Big Al's Scarborough

Verified by N49

I went into Big Al’s the other day and spent over $500 on new turtle equipment. I even brought in all my old lights (which I’ve been using and replacing for over 10 years) and told the staff that I wanted replacements of those exact products. Everything seemed great at first, and I set up my tank as I’ve always done.

A few days later, my glass tank cracked, and pieces of glass actually fell into my turtle’s water. I’ve had this setup for over a decade without a single issue, so this was a huge shock to me. Thankfully, my turtle wasn’t hurt. After investigating, I found that the new heat lamp I purchased from Big Al’s caused the glass to overheat and break.

When I went back to the store to explain what happened, I brought photos and politely asked if they could help me out with an in-store credit or discount toward a new tank. I even told them that if they could help, I’d buy the new tank on the spot. While they were discussing it with the manager and boss, I actually found a gecko loose in the store, told a staff member, who caught it and put it back into his home… I literally saved one of their animals lives while waiting! (This Gecko is worth $150 … so I also saved them money)

In the end, after all that, they offered me a discount on a screen top that doesn’t even fit my tank or a smaller lightbulb (which would require me to buy another new fixture just to use it). After spending thousands of dollars there over the years and being a long-time customer, I walked out with nothing but a broken tank and a lot of disappointment.

They told me the lamp “shouldn’t have been placed on glass” but again, I’ve had the same setup for 10+ years with no issues. So why did it just break now?

I’m genuinely heartbroken and frustrated with how poorly this was handled. I really hope they treat the next loyal customer better than they treated me.

Got our 1st bunny from this location a week ago and we really appreciate that Jasmin made sure that we have all the essentials that we need before allowing us to take the bunny home. So Jasmin, if you pass by this review, please know that she is very well taken care of and is spoiled with lots of love and pets from us. The bunny was already litter trained since the day that we brought her home and is so confident that she can already free roam with supervision. Keep doing the work that you do and thank you for advocating for the animal’s well being.

It's been a long time since I've been to such a large pet store with an 80s vibe. There were fish, reptiles, rodents, birds, these places are rarer these days. I liked the fish section, but the rest is still lacking. There are clearly not enough staff to take care of all these little creatures. Overall the place is good, but a little dirty.

An amazing place for any starter or experience aquarist, likely had anything you need from fish tanks, filters, livestock and more... I was amazed by the diversity of fish they had, not to mention some fish very good quality in my opinion. Highly recommended, I would definitely come back and visit if I have any chances.

Visited Big Al’s in Scarborough recently, and I have to say—it’s an amazing place, especially if you have kids or love pets. The variety of fish tanks, reptiles, birds, and small animals is just incredible. Kids were so excited walking around, looking at the colourful aquariums and playful animals.

The staff were friendly and helpful, and the place was well-organized and clean. It’s more than just a pet store—it’s an experience! You can easily spend an hour or two just exploring. Whether you’re looking to buy a pet or just want to enjoy a fun day out with the family, this place is totally worth a visit.

Highly recommend for anyone who enjoys animals or wants to introduce their children to the world of pets in a safe, exciting way.