marine fish like clownfish, damselfish, and tangs.
However, saltwater livestock is much more delicate and expensive, so Petco usually doesn‘t keep large quantities on hand. It‘s not unusual for popular species to sell out between shipments.
Coral availability is even more unpredictable and inconsistent. Petco‘s selection is usually limited to just a handful of hardy soft coral frags and mushrooms. Since they don‘t tolerate shipping well, most stores only get coral once or twice a month.
If you‘re in the market for a specific saltwater fish or coral, ask your local store if you can pre-order ahead of their next shipment. You can also check online inventory at other locations in your area.
Live Aquarium Plants
To complement their fish selection, most Petco stores also carry a basic variety of hardy, beginner-friendly live aquarium plants. Common species include anubias, java fern, amazon sword, sagittaria, and vallisneria.
New plant shipments usually arrive once a week along with the fish order. However, the exact species and quantities can be inconsistent. If you‘re hoping to buy a specific plant for your aquascape, it‘s always best to call the store ahead of time.
Petco has also been expanding their tissue culture plant offerings both in-store and online. These snail and algae-free potted plants are a convenient choice for aquarium gardeners.
Factors That Affect Petco‘s Fish Stock
While most Petco stores aim to follow a standard restocking schedule, a number of variables can impact the exact fish quantity and variety at any given location. Understanding these behind-the-scenes factors can help you shop smarter as an aquarium hobbyist.
Supplier Relationships & Industry Conditions
Like most big-box pet stores, Petco sources freshwater fish and invertebrates from various large-scale breeders, farms, importers, and wholesalers around the world. For saltwater livestock, they work primarily with collectors in the south Pacific and Caribbean.
Maintaining a diverse and reliable supply chain is an ongoing challenge in a niche industry like ornamental fish. External variables like weather, government regulation, pollution, and disease can all impact wild fish populations with little notice.
Aquaculture is also at the mercy of the elements. Seasonal changes, power outages, and equipment failures can wipe out entire stocks of farmed fish. As a result, Petco‘s buyers have to constantly adapt and forecast their orders based on projected availability.
These shifting industry conditions get passed along to individual stores and can affect the fish you see on shelves. If Petco‘s suppliers are experiencing a shortage of panda corys, for example, you‘ll have a harder time finding them no matter which location you visit.
Consumer Demand & Trends
Like any retailer, Petco has to tailor its livestock selection to meet customer demand and maximize sales per square foot. They can‘t afford to devote tank space to fish that won‘t sell.
As a result, most Petco locations tend to play it safe and stock species that are widely popular among casual hobbyists and beginners. Bread-and-butter community fish like livebearers, tetras, and barbs are restocked religiously because they are proven sellers.
In contrast, expensive or sensitive species that are likely to die in store or shortly after purchase are usually avoided. Fish that are common in the hobby but sell slowly are also less of a priority.
Petco‘s animal care sheets and YouTube fish videos are a good window into which species the company‘s merchants are focused on. If you‘re after a more unusual fish, you‘ll likely have better luck at an independent local fish store that caters to your niche.
Seasonality & Holidays
Like the rest of the pet industry, the aquarium and fish hobby is highly seasonal with some predictable sales patterns. Historically, early spring and summer see a surge in tank setups and fish purchases as families look for fun indoor/outdoor activities.
The weeks leading up to Christmas and Hannukah are another busy period as shoppers look for unique gift ideas. Petco merchandise teams plan their fish assortments and in-store displays accordingly to capture these seasonal buyers.
During peak aquarium season, you may notice Petco expanding their livestock variety to include more eye-catching species as well as entry-level setups. Stores may sell out of fish faster in busy months, making restocking even more important.
Other seasonal shifts like the availability of wild-caught marine fish during monsoon season also impact the exact varieties you‘ll find in store at a given time. It‘s all part of the natural ebb and flow of livestock retail.
Store Layout and Space
There‘s a reason you won‘t find a Petco with dozens of massive display aquariums filled with rare fish. Big-box stores have to balance the needs of multiple departments and can only dedicate so much physical space to live animals.
Most Petco locations have a standard layout with a few rows of 20-40 gallon freshwater systems and a handful of smaller saltwater tanks. Space constraints directly limit the number of fish and invertebrates each store can physically receive and sell between restocking.
Understaffed locations may opt to further cut back on their fish footprint and assortment for quality of life reasons. Fish are some of the most labor-intensive animals sold at Petco in terms of maintenance, water changes, disease management, and customer education.
Smaller format stores in urban areas often have an especially lean fish section compared to suburban big-box locations. So if you‘re not finding the variety you want, it may be worth expanding your search radius.
Tips for Making the Most of Your Petco Fish Shopping Trip
With a better understanding of when and how Petco restocks fish, here are some practical tips to help you take advantage of their unique merchandising flow:
-
Take a proactive approach and call your local Petco on the Monday or Tuesday before their main livestock shipment. Ask what day the fish typically arrive and what new species they have coming in that week. Some stores may even allow you to reserve a specific fish ahead of time.
-
Check the "Location Details" section of your local Petco‘s webpage for specifics on what their fish department offers, including aquarium sizes, water parameters, and specialty items like live coral, inverts, or aquatic plants. A phone call to an aquatics staff member is even better.
-
If you‘re on the hunt for a fish, plant, or invert that Petco doesn‘t regularly stock, don‘t be shy about asking a manager if it‘s something they can special order. Most locations have the ability to request livestock from their suppliers that isn‘t part of their standard weekly planogram.
-
Always thoroughly examine fish for signs of disease or distress before making a purchase. Common red flags include white spots, missing scales, ragged fins, labored breathing, and listless swimming. Don‘t hesitate to ask an employee to net you a specific individual from the display tank.
-
Invest in a good quality quarantine tank to isolate and prophylactically treat your new fish before adding them to an established aquarium. Even seemingly healthy specimens can break with illness due to the stress of transport and new environments.
-
Take advantage of Petco‘s 30-day fish guarantee and save your receipts. If your new fish dies shortly after purchase due to a disease or undisclosed issue, Petco will refund you the purchase price or exchange the deceased fish. Some exclusions apply so check with your local store for details.
-
Vote with your wallet and let your local store leadership know what kind of fish you want to see more (or less) of. Passionate aquarists can have an impact on a location‘s ordering decisions. Developing a relationship with your store‘s aquatics team is the best way to get great insider info and personalizes service.
Final Thoughts
From feeder guppies to designer bettas, African cichlids to zoo plankton nano fish, there‘s a reason Petco is the first stop for many fishkeepers looking to stock a new aquarium. With a wide variety of entry-level and staple livestock available, they are a convenient resource that has helped spark countless aquarium addictions.
But navigating their weekly restocking schedule and behind-the-scenes logistics requires a bit of strategy and expert know-how. Calling ahead, shopping on the right days, and advocating for the species you want to see more of are the best ways to find that perfect specimen for your tank.
At the end of the day, nothing beats supporting your local independent fish store for the best personalized selection and service. But for the average casual hobbyist just looking for an affordable, healthy fish to spruce up their starter aquarium, Petco is a perfectly acceptable option.
With a little bit of planning and these insider tips in your back pocket, you‘ll be able to make the most of Petco‘s unique merchandising model and find the perfect additions to your freshwater or saltwater setup. Just don‘t blame us when you find yourself leaving with a few extra impulse purchases after seeing those beautiful fully stocked tanks!
