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Big Al's
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 10 am - 9 pm
Sat-Sun 10 am - 6 pm
8 reviews for Big Al's
8 reviews in English
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Review from Amanda F.
9/8/2011
If anything else I would go here just to waste an hour or more looking at all the fish they have. I don't know a whole lot about aquariums, care, fish in general, etc but I think they have some really neat stuff here. Seems like this would be the place to go for commercial display aquariums (like the ones they have at WEM). Their Horseshoe Crab gets me every time - I love that little guy! He is so neat and I could watch him for hours.
What brought me here in the first place was that I was looking for supplies for my turtle and I had heard about this place and decided to give it a try. They have a little bit for reptiles but it is limited. So not the best place to go for that but they do have a huge selection of aquarium accessories. I find their prices to be reasonable for the few things I have purchased there and, from the minimal interactions with the staff I have had, they seem knowledgeable and pleasant (the security guard standing outside the doors is a little awkward tho).
All in all I really like this place - it's like going to an aquarium display at a zoo - with no admission cost!! :) -
Review from Mike W.
1/31/2011
Big Als does have the best supply of aquarium items in Edmonton. They have just about everything you could need and the staff is always experienced and ready to help you out with your purchases and to answer any questions. I usually go there for my aquarium supplies as I know they will have everything.
The reason I give them only 4 stars is the outrageous prices they have on their fish. They charge by the size of the fish and not the quality of the fish. If you want starter young fry then Big Als is the place but anything larger or older is not worth buying from them. If you know what you are looking for, there are way better deals then buying at overpriced Big Als. Check out Kijiji and buy them from private sellers and you are way better off in your pocket book.Listed in: Aquariums, Fish & Pets
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Review from Liv V.
Edmonton, AB
6/17/2011
It's the "Age of Aquarium." Big Al's is my primary destination for tropical fish and aquarium supplies. I love the selection and the knowledgeable staff, though they are on the pricey side. I am impressed at the diversity of tropical, cold-fresh water and marine fishes available here. I've never seen unhealthy fishes here either, and I've shopped here a lot. Some of the fish I've purchased here (tiny ones - tetras) are over four years old. Good quality and selection.
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Review from Adam D.
7/11/2011
This place has so much hype, now I love animals so I was pumped to show up here. I love sharks, I'm been diving with them, well the sharks at Big Al's suck, the feeding frenzy not worth it. The selection of fish kinda sucks as well. Theres alot of staff there so no problem getting help. Also the aquarium accerssories are dirt cheap. Overall Big Als is a meh
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Review from Jack G.
Edmonton, AB
1/28/2010
Big Al's is a huge store dedicated to everything fish related.
When you walk in you will be thrown back by the lanes of aquariums. Unless you are a fish expert you probably won't know what half of them are. I don't really care for fish but when you see some that aren't your regular goldfish you actually begin to appreciate them a little bit. They sell many exotic fish here. They also have all the accessories you will need to keep your fish alive longer then 2 days. -
Review from Adam S.
7/21/2009
The Wal-Mart of fish stores. Very poor animal husbandry - lots of sick fish here. Staff is UNBEARABLY rude and are hit and miss with knowledge. I only come here if I am in desperate need of something that is unavailable anywhere else. If you love your fish shop else where for them. Also, everything is super over priced (which is saying a lot in the fish hobby world). The 2000 gallon shark tank that they brag about is woefully undersized and depressing to watch.
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Review from Maria F.
10/15/2009 3 photos
Big Al's was recommended to me by a former co-worker. She said that this store is unlike any other. She was right. The first time I came in, I felt like a tourist visiting an aquarium in a foreign exotic country. Rows and rows of tanks with beautiful fish and living plants! I am totally dense about the fish, and was unfamiliar with 90% of fish tanks' occupants at Big Al's. But that does not mean that I was unable to appreciate their beauty and variety. As far as I understand, Big Al's sells mostly salt water fish that are exotic, and that explains the high prices. I do have a fresh water fish tank at home with several guppies and one big fat goldfish as occupants, but when the time comes for me to change the aquarium, I will definitely make it a salt water one. Salt water fish are just so vibrant and amazing, and the plants are colourful!
For now, I shop for fish food, water filters and conditioners, and tank ornaments at Big Al's. Their selection is far better than at any other pet store. They also carry a large amount of fish tank stands which are expensive but you only buy them once, right? -
Review from Jennifer P.
Edmonton, AB
10/24/2008 1 photo
Big Al's has the biggest selection of fish and aquarium hardware. This is my first choice of place to go if I'm looking for stuff for my tanks. The prices for tanks, equipment, filters, stands and lights can't be beat. They also have the largest selection of fish but they are higher priced than at other stores. But you're paying for quality and how well the fish are taken care of. It's like the Wal-Mart of fish stores - in a good way. There's an awesome 2,000-gallon shark tank in the bank, a 600-gallon fresh water planted show tank and a huge salt-water full reef on display. There are at least five or ten employees there that are extremely knowledgeable about fish and aquarium hardware. The manager Michael knows more than anyone and is the president of the Aquarium Club in Edmonton.
