Tampa Bay Cichlids, Riverview FL

His smallest size range is 1.25" to 2", but these fish are less than an inch long. Also, I paid extra for males and these are too tiny to vent. He's lost me as a customer.

Guaranteed males are not a guarantee. I placed my original order on 3/6/22. I ordered a Pundamilia nyererei Juma Island, Victorian, African Cichlid guaranteed female which I did receive. She was tiny (much less than 1.25 in.) but healthy.

However, I also ordered German Red Peacock, Aulonocara African Cichlid
1.25-2.0 inch Guaranteed Male. He ended up being a very tiny female. I contacted Tampa Bay about a month and a half later and also sent pictures. David responded by saying it was a female and I was shipped another "guaranteed male". This fish was also a female.

I emailed several more times over the course of a year, including photos. The last email I sent was in July of 2023 asking if they had any GermanRed males showing color. At that time I was told they did not, but he thought he did have a Eureka showing color. Iwas led to believe I would receiving a male with some color. The fish was never shipped.

In an effort to be fair I have waited to make sure both fish were actually females before posting. But I want buyers to know that guaranteed males, from this establishment, may not be males. This does not seem to bother Tampa Bay nor do they seem inclined to correct the issue.

I am leaving a 2 star rating because all 3 females arrived healthy and are thriving.

So I heard the rumors. But they had some fish I been looking for. So I got 6 guaranteed females. A couple ended up being males. People mainly complained of small fish. But they do tell you they are on the smaller side because the stock goes fast. The fish received were of great quality. Colored up nicely and no issues. So I emailed them about the males. He immediately sent me replacements. Like in days and free of charge. I would say the customer service is excellent. I will be ordering from them again. They keep hard to find fish in stock and the price is right.
Thanks again tampa bay cichlids

Ordered two female Melanochromis johannii cichlids for my male and he couldn't be anymore excited! The girls are very beautiful and took to their environment very well as they now have a protector! Thank yall for such beauties!

I had the same negative experience with Tampa Bay Cichlids that several other customers have described in their reviews: The owner David Estes did not honor his guarantee. I ordered a pair (1 male, 1 female) of Labidochromis chismulae, but received two females. I sent David photos and requested a male. He made no attempt to remedy the situation beyond indicating that both fish looked like males, which is absurd given that clown labs are highly dimorphic. (The photo on the left shows the two clown labs David sold me. The photo on the right is a male clown lab that I purchased from a different seller; the markings on the male are unmistakable.) Further, David communicated as though he was put out doing me a favor, and seemed completely indifferent to customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Tampa Bay cichlids has some of the best selection of fish available. They provided prompt service with very well packaged fish, and have great customer service. Don’t hesitate to purchase from these guys.

David does not honor his male guarantee. Also 80% of his fish died within 6 months. Never again.

We have 6 aquariums and decided to start a 75 gallon cichlid tank. We order 8 cichlids and one was dead. David quickly replaced it and all 8 are now thriving. Great company with good prices and quick shipping. Will DEFINITELY order more!

Tampa Bay Cichlids is the best online source I know of. A broad selection of quality fish. And when you reach out to them you are dealing with the owner.

David is knowledgeable, responsive, and efficient. I can’t imagine doing business with any other dealer!

This was my first time ordering from Tampa Bay Cichlids. I placed an order for 8 fish - the website was easy to navigate, the prices were fair, the pictures accurately reflected what came in the mail (although, the flowerhorns were larger and more colorful in person!). I spent over $125 so free 1-3 day shipping was included, I placed my order late on Sunday, quickly received my order confirmation and the package was shipped the next day. I received the package on Wednesday morning (in North Carolina). My family brought the package inside out of the weather and I got home from work around 7pm and found the fish to be professionally packaged in an insulated foam box, inside a bag with insulation, and then each fish was bagged separately and labeled. Instructions were provided and stickers! All of the fish appeared to be happy and healthy (the red devil was pretty sluggish, but he's coming back around) and I really appreciated the labeling - I've ordered from several online vendors and I am an enthusiast and hobbyist, but far from a fish pro, so being able to identify the different kinds of fish so easily was super helpful. I was pleasantly surprised with the size of the flowerhorns I purchased - I have been waiting for a while to purchase them and they are going to work out perfectly for my setup. I did send a message through the website prior to my purchase and communication was quick and helpful, even on a Sunday! Overall, I had a great experience with Tampa Bay Cichlids and I'll definitely be purchasing from them again. Thanks, guys!

Ordered 5 fish guarantee male $27 each, came in very small bags and very small fish for the price. Be careful before ordering from this place, rip-off. I learned from mistakes so I hope everyone else not making same mistake as I did.attached a photo of the fish one month after received from Tampa cichlids.

Beautiful fish great service. I ordered 6 male fish from Tampa bay cichlids they all came in great health but after a couple months I thought that some might not be males I contacted them and David Estes was helpful to inform me that it might take some time with different fish to mature and get their color to contact them back after some time and they would be glad to replace them. Time passed I contacted David and he let me pick out a couple males to replace mine. Over all you just have to understand and be patient with fish.

I've made 2 orders with TBC now. In those 2 orders I've had a few that didn't make it but the owner in my opinion has gone above and beyond to make sure that I am happy. Even as far as to mailing replacements back to back days. I work in the service industry myself and it's hard to come by people that care like the owner of TBC.

I ordered 3 guaranteed male cichlid haps back in February of 2022. I ordered them at 1-2 inches since he had no other males for the fish that I wanted. Kept asking him when they would start showing color. He told me at about 5 inches and about a year. Well it's now 1 1/2 years and they are about 6 inches showing no male colors. Emailed him with the receipt and he says they could just be submissive males and they are not going to color. I brought them to my local reputable fish store and he vented them and said they are females. Told David at tampabaycichlids that and he gave me the run around. Not backing his guaranteed male logo one bit and gave me excuse after excuse. Not a good business man in my opinion.

Why put address online for people to make a trip to a old house with a sign saying not open to public. 1 hr out of the way waste of trip