Presentation on Map Reviews Nearby

Sand Bar Pet Shop in Mission Viejo

4.6 (199) 25565 Jeronimo Rd, Mission Viejo, CA 92691, United States

Categories

Pet store
Reptile store
Tropical fish store

Location on the map

Mission Viejo, Orange County, California, US

Phone: +1 949-768-0422
Site: https://instagram.com/sandbarpet...

Opening hours

Monday:11 AM–7 PM
Tuesday:11 AM–7 PM
Wednesday:11 AM–7 PM
Thursday:11 AM–7 PM
Friday:11 AM–7 PM
Saturday:10 AM–6 PM
Sunday:10 AM–6 PM

Edit info

Total reviews rating 4.6

199 Reviews for Sand Bar Pet Shop 2024:

Review №1

2023-04-08 08:58:18

Editing my review to acknowledge the response from the owner. I’m very pleased that the owner took the concern seriously and took action to do what was right and in the best interest of the animals. Thank you for putting the animals first and responding well to public feedback.Dead tarantulas on display because “no body wants to take care of them” absolutely UNACCEPTABLE!! If you can’t take care of ALL animals in a pet store you shouldn’t be working at a pet store and if a pet store can’t employ reliable employees to take care of a particular type of animal and offer it the best life they can then the pet store should not be selling that type of pet. It certainly doesn’t make the pet store look “cool” it’s negligent regardless of what type of pet it is. DO NOT support a pet store that doesn’t operate with animals best interest at heart period

Review №2

2024-01-03 00:20:37

Used to be the best saltwater fish shop in the area along with their old location. Seems like they cut their store in half, and lost half their tanks. Besides their one coral tank, every other tank looked rough and had at least 1 dead fish in each tank, especially the freshwater. Will be buying from oceans tropical going forward, cheers

Review №3

2023-08-01 09:19:11

The associate who helped me was very friendly and helpful and helped me get what I needed. Extremely happy with my purchase and looking forward to future trips here.

Review №4

2023-01-30 02:09:39

Awesome place. Staff are so friendly and helpful. Came here for salt water, but really enjoyed all the beautiful reptiles.

Review №5

2021-10-01 03:30:54

Sandbar is such a GREAT little pet store with a really great and informed staff. Since starting my aquarium journey the staff has been so happy to walk me through steps and give me GREAT advice for unique fish.I was able to get my platinum senegal bicher (Shiro) and dinosaur bicher (Niflheim) for a BEYOND amazing price. Theyve grown so fast and get along so well! Just check Shiro out noshing on a worm!But dont let me just stop at fish! Their selection and resources for lizards, snakes and more makes this a one stop shop for those in the market for unique pets! If youre in the area, stop by! My wife and I stop by for EVERYTHING from frozen rat to fish, plants and more.Everyone is so kind and more than happy to help and inform. Thank you all to those who work at Sand Bar, I cant wait to stop by again!

Review №6

2020-10-25 01:18:45

Great local pet shop with a variety of small animals. Family owned and staffed by knowledgeable employees.

Review №7

2023-11-27 00:24:42

Best fish store around. I drive out from Tustin to get here. Great selection. Clean tanks. Healthy fish with tons of variety. Lots of plants available and plenty of customer service to go around.

Review №8

2023-10-19 00:52:23

Terrible business, they sell their animals to minors, the owner is a complete douche bag, and all of their animals r very overpriced. I bought a green tree frog for $70 and got told how to properly take care of it and it passed away 3 days later, I went back to get a refund, and the owner would not refund me the money for the frog or give me another one in exchange. I continued to ask if he would just give me store credit, then he repeatedly told me he would simply give me the money back but I would be banned from the store. They are also 20 dollars at Petco. Seriously ridiculous service, will not be buying from this store ever again. They do not have guarantee on their pets when you purchase them.

Review №9

2023-04-30 05:30:26

Had a great experience with the staff when I went! I went to the old location a few times and very impressed with the new upgrade! Got me some new fish and supplies for my tank and even gave me some advice on aquarium plants, which I suck at keeping alive. Husband went their to get me something and said he loved getting information about aquariums (even tried to tell me what to do in it lol) Love it and will be my go to pet store!

Review №10

2023-02-22 14:45:26

Very awesome place got questions hes got answers. They have a bunch of unique fish. highly recommend the place.

Review №11

2023-06-01 04:51:46

Purchased 4 Rummy Nosed Tetras for my stable tank on 5/21. (some fish as old as 3 years, most recent placement had been loaches four months prior from a different facility). Fish appeared healthy at placement for 2 days and ate. Now I have lost 12 out of 15 of my fish residents within a week starting with the new ones, all appearing sick (skin lesions, lethargy, off feed) before quickly dying. I hadnt seen anyone else post this kind of issue with this store, so I wanted to post in case others had similar losses. Water parameters in my tank were normal and checked before and after placement, 30 gallon tank with live plants.This facility has healthy plants and very clean, new, and well managed tanks, so I was very suprised and upset by my losses. It is always a risk with introductions, but I have had better luck with other stores.Seperately staff was difficult to find and took a while to come help when I was making this purchase, but were overall friendly and informed about their fish. I did not try to make a return.

Review №12

2023-07-10 00:12:36

I have loved this shop since I was a child. That was a VERY looooong time ago! 😆 Not sure if they still have the same ownership that they had in the late 1970s, but Ive never had anything but stellar care and help when I have shopped there. Clean, well cared for shop and some of the staff seems pretty knowledgeable. I adopted my very first kitten from Sand Bar in 1978ish. My mama and I couldnt decide which kitty we wanted most but we finally chose a lovely calico. She was our loyal friend and family member for 19 years!!! Miss you pretty girl, my Cleo. Thanks Sandbar pets!

Review №13

2023-01-29 20:32:41

Very nice selection of freshwater plants. Its too bad Ill shop elsewhere before coming back. The tall slender black haired guy was short answering any of my questions or just pointingReading some of the reviews here it seems that customer service is a problem with this guy. This was the second time Ive shopped at this store only to be treated like I was a problem interrupting what he was doing. Not friendly at all.

Review №14

2022-09-13 01:56:48

As much as I love the store and was highly recommended by the vet I take my bearded dragon to . It was a total disappointment with the poor customer service. I ask several questions in regards prices and tanks as well as recommendations for my bearded dragon both guys one gentleman younger than the guy with a beard were not helpful at all I felt like I was in a bank asking about reptiles of course at a bank I would assume they have no clue but I am in a reptile store I assume the people that work there at at certain level educated about reptiles. Maybe they are trying to look so cool working in an exotic pet shop but I will recommend them if they really want to be cool and awesome to grab some books watch some videos putting some effort to give a better customer service.

Review №15

2019-07-01 15:58:50

Very nice place, great quality fish! Will be back again soon! Here is what I recently picked up.

Review №16

2024-01-16 02:12:02

These guys really know their stuff. Definitely prefer shopping here over the big box store.

Review №17

2022-06-07 20:41:31

This place is awesome! The staff are very knowledgeable and helpful, and they have quite a beautiful Aquatic and reptile setup. I love bringing my daughter in here to look at the fish. I have been coming here for years and I have to say their prices are pretty great as well, so all around this is the best shop in town.Over 5 years later- this place is just the same as ever. Great customer service, knowledgeable employees and a healthy selection.

Review №18

2022-02-21 04:40:53

When I was a little girl my dad had a saltwater aquarium and I loved trips to Sand Bar to pick out a new fish. Years later, my son decided to get an aquarium and we went to a few “tropical fish” stores but ended up buying everything at Sand Bar. Andrew was so helpful, knowledgeable, and patient with my son. I’m also really happy to see they don’t have dogs for sale anymore. They really seem to have healthy animals and prices were similar or better than everywhere else we went. (My son is spending his own money and learning to budget!)

Review №19

2021-05-13 23:23:55

Best pet store in OC!! Also, if the owner is reading this, what happened to the store cat? I didnt see her this time 😪

Review №20

2019-05-22 21:26:47

My son and I had a wonderful time in this store. The staff was knowledgeable and friendly. We were looking to buy some freshwater fish, they had a nice selection of things you dont normally see. The salt water room was even more impressive, sporting all kinds of coral and a really decent selection of fish. Im not into reptiles but they have this box checked as well, very interesting crawlers of all sorts. You should definitely check this store out.

Review №21

2022-06-14 01:52:59

Its much bigger inside than it appears outside. I went in the zero knowledge. I only knew I wanted a fish tank. I had lot of questions and the employee was very helpful in explaining everything from what tank to get, which materials to use, which fish to get, and how to care for the tank. We had a great experience and will be coming back.

Review №22

2022-08-20 20:55:11

As much as we like this store, the employees could use some more customer service training. I just called to see if they had stock of roaches for our Leopard Gecko, he said yes and then hung up. Did not wait to see if I had any other questions or for me to say thank you. Customer service goes along way these days of the internet. Will think twice about recommending this store in the future until they have proven themselves a bit more.

Review №23

2023-08-05 01:43:49

Went into this store to pick up a couple of hopper mice. When I mentioned that these were going to be pets instead of feeders they refused me service. Granted this isnt a Petco or PetSmart that sells only pets this is a pet store that sells feeders what does it matter if they are pets or feeders you sell both. So because of semantics I was refused service. I WAS a regular customer not anymore.

Review №24

2020-10-10 15:35:27

We love coming to this store, even if we don’t need to buy anything we love to look. Lots of exciting reptiles and fish that are super well cared for. The staff are helpful and knowledgeable, it’s definitely a passion for everyone who works here. My husband dreams of building a pond and once we do this will be our go-to store for supplies, fish, water testing, and resource questions.

Review №25

2022-02-24 21:00:32

One of the best fish stores in South OC & Ive been to quite a few! They have a lot of knowledge, friendly & have an excellent selection of fish. They have reptiles, specialty frogs & chameleons too. They know a lot about the fish & care about you having a good experience with the fish you buy.

Review №26

2020-08-09 20:47:28

I bought a fish tank and when I got it home the filter did not work and the bottom base was leaking.I called them back and with no questions asked they returned it and gave me a full refund.I appreciated that and it was great customer service. They honor there products. I would highly recommend Sandbar pet shop, they know the business inside and out, their fish are quality and the customer service is excellent. A+

Review №27

2019-10-26 19:43:55

Small but super friendly staff and very clean cages/tanks for fish and reptiles. You can tell they know how to care for their animals.Lots of time was spent helping me set up my first ever salt water tank. Apparently they do some of the water testings for free. They do sell balanced fresh and salt water for fish for not too much.Beautiful selection of salt water fish and corals. They had baby chameleons when I was there and they are stupid cute.They do have a cat the that they let wander around. Very friendly but fair warning if you have allergies to take an antihistamine first.Highly recommend.

Review №28

2023-04-13 03:12:23

Not a lot to choose from, even though I think they are still pretty new. Nice place though.Edit to owner: I meant in the way of aquarium decor and the such. Not on your stock, sorry for the misinterpretation.

Review №29

2021-03-01 17:35:01

Sandbar Pet Shop is amazing! They have a variety of animals, better than the animals at stores like PetSmart & Petco. From freshwater fish to saltwater fish to snakes, frogs, lizards, anything, just amazing. They’re definitely worth the price they’re put at. Not too expensive. Everyone working there is super sweet, very helpful & professional. The place is super clean, the tanks always look brand new and well kept. I’ve been going there for about 2 years now and I’ve never had a bad experience. I love the atmosphere.

Review №30

2012-10-04 20:06:20

For a fish fanatic like myself its very hard to give any aquarium/ pet store a good review, but this one truly deserves it. They are always fully stocked with everything and anything you can possibly want and need for your tank (salt, fresh). The staff is always super friendly and super knowledgeable which is a very rare occasion in a pet store.Oh, if you want a saltwater fish/tank, look for the owner. He is THE man. I never buy a fish or anything without him.Even if Im not looking to buy anything, I pay a visit to just look around. It makes me feel like a kid again :) Thanks guys

Review №31

2021-05-01 20:49:57

We were recently given an adult bearded dragon and came here to get supplies and learn more about him. The staff here is extremely knowledgeable and friendly! Will definitely be coming back for more good, as well as a monitor or snake once I win that battle with the wifey! 😁😉

Review №32

2015-11-04 02:07:52

This is a family owned pet store with a great selection of fresh and salt water fish. They are very knowledgable about all animals, theyve given me great advice on my dog and my freshwater tank. The shop also has a selection of interesting reptiles and they usually have rabbits. I prefer going here to buy my fish and plants as they seem to be more healthy. The staff is always friendly.

Review №33

2023-02-14 05:50:07

If you dont like handling inverts, dont sell them. But dont let the animals starve and die of thirst just because no one wants to deal with them. You should hire staff who are willing to do whats needed to keep your animals healthy

Review №34

2023-02-15 05:35:17

They dont care about their invertibrates, specifically their tarantulas. They had a Theraphosa Blondi that requires 80%+ humidity in a bone dry tank, it was shriveled up and dead, left there. When confronted by my friend about it they said no one likes to taking care of them. Disgusting.

Review №35

2018-06-28 22:56:25

I love this place. They have so much to offer, such variety in a very space efficient store. All of the animals look very healthy, are in spotless living quarters and seem calm and content. Also, the service and atmosphere is always friendly, calm, and helpful. The room seems to always be a comfy 70F. In other words, they dont heat the whole room up just for the fish. I finally found a really nice L.F.S.

Review №36

2020-08-16 17:56:01

This staff was super friendly and knowledgeable. I went to the other tropical fish store close by in Mission Viejo at first. their store and set up looks very nice, but the staff was unfriendly and when i asked for help and let them know I am an amateur into the salt water game the guy at the front seemed annoyed. So I went to Sand Bar pet shop. As soon as I walked in I was greeted with a hello and smile. I walked around and when I was ready to ask for assistance Brendan popped up and asked if I had been helped. He spent a good 10 to 15 min talking to me and letting me know exactly what and what not to do for my aquarium, he was very nice and enjoyed taking the time show me the fish and coral. I let the boss know about his accepitional service, as soon as my tanks arrives I will be going back there to give them my business. A+++

Review №37

2022-01-30 20:43:04

Small but loved and cared for pet store. All animals are really healthy, the fish aquariums especially. Lots of nano fish for your aquascape. Considering that theres almost no good pet stores here in Southern California, this is a beautiful gem!

Review №38

2015-07-13 20:08:08

Staff were all very helpful and they actually knew what they were talking about it. One of the staff members looked up what we were asking him because he didnt want to give false information. THANK YOU. Also they were really considerate of the fact some people in my group have never held a lizard before so when it jumped off their shoulder they didnt get frustrated at all. The only thing even remotely bad about this store is the selection. I noticed it focused on mostly fish with a smaller section on reptiles. Their were only a few types of lizards with a lot of snakes and even a few empty cages. All in all though I have recommended this store and all of my friends love it. So THUMBS UP.

Review №39

2020-07-30 21:39:10

I wanna preface this by saying that my reason for the poor review has to do with this current pandemic. I understand that private businesses have the right to enforce their own rules, and thats fine.I walked into this cramped pet supplies store to find 3 gentlemen waiting in line, speaking to each other, and without masks. I went outside and waited patiently for the shop to empty before entering. Once I had the employees attention, I couldnt help but bring up the fact that those customers didnt have masks. He responded, Eh, we dont really care.This brings us back to the point of stores setting their own rules. Again, I have no issue with that concept, but I do think it is important to note that it is widely accepted by world renown researchers that masks do help prevent the potential spread.Here is where that relates to me:My mother, who I live with and was shopping for, has no spleen, and is immune compromised, and a 3 time cancer survivor. Bearing that in mind, and knowing what I do now about this stores stance on mask wearing, I will not be back here until the pandemic is gone, and probably not even after that. Im very surprised that such a small and cramped store can make sense of NOT requiring masks to be worn, when its been so widely accepted and implemented almost everywhere else.Staff was very polite, but that is least important to me, considering the above.

Review №40

2019-11-28 03:13:04

Sand Bar Pet Shop is AWESOME !! Owner Eric and his whole team is very helpful, knowledgeable and truly cares for their fish and reptiles well-being. The shop is very clean and the pets are well cared for. Team Sand Bar freely answers questions and gives accurate direction/advice. When my Boa Eve passed away I wasnt sure if I wanted to have another pet because the lost hurt so bad. 30 days later I simply went in to hold a snake, just to see what I felt; I connected immediately with a Bumblebee Ball Python. I decided to move forward with ownership again. Team Sand Bar maintained/boarded my Penelope Joy for three weeks as I had her terrarium custom built due to the specs. Thanks to Eric for helping me measure and think it through for longevity of the design and handling the construction vendor. Every day I would go to see Penelope Joy and hold her for appx 1 hr. Team Sand Bar never seamed put out with my visit, always accommodated my presence. Penelope Joy is home now and were so happy together, learning each other. She is everything Team Sand Bar said she would be. Thank you very much you guys, I so appreciate you !!, Lyn

Review №41

2022-03-21 07:34:02

Love this place! It has been here since my childhood. I bought my very first kitten here. Highly recommend you stop by. Fish, reptiles and more. All are healthy and amazing!

Review №42

2022-10-23 19:12:16

The Sand Bar Pet Shop is unique in that it has just a bit of everything; freshwater, live plants, some pond fish, saltwater, reptiles, some cats, decorations, food, and supplies for just about anything. They have an example of an incredibly effficient use of space in the store. Also, they have friendly, reliable, and knowledgeable service, and truly love all animals. I have found a great pet shop.

Review №43

2023-05-23 23:05:45

Friendly staff, I often come here for live feeder rats for my sons ball python. They also seem to be well stocked for other pet supplies.

Review №44

2022-11-21 04:57:46

Fish are always healthy and the folks here are very knowledgeable and patient with questions.

Review №45

2021-01-08 15:33:28

Love this place! Owners are great and the staff is always on point. If youre looking for a knowledgeable pet shop with a solid selection this is the place. They even have feeder mice which is rare nowadays. I woukd choose Sandbar over any bug corp store anyday. Keep it up guys!

Review №46

2018-08-11 19:28:44

Above average selection and decent prices on fish and coral. Just be aware that they offer absolutely nothing after you walk out the door. Not even partial store credit or even a small discount towards a replacement. Combine this with zero in-store quarantine and its just too risky. Ill be looking elsewhere for my next expensive fish or coral purchase.

Review №47

2017-06-06 18:39:26

My son and I have shopped there for more than 5 years. We’ve had nothing but experienced knowledgeable and friendly service. The store is kept very clean and the inhabitants well cared for. Their staff takes the time to explain issues that require some education and are happy to answer as many questions you can throw at them. Great place to shop, browse or educate yourself at.

Review №48

2022-10-15 22:16:13

The place came recommended by my cross-fit coach....Outstanding business, very cool vibe, no bs just will answer your questions and move on!...My Russian tortoise had a shell issue so I showed a pic and the rep cleared up any concerns I had.....Last of a dying breed of small businesses.!

Review №49

2018-05-27 20:53:59

Ive been coming here literally as long as Ive lived in mission Viejo (13 years), and they are the best pet shop around. Great selection of aquarium supplies and fish. I got my leopard gecko here for an amazing price for such an amazing Animal. Ive had her for a year and never had an issue, same with all the other things Ive pirpurcha.

Review №50

2016-02-01 03:23:18

They sold us an angle fish two days ago after testing the water saying it was fine. He was the first fish introduced to the tank and went to the bottom right corner and stayed there. He would not eat or move from that corner until today when he turned upside down and got stuck to the filter. I took him to the store with and sample of the water and now its our water that killed him. Our aquarium is 35 gal and we have only been operating under their instructions. They tested the water and told us how many fish (4ea and the other fish are fine) to introduce and said all would be fine. This fish was sick when we got him but they will not replace, refund or provide store credit. Careful of this place.

Review №51

2019-12-14 01:56:45

Been going to the Sandbar since I was a kid, the animals are healthy and well taken care of by the owner Eric and his wife. He is a true hobbyist with extensive experience working with animals. He’s very knowledgeable and able to answer questions from what food is great for your dog to how to successfully manage a saltwater tank.

Review №52

2019-12-25 01:35:31

I actually walk there everyday after school with my friends. I love the variety of reptiles and the quality of care. The reptiles there have always been up and alert when ever I go in there. You can tell that most of the animals are used to human interaction because as they don’t always do this they still sometime just fall asleep right in front of you. Now I am sure that the fish are also taken care of beautifully but I wouldn’t know because I only really know about reptiles. One other thing is they actually know the proper names for different morphs unlike “PetSmart” or “Petco” which call them “Fancy” as opposed to the actual morph names.

Review №53

2017-03-20 15:23:04

Great staff and the only place I trust to get fish. As a true hobbyist I can get RO/DI fresh water and salt water. Unlike chain pet stores theyll take the time to make sure you set up a tank the right way. Good supplies for reptiles, fish, cats and dogs.

Review №54

2019-08-14 21:21:19

The owner should be happy. The employees working there are very nice and friendly. They had just locked the door at 6:01pm the young guys working there were nice enough to in lock the door and my daughter and wife pick out our new fish. Thanks guys great customer service!!

Review №55

2022-02-20 19:56:10

Great pet shop.Nice fish selection with reptiles and other cool little creatures.I come here for all of my feeders.Store is clean and tidy, employees are friendly and helpful.

Review №56

2022-02-13 22:49:37

Such a wonderful place to get pets and pet goods. The staff are always so helpful and kind, feels like a hometown family store. Wouldnt go anywhere else but here!

Review №57

2019-07-04 07:13:53

Ive been coming in here for close to a decade. They have an amazing fresh and salt water fish selection, as well as reptiles. They also stock dubia roaches, which are next to impossible to find in stores. If you have reptiles or fish, along with dogs and cats, skip the chain stores and come here.I bought my leopard gecko here two years ago the day after tomorrow. She hasnt had as single health issue, and her fecal test came back clean. I also bought many fish which have all lived well over 2 years, which petco fish could never get to.

Review №58

2020-03-20 01:57:59

These guys are great! They always have bugs for my beardies and everything else I need. The owner and his staff are really great and my kids and I always say hello to their sweet little shop kitty. ♥️

Review №59

2018-04-17 19:22:11

Super Small pet shop mom and pop run seems to smells like Cali sipher inside always. Great reptile selection.. Try oceans tropical fish if you want to see more coral or Tongs and zoo pets if you just want to see much more

Review №60

2023-02-14 06:43:22

Shouldn’t be hiring people that don’t want to and or feel comfortable taking care of certain creatures and are just going to let them suffer and die. It’s disgusting. Do not support this business. They need to do better because this is just not it.

Review №61

2021-03-13 15:38:58

Long time local pet store. Fresh and salt water fish choices are incredible. Not your ordinary big box selection store. Reptiles too. Great staff.

Review №62

2020-08-04 07:26:25

I was in the shop today. I want to say, I understand it is hot so it is not always comfortable to wear a mask covering nose, but the young man who works there even did not properly wear a mask (did not cover his nose) when I paid him at the counter.Its almost face to face talk !! I hope they realize this pandemic issue for everyones sake. BTW, it is a really lovely shop !!

Review №63

2021-04-20 14:04:27

This shop is the best! If you are looking for healthy reptiles or fish, this is the place to go. Staff is very knowledgeable and low prices. It blows Oceans, petsmart, and petco away.

Review №64

2018-11-04 09:21:42

Came in looking for some new fish tank amenities and was surprised to find a very helping staff and a wide selection of great products. A very nice shop and be sure to talk to Mike. Man that guy knows his stuff when it comes to fish.

Review №65

2019-10-13 20:52:19

The staff is really helpful and friendly. Their aquariums are beautiful and well taken care of and their animals are all happy! Ill definitely be coming back.

Review №66

2021-06-07 17:04:20

Ive been coming here for 30 years, and their staff has always been knowledgeable and friendly. Their fish and water plants are excellent quality. Thanks for everything!

Review №67

2019-10-14 01:49:10

Very good fish store. Prices are a bit high, but the fish youre paying for are also high quality. Definitely worth a visit, but make sure to check prices with owner, as the wrong prices/fish may be written down.

Review №68

2019-10-27 23:12:38

Didn’t get his name. But younger curly guy helped me out today with picking a few fish and a circulation pump. Knows his stuff. Great store selection and organized. Recommend.

Review №69

2022-12-28 17:28:08

Amazing people and amazing reptiles I just bought a baby bearded dragon from them. I can tell they take amazing care of them.

Review №70

2018-06-16 21:09:32

All the guys there are always as helpful as possible. Hard to get in fish you specifically ask for as I have tried multiple times requesting a specific type of African cichlid but as I said all employees extremely friendly and do there best to be helpful and answer questions. Cant say enough about the young guys working there taking their time to try an help you out as best they can. Not the best fish selection either including African cichlids but that isnt uncommon. For Africans cant beat 7 Seas in San Pedro.

Review №71

2019-12-27 07:11:27

The store is small but Eric (sorry if I misspelled it) always runs a crew of knowledgeable folks. Ive been coming here for years and no matter how many workers Ive seen cycle through here theyve always been great at answering questions and thats in all aspects that this store encompass.

Review №72

2022-04-09 23:24:24

They probably think Im so weird ill come in to grab my dog food and just stare at all the cool reptiles while Im at it! Great store!

Review №73

2018-04-22 04:06:11

Look i have been to a lot of pet stores i mean A LOT. I called them and asked if they had live rats (i specified since most places only sell frozen and i wanted mine as a pet and since they have specialty animals i figured hey why not) he said yes so i was excited to get them and said “awesome how much are they” and asked a few other questions and he said that he “doesn’t RECCOMEND getting them as pets because all rats carry diseases” this is false. All rats do not carry diseases and that was a very ignorant thing to say but i told him no worries i have mice i know the risks i was still interested, i went in and spoke to the guy (obviously a different guy cause he didn’t seem worried about that he had no problem helping us) bought 3 and asked him, since he was holding them, if they were male or female and he said they’re usually all female. Awesome, get home, 2 males and a female, i would never take them back so we decided on getting another female and housing them separate. I went in today asked if they had Fish Mox (recommend by vets to treat upper respiratory infections in my rats since these heartless people keep them in BLACKED OUT TANKS which are extremely unhealthy for rats since they are prone to URI) he looked at me funny said he didn’t have it i said okay well then I’ll just get the other rat i need. He asked as a pet? I said yes. He said he would not sell me it if it was a pet because they are “diseased even though pet and feeder rats are from the same place” i said well i just bought 3 and he said “nope not doing it that’s disgusting” so not only is he turning down a sale, but calling me disgusting? Excuse me?! He said “if they bite someone that’s on me”, i disagree, if your going to have a pet you most likely have done research and would know rats don’t “all have diseases” and don’t just bite to bite. If it bites me that’s on me. It took every inch of my being not to go off, i asked him if someone else would if he wouldn’t he asked the guy who originally sold them to me if he sold rats as pets he said yes he said you’re not supposed to do that he said i know and you could tell that he did not think this was right. The guy scolded him told me no again and i told him how stupid it was and left. I have heard RAGING reviews about this place how they have all these cool animals but now i will NEVER RETURN HERE. The guy who said this to me was the one with long brown hair.

Review №74

2019-05-11 16:23:20

The store has everything from reptiles to aquatics fish freshwater fish dog and cat supplies people that work here are super friendly and they also know what they’re talking about when I have questions as one of my favorite pet stores for my fish tank in the area

Review №75

2022-02-12 05:00:35

We love going here, whether we find something for our freshwater aquarium or not. Friendly, knowledgeable staff is eager to assist.

Review №76

2017-12-09 17:39:23

One of the best pet stores ever! We got our lynx cat from here. She is absolutely priceless! The store is amazing! I love it! The staff is great too!

Review №77

2021-09-18 21:32:47

Great local shop. Will find all that is needed for saltwater. I get my water there and fish. Fish are healthy and they have a good variety.

Review №78

2022-02-19 20:23:40

I love the sandbar pet shop! I am a beardy mom. SBPS was recommended to me by a friend and I always have my questions answered and noticed the animals were well cared for.

Review №79

2023-02-14 03:34:03

Absolutely awful treatment of inverts from my visit. Dead and dieing inverts. Dont sell them if you dont like working with them. Simple as that.

Review №80

2016-11-07 00:52:20

Best pet store in Orange County. The staff is super helpful and knowledgeable. They truly care about your animals and giving the best service to care for them. Highly recommend Sand Bar Pet Store.

Review №81

2017-03-09 22:56:03

My underage daughter walked in there and bought a puppy and paid cash and said she didnt have ID (so they did ask and still sold her the puppy). Other pet stores have told me that they do not sell to under the age of 18. My daughter lied and she definitely paid the consequences. I called the store and talked to the owner and kindly explained the situation and asked if we could return the puppy. The owner was extremely rude and literally said to me, Its YOUR dog now! Fine...I ended up keeping the dog and I love him to death. However, the rudeness was uncalled for and I didnt feel that they followed professional practices by selling her the dog. My daughter definitely didnt look 18. One additional thing -- they claimed the puppy was a chiweenie. This dog doesnt even look CLOSE to that. He is clearly a terrier poodle type mix. So she paid $350 (at the time) for a dog where they couldnt even identify the breed and provided incorrect paperwork with it. Ill follow this up by saying this happened a long time ago and, hopefully, they have changed and are more professional.

Review №82

2024-01-04 02:47:09

Great prices, super clean store.

Review №83

2023-06-13 00:02:30

Always a great experience. Friendly and knowledgeable staff and always have what I’m looking for. A repeat customer for sure

Review №84

2017-09-26 01:53:01

We love this pet store! My husband finds all the fish supplies he needs and my kids love to visit the cat room. Cool reptiles too!

Review №85

2021-09-06 18:29:31

The owner is super friendly and helpful. When I had some issues with my fish not eating, his suggestions helped me get them healthy again!

Review №86

2020-08-11 23:06:47

Sandbar is a family owned pet store, it has amazing staff, clean tanks and a butt load of supplies I would pick this store over any other store in my area, I would recommend checking this place out if u haven’t, and purchasing something to help them out.:))

Review №87

2021-10-04 23:38:49

A great store for aquarists and reptile owners alike! I love coming here, and I find myself visiting way more often than planned

Review №88

2022-05-05 05:41:07

Everyone who works here is friendly and helpful. Great place for your fish and reptile needs.

Review №89

2022-07-13 18:36:36

Great service! Great animal selection. The creatures there are well taken care of and you can tell.

Review №90

2020-06-28 02:04:38

I love this pet shop! I always come here for my reptile needs! The staff is super nice and my ball python that I got from here is thriving!! Thank you!

Review №91

2017-12-22 21:52:08

Mission Viejo secret! Excellent reef and freshwater selection. Entire store is fully stocked and impeccable. Extremely knowledgeable and friendly staff

Review №92

2023-10-03 14:58:16

Love the place seems good great cricket and meal worm prices

Review №93

2020-04-05 19:45:07

The workers are knowledgeable and extremely helpful. I always find what I am looking for when I go in. The environment is welcoming and it’s the only pet store I like to shop at.

Review №94

2018-03-16 22:43:55

Nice little place. Seems to have some specialty items that other shops dont normaly carry. I prefer to spend my money at independant shops rTher than big chains if the prices arent too high. The clerk was knowlegeable and nice. All and all a good visit.

Review №95

2020-08-08 17:47:14

Nice little pet shop specializing in reptiles and salt water fish and coral. The staff is friendly and prices are reasonable.

Review №96

2019-03-15 06:00:20

Local, quaint pet shop. Been in town for as long as I can remember. Doesnt carry an overwhelming stock like the franchise stores but carries a good selection high quality foods and stuff. A little gem pet stop!

Review №97

2021-07-10 00:48:52

Theyre always nice here and have a great selection of fish and reptiles.

Review №98

2021-07-21 03:42:36

Very knowledgeable staff, always helpful and friendly. All the supplies I needed for my fish and reptiles.

Review №99

2022-10-22 20:14:51

Employees are always helpful and knowledgeable when I have questions about my fish tank.

Review №100

2017-09-07 19:43:04

This place is awesome! Everything you need in one spot!

Review №101

2021-10-27 01:07:14

Great selection and beautiful reptiles helpful and friendly staff and great prices on frozen mice cheaper then petco and petsmart

Review №102

2017-02-12 03:09:05

Its great to still have a locally owned pet shop in the area. The staff here is both helpful and knowledgeable and the prices are competitive. Best pet shop in the area

Review №103

2018-03-18 17:52:51

Best pet store around! If youre into exotics, these guys not only sell the products and animals but are a huge resource for information as well.

Review №104

2020-06-05 22:51:36

Unbelievable selection and top notch animal keeping. Super friendly, high quality. 10/10 would definitely shop again.

Review №105

2021-12-28 23:14:27

Good local independently owned pet store with plenty of fish, reptiles and all the acceasories.

Review №106

2019-10-13 18:59:49

Great source for all things tropical fish and reptile related. The guys are very knowledgeable and passionate about their inventory.

Review №107

2021-04-23 04:52:51

Ive been goin here for a long time now, and with my experience, theyve givin some great advice and they stay kept with lots of great products.

Review №108

2017-08-04 22:33:59

I used to shop here alot but apparently the owner now thinks he is too good for his customers. I never read the other reviews here before I wIsh I had would of stop shopping there long ago.VERY RUDE..

Review №109

2023-07-19 20:54:22

Great service & the healthiest saltwater fish and corals available

Review №110

2017-07-02 01:52:21

Best customer service in OC. Knowledgeable staff, if they dont know they research it and get back to you. Free water testing. Great prices.

Review №111

2018-09-20 18:34:16

Would only go here if your interested in salt water and fresh water fish. There selection of poetry supplies are limited and there prices are on the higher end.

Review №112

2017-11-01 21:23:08

The Sand bar is great! Come here a couple times a month and honestly never had a bad experience. The owner and super chill and friendly so is the staff.

Review №113

2019-05-18 16:24:52

Nice tanks and fish, but the youngs kides running the store just following everywhere made me feel uncomfortable, would have taken more fish from them just the no people skills push me away

Review №114

2018-12-18 02:06:32

Erik and the guys are the Best. Always friendly and helpful. Very fair prices, actually lower prices than the big stores.I visit every Sunday.

Review №115

2022-05-17 22:03:57

I loved the attention. They help a lot, very friendly and animals looks so well taken care

Review №116

2023-02-14 04:00:26

If I could rate 0 stars and still write this I would. The way they keep animals (specifically inverts) is horrific and borderline abuse! Shame on you for the neglect!!

Review №117

2017-01-31 00:30:01

Amazing people lots of selection lots of fish Ive never seen before and just the cutest cats and animals.

Review №118

2017-08-09 02:20:42

Purchased 2 salt water fish on sat on tuesday yellow peel died when I called the store the guy laughed after I mentioned iI woyld put it on socisl media would you do businesswith them

Review №119

2023-07-18 18:06:37

Friendly helpful employees, and a good selection of fresh and saltwater fish at reasonable prices.

Review №120

2018-09-24 17:34:09

Nice place, staff is very helpful and knowledgeable. Good selection of fish and coral.

Review №121

2022-05-05 02:24:39

I received lots of help from very knowledgeable people. Definitely my One stop shop.

Review №122

2019-03-05 04:42:56

A real pet store with lots of exotic reptiles and fish. The only place I could find a 6 plecothsemus in our area.

Review №123

2017-07-10 21:31:22

They had the fish we were looking for and the supplies we needed. The owner was welcoming and very helpful.

Review №124

2022-02-01 18:42:12

Large selection of reptiles reptiles that are babies very cute the staff is very helpful and be helpful and friendly

Review №125

2021-03-23 20:52:26

Support local business. Small pet shop and aquarium with pet supplies. Have aquarium plants, shrimps, snails, some fish, and betta.

Review №126

2021-04-17 03:00:06

There were very friendly and the shop was very clean the only problem I see they should of had more salt water tanks n fish

Review №127

2017-05-02 19:57:08

Ive had nothing but great help at Sandbar! The owner is very knowledgeable about reptiles and other exotic pets!!

Review №128

2021-08-19 05:53:05

Great place, awesome service, they know what theyre talking about and genuinely care about the animals.

Review №129

2024-03-13 19:23:39

Permanantly Closed. Sad

Review №130

2018-06-02 19:26:57

Bought 2 leopard geckos. Very helpful staff. Squirt the cat runs the store!

Review №131

2022-03-20 01:34:33

Great shop has alot of buetiful healthy fish.

Review №132

2018-08-22 01:29:41

Very well maintained, clean fish tanks, they really look like they care about thier business.

Review №133

2017-08-13 04:36:39

Pretty big selection of animals. Some unique stuff, some more common. Good selection of live aquatic plants

Review №134

2020-07-23 23:25:15

Great place for aquarium fish, coral and salt water fish. Owner is very knowledgeable and helpful.

Review №135

2020-05-31 04:05:51

Very friendly staff! Also there is a good variety of different animals and good prices.

Review №136

2018-06-30 06:40:33

This place is great! Freshwater and saltwater fish reptiles and more, staff are very friendly

Review №137

2017-04-14 03:21:43

Great service and excellent selection of fish and products, I would give it A 5 if store was bigger.

Review №138

2022-10-18 21:57:48

The guys are very nice and knowledgeable. Great experience every time.

Review №139

2017-03-17 16:43:22

Great pet shop with a lot of specialty animals and supplies, along with a huge collection of fish and reptiles.

Review №140

2020-12-16 18:55:02

Very nice staff, they always give me what I need for my pet in a timely manner.

Review №141

2020-09-22 18:32:10

I am so disappointed in this business the employees never have a mask on and neither do the customers. If y’all cared about the animals or the customers in your shop then masks would be mandatory.

Review №142

2020-11-06 02:30:33

Very good selection for reptiles, amphibians and fish, and courteous staff!

Review №143

2019-08-03 00:55:41

This is the only pet store that sells feeder rats for my snake. The staff is very helpful.

Review №144

2017-04-06 22:08:28

Very nice owners, great selection of pet supplies, good prices!

Review №145

2020-10-11 23:26:43

A little pricey but great selection of reptiles and fish

Review №146

2016-07-20 06:55:52

Amazing aquariums and beautiful fish! You can tell the owner really cares about his job

Review №147

2018-05-02 21:10:14

Great little shop. Customer service is always on point and usually very knowledgeable.

Review №148

2017-01-10 15:31:39

Small, but they have a good selection of designer clowns and some of the rarer corals.

Review №149

2018-06-25 21:46:16

Awesome independent pet store. Though small has a great selection of animals!

Review №150

2021-03-01 10:17:01

Great group of emploeys helpful informative greatt selection of salt water tank creatures

Review №151

2018-11-18 23:38:34

Love this store for salt water Coral and fish. Staff is the best.

Review №152

2022-09-05 05:47:40

Great selection with a knowledgeable and super cool staff.

Review №153

2018-02-16 06:12:55

Epic pet/saltwater fish/coral and customer service!!!! The saltwater fish and coral are top notch good prices.

Review №154

2017-08-30 16:29:55

Love this place great help costumer service is fantastic always have what Im looking for from my salt water need to my puppy food thanks guys for your help

Review №155

2022-11-28 08:49:05

Always a great little shop and new location is cool

Review №156

2016-11-05 15:37:08

Went here looking for a pet for my niece the employes were super rude honestly couldnt believe it.Im better off looking else where also the place is super small not worth the trip.

Review №157

2016-09-17 19:31:39

If I am not mistaken the oldest pet store in Mission Viejo. Small, very friendly and professional

Review №158

2021-02-26 00:49:44

Friendly knowledgeable staff. Always happy when I get here, and happier when Im done

Review №159

2017-11-02 22:40:35

Decent prices on tanks for reptiles. Friendly, helpful staff.

Review №160

2020-11-27 20:22:38

Great little community shop. I buy my snakes food here routinely.

Review №161

2019-02-14 20:21:32

Eric is your guy! Love him been going to him for years and the stock is amazing!

Review №162

2022-04-01 22:00:37

Most knowledgeable for fish for your aquarium in the county

Review №163

2022-03-16 03:32:43

I loved checking out all of the different type of reptiles.

Review №164

2021-04-26 17:33:23

There are so many wonderful things to see here! The people here are also very helpful and nice!

Review №165

2021-02-27 00:39:34

Great shop with a great variety of clean and healthy animals.

Review №166

2019-02-24 16:50:09

Great LFS carries everything you need for your ocean or lake friends.

Review №167

2020-03-15 20:21:26

Call before you get water. Two out of three times they’re out of fresh water.

Review №168

2020-11-09 02:09:52

Super cool salt aquariums and reptile pets.. amazing place

Review №169

2016-11-24 16:18:01

Friendly staff that know what theyre talking about. Honestly, I wonder go anywhere else for my animal needs.

Review №170

2018-01-14 13:54:31

Great fish store, well kept clean tanks,

Review №171

2019-12-02 02:14:56

Employees are very knowledgeable about reptiles and other exotic pets.

Review №172

2019-07-13 09:18:14

Really cool store, broad selection of animals, and great staff

Review №173

2017-12-22 18:28:49

I had an amazing experience especially when I got to hold one of the snakes and lizards

Review №174

2019-06-08 22:38:11

Staff is very knowledgeable and helpful. We have been customers for 6 years now.

Review №175

2022-06-12 19:17:22

Best mice on the menu for our pet snake.

Review №176

2019-09-01 21:03:36

Friendly knowledgeable staff, fair pricing and outstanding corals

Review №177

2016-09-15 15:49:55

For not being a fish-only store, their saltwater selection is pretty great.

Review №178

2019-09-10 02:20:00

Very knowledgeable about all types of animals specializing in fish

Review №179

2017-01-26 04:28:32

Great prices on crickets and critters. We will be coming back!!

Review №180

2023-02-14 04:48:32

Dying and dead animals in a case for sale.A shame.

Review №181

2017-02-21 01:12:47

Great store, friendly and helpful staff members.

Review №182

2021-07-23 03:27:29

Awesome pet shop for reptile lovers.

Review №183

2019-11-12 06:14:00

Good people, super knowledgeable staff, very helpful and friendly.

Review №184

2017-12-23 14:53:57

He is so nice he gave me a free frag and fish

Review №185

2020-12-03 00:35:40

Great place knowledgeable staff would highly recommend

Review №186

2018-10-14 23:34:12

Nice little place to buy coral reefs frag

Review №187

2018-01-29 20:57:41

Great staff. Very helpful, friendly and knowledgeable.

Review №188

2023-03-27 23:44:44

I love the atmosphere and the employees

Review №189

2019-05-03 16:18:05

These guys know fish and all the other animals they have

Review №190

2018-04-08 18:47:34

Eric and his staff are knowledgeable and always ready to help

Review №191

2019-05-08 07:55:22

Great prices for my geckos crickets

Review №192

2016-04-14 21:07:32

Terrible customer service, the owner is the most unpolite person I ever met.

Review №193

2019-11-02 18:14:11

They take the time to help you and answer all your questions

Review №194

2023-04-28 01:04:24

The man there is very RUDE.

Review №195

2018-02-11 03:34:56

Very knowledgeable and friendly, great prices.

Review №196

2018-02-16 21:44:46

I dont go anywhere else for my aquarium needs

Review №197

2020-07-11 14:56:21

Nice clean store, helpful staff.

Review №198

2019-06-11 20:55:12

Great selection and fair prices

Review №199

2022-02-16 05:12:28

These guys know their stuff!