If only I could give Strictly Fish & Corals a million stars! Strictly isn't just "your local fish…read morestore". It's the kind of place that makes you genuinely grateful it's in your neighborhood. Aside from an AMAZING selection and incredibly fair prices, what really separates Strictly Fish are the employees. Luis, Anthony, Thomas, Yohan, Chris, Yobi, Juan, and the rest of the gang have created something incredibly special here in Miami, and the level of care they put into their customers, livestock, and store makes them deserving of recognition as Miami's premier aquarium store.
From the moment we got into the hobby, this team has been patient, thorough, honest, and unbelievably generous with their knowledge and time. Anyone who has ever had a reef tank knows how overwhelming this hobby can be when you're new. There are a million things to learn, and mistakes can be expensive (boy, have we made some mistakes along the way!). I can't quantify the number of questions we've asked these guys, and the level of attention, detail, and genuine concern they've provided is the kind of white glove customer service that is incredibly rare. They will always take as much time as necessary to explain what's happening and why, what our options are, and what they would personally recommend. They don't just tell you what to buy; they teach you how to be successful in the hobby. Whether we're asking a beginner question, trying to understand water parameters, choosing livestock, troubleshooting something in our tank, or dealing with an aquarium emergency, they take the time to help. You can tell they genuinely want our tank to succeed.
Their fish and coral selection is phenomenal. The quality, health and variety of their livestock consistently impress us, and you can see the amount of work that goes into maintaining their systems and caring for everything in the store. The corals are absolutely beautiful and hardy, the fish selection is outstanding, and the entire store reflects a team that genuinely cares about the animals they sell and the hobby they're representing. Their pricing is incredibly fair. That's something I appreciate because this can (and has!) become a very expensive hobby very quickly. We've never felt like the goal here was to sell us the most expensive option or convince us to buy something we didn't need. They're straightforward about what's worth spending money on, what isn't, and what actually makes sense for our tank. That kind of honesty builds tremendous trust. We've been to every fish store in Miami, and nothing compares to Strictly; I am addicted to this hobby like the rest of you ("Hi, I'm Bethany and I'm a coralholic"), and they have stopped me from wasting money on something that just won't work countless times, because they are HONEST people.
Their service doesn't end when you leave the store, either. We use their in home water change service with Anthony, and having a knowledgeable professional who knows our system and can help us maintain it properly has been truly invaluable. The same attention to detail you see in the store carries over into the service he provides in our home. Anthony is THEE BEST. He's also an incredible designer who did our rockwork, which resulted in an absolutely stunning display! Anthony is like Batman, always just one text away from saving the day. That dedication can't be beat.
My favorite thing about Strictly is that it has become more than a store to us. There are places that sell fish and corals, and then there are true local fish stores that become your community. It's a place where you build relationships with customers, learn the hobby, get honest advice, share the excitement when your tank is thriving, share condolences when it's not, and know there are knowledgeable people you can turn to when something goes wrong. We're incredibly lucky to have this team right here in Westchester. They have earned our trust and loyalty completely, and I genuinely cannot recommend them highly enough. A million stars. Our LFS for life!!!!!
