Monster Fish in San Diego — Arowana, Flowerhorn & Predatory Fish
You're not looking for a guppy. You want the fish that makes people stop and stare when they walk into the room. The one that eats like a predator, grows like a weed, and has more personality than half your friends.
Monster fish aren't for beginners. They need big tanks, serious filtration, and a keeper who understands what they signed up for. A silver Arowana can hit 3+ feet. A Flowerhorn will rearrange your tank's entire social structure. A peacock bass will eat anything that fits in its mouth. These are commitments, not impulse buys.
But if you're ready, Pet Zone is San Diego's go-to for monster fish. Our Mid-City location is the monster fish and koi specialty store, and we've been supplying serious fish keepers with the species they can't find at the chain stores for years.
What We Offer for Monster Fish Keepers
Arowanas:
- Silver Arowana (Osteoglossum bicirrhosum) — the classic. Fast-growing, surface-dwelling, can reach 3+ feet
- Black Arowana (Osteoglossum ferreirai) — rarer, darker, and sought after by collectors
- Albino Arowana — a striking variant that turns heads
- Jardini Arowana (Scleropages jardini) — Australian species, more compact but equally aggressive
- African Arowana (Heterotis niloticus) — rare in the hobby, related to Arapaima, can grow over 3 feet and 20+ pounds in the wild
Flowerhorns:
- SRD ZZ Flowerhorns — our signature line. Wine-red kok, pearled flanks, heavy pearling, big nuchal humps. We list individual fish so you can pick the exact one you want
- Kamfa and other specialty strains when available
- Flowerhorn fry for hobbyists who want to raise them up
Other Monster & Predatory Fish:
- Peacock bass (Cichla species)
- Datnoids (tiger fish)
- Bichirs — dinosaur-looking bottom dwellers that get big and live long
- Knifefish — black ghosts, clown knives, and other oddball species
- Large catfish — red tails, tiger shovelnose, and other predatory catfish
- Puffers — freshwater puffers with serious personality
- Oddball species — anything weird, rare, and predatory that comes through our network
Koi and Goldfish:
Our Mid-City location is also the koi specialty store. We carry koi and goldfish for both pond keepers and aquarium hobbyists.
Why Pet Zone Is the Best Choice for Monster Fish in San Diego
- We're San Diego's go-to for monster fish. Other stores carry community fish. We carry the fish that eat community fish.
- Mid-City is our monster fish specialty store. The livestock selection at 4266 University Ave is built around big, rare, and predatory species.
- We quarantine everything. Every fish that comes through our doors gets quarantined before it goes on the sale floor. A sick Arowana is a $300+ mistake. We don't let that happen.
- We ship monster fish nationwide. Arowanas, Flowerhorns, and select predatory fish are available online at PetZoneSD.com with overnight shipping and a Live Arrival Guarantee.
- Max on our team knows Flowerhorns. If you want to talk kok development, pearling patterns, or bloodlines, he's your guy.
- We hand-select every fish. We don't order blind. Every monster fish in our store was chosen because it's healthy, looks right, and meets our standards.
Both Locations — What's Available Where
Mid-City / University Ave (Monster Fish & Koi Specialty Store):
4266 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92105
(619) 283-1812
Mon closed | Tue–Fri 10:30am–6pm | Sat 11am–6pm | Sun 11am–4pm
This is the monster fish hub. Arowanas, Flowerhorns, peacock bass, bichirs, knifefish, predatory catfish, koi, and goldfish. If you're looking for something big, rare, or predatory, start here.
Convoy District / Kearny Mesa (Aquascape Specialty Store):
4160 Convoy St, San Diego, CA 92111
(858) 987-0309
Open 7 days a week, 10am–6pm
Convoy is the aquascaping store, but they carry monster fish too. The selection leans more toward aquascaping livestock (shrimp, nano fish, community fish) but you'll find Arowanas, Flowerhorns, and other specialty fish here as well.
Online Shipping
We ship select monster fish nationwide through PetZoneSD.com. Arowanas, Flowerhorns, and other predatory fish are shipped overnight via FedEx/UPS with our Live Arrival Guarantee. Shipping days are generally Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Saturday shipping is available by request with a weekend surcharge.
Important: USPS is available but does not qualify for our Live Arrival Guarantee. For live fish, always choose overnight. Someone needs to be available to receive the package — don't let a live Arowana sit on a porch in the sun.
DOA claims must be reported within 4 hours of delivery. Take clear photos of the fish in the unopened bag, email them to help@petzonesd.com with your order number, and we'll handle it from there.
FAQ
Q: How big of a tank do I need for an Arowana?
A: Silver Arowanas can reach 3+ feet, so you're looking at a minimum of 250 gallons for an adult. Juveniles can start in smaller tanks (50+ gallons) but you need to plan for the adult size. These are not fish you buy without thinking about the long-term setup.
Q: Can I keep a Flowerhorn with other fish?
A: Flowerhorns are aggressive. Some keepers manage them in community tanks, but it's risky. A solo Flowerhorn in a 75+ gallon tank is the safest bet. If you want tankmates, choose large, robust fish and have a backup plan.
Q: Do you ship Arowanas and Flowerhorns?
A: Yes. We ship select Arowanas and Flowerhorns nationwide with overnight shipping and a Live Arrival Guarantee. Check PetZoneSD.com for current listings. SRD ZZ Flowerhorns are typically listed individually with photos so you can see exactly what you're getting.
Q: What do you feed monster fish?
A: It depends on the species. Arowanas take pellets (if trained early), live/frozen foods, and feeder fish (with caution). Flowerhorns eat high-protein pellets designed for cichlids. Peacock bass and predatory catfish take live and frozen foods. Ask our staff — we'll point you to the right food and feeding strategy.
Q: What's the rarest monster fish you've carried?
A: African Arowanas (Heterotis niloticus) are among the rarer species we've stocked. They're related to Arapaima, grow over 3 feet, and are rarely seen in the hobby. Black Arowanas and albino variants also come through periodically. Availability changes, so follow our social media or check the website for new arrivals.
Looking for more? Check out our Flowerhorn specialty page freshwater fish store page shipping and Live Arrival Guarantee page.