I ordered two Red-Tailed Red-Eye Puffers (Carinotetraodon irrubesco) from Monster Aquarium. What…read morearrived were two completely different fish--large, highly aggressive Pao puffers, apparently Pao abei and/or Pao cochinchinensis. These aren't species that could reasonably be confused in terms of size, temperament, or care requirements. This created an immediate problem. Irrubesco are small puffers that I had appropriate housing prepared for. The fish I received were roughly 3-4 inches long and belong to a group notorious for extreme aggression, requiring secure individual housing. I had to improvise emergency setups to keep them separated from each other and from my other fish while figuring out what they actually were. The most disappointing part was the response afterward--or lack of one. I contacted Monster Aquarium about the misidentification and sent photographs of the fish. I never received a response or any attempt to resolve the situation. Fortunately, a knowledgeable local aquarium store was willing to take both puffers, and they are now safely in experienced hands. But I had to solve a problem that never should have been mine in the first place. Fish identification matters, particularly with puffers. Sending someone a potentially extremely aggressive Pao in place of a small Carinotetraodon isn't just getting an order wrong; it can put the fish, the customer's existing livestock, and potentially the aquarist at risk. I understand that mistakes happen in the aquarium trade, especially with species that can be difficult to identify. What makes this a bad experience for me is that after a very consequential mistake, the seller simply did not respond.

Monster Aquarium is a great place for aquarium enthusiasts. They carry a huge variety of fish and…read moreeven have a small selection of amphibians. Honestly, if you're looking for a specific fish, there's a good chance you'll find it here. The prices are reasonable, the store is clean, and all of the tanks are well maintained. I've been a regular customer for a while, and this place never disappoints. The staff is knowledgeable, and it's clear they take good care of their animals. If you're into the fishkeeping hobby, I definitely recommend checking out Monster Aquarium. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced hobbyist, it's worth a visit

Had such a fun experience here today. I've been wanting to try setting up my first aquarium,…read moreknowing nothing more than having watched some basic YouTube videos. I visited today and everyone I encountered was so knowledgeable and kind in helping me out. Sadly didn't get anyone's name, but a younger gentleman and someone who seemed to be the owner/manager were both super helpful and knowledgeable about all my questions. I was especially impressed with the little area for playing around with the hardscape materials before buying. Maybe that's common, but I thought that was really cool. This will be my first stop when I start learning more and need some new equipment and fish!

I love this store! I've been coming here since I got into the hobby 4 years ago. The staff and…read moreowner are super friendly, very knowledgeable, and the store is kept clean. I've bought fish and supplies from here. I'm so glad they exist! They have tanks, snails, saltwater and freshwater fish as well as plants for your tank. One stop shop and much better than supporting the big box stores! Prices for fish and plants are pretty reasonable!

Was on a search to find the perfect fish spot! This met all my needs, with the friendly welcoming…read morewhen you walk in, to the clean and friendly fish! I definitely will be coming back.

Not all they're cracked up to be ... a lot of smoke and mirrors ...followed their instructions to a…read moret..and fish died after a week

Great choices and service, availability of merchandise corals and fish. Live rocks …read more Great choices and service, availability of merchandise corals and fish. Live rocks .

Horrible business ethics.... I came from far away to this store.. the website says open till 7.. I…read morecame and it's closed.. another customer posted a similar complaint.... really bad for business ethics.

This place is amazing all of the fish my dad has are from here I can here last Sunday and this…read moreSunday and probably next Sunday and the week after that but I got shrimps like anamo and red fire they survive and the best part is they breeded and now I have a colony of shrimp

I missed this place when they closed for months due to COVID safety but they're back and operating…read morefully. Sometimes there's a slight language barrier but they have some awesome fishes in here. They have mostly fresh water fishes and other needs. There's a lot of packaging going on every time, I think they must have some shipping services for fishes as well. Another spot with great prices and a great selection. Their rare fishes tend to sell out pretty quick, guess this is where the serious fish owners come.

DO NOT PURCHASE FISH HERE!…read more As an aquarium enthusiast, I went there to see if they had any different kinds of fish. Granted they have beautiful coral and saltwater plants, HOWEVER. I walked past tanks that had dead fish and dying fish and the live fish in the tanks were eating the dead fish. It was awful and I think that they should be called out for this. If they want to sell fish for the prices that they're charging, they better have clean tanks and at least have healthy fish. This place was disgusting..

Best reef store in NYC area. Excellent frags and good selection of higher end corals…read more My only complaint is that my tank at home is too small and i can't buy everything. Excellent aquarium.

Been going to Beitals for years, every time I'm on my way I still get excited like I'm a little…read morekid, and I'm 64 years old I tell the owner Craig, you should charge admission to this place that's how cool it is... He's got everything and he knows everything about his trade which makes him so valuable to his customers. " just don't ask him stupid questions " I highly recommend a visit, you won't be disappointed

this place is absolutely amazing. I called with a question about snails and nothing else. Nothing…read morethat can make them money and they still went through the process and the time to explain to me how to do it properly. This is a great company and I highly recommend them.

Exotic and Aquatic is such a fantastic place. We had an amazing time there. They had snakes, so…read moremany different kinds of fish (at least ten varieties), and three parrots that could even talk, which was such a fun surprise. I absolutely loved it, and my daughter loved it even more. It was such an enjoyable experience for both kids and adults. The two owners were incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, and clearly passionate about the animals. You can tell they really care and love sharing what they know. Highly recommend visiting if you enjoy exotic pets or just want a unique and memorable experience.

Updating my review on how great people in this place are ... they answer questions and take the…read moretime to talk to you about whatever your concern might be . Bird, bunny , fish or even exotic snakes and lizards , I would definitely go there ... people are just so friendly, there is not one person who walks through that door that doesn't feel appreciated .. tanks are always clean , all the fish I got from them were healthy and are thriving in my tank .!! Definitely recommend .

It's a charming shop with very wise owner who knows everything about fish. He has lots of…read moredifferent kinds and is a charming man. This is the kind of shop where you get a vibe from the days when shops were run by Moms and Pops.

Now that Petland Discounts has closed down and is out of business, we need to help and support our…read moreindependent Mom and Pop pet stores that carry out our needs. Here is a small and a bit cramped but well stocked fish store in the middle of Henry street that doesn't have much foot traffic. Sam is the owner of this one man shop and I remember him as a kid when he had his store on Mulberry street decades ago. It's good to see that he's still in business and he told me that he will do it for as long as he can. This store has a good mixture of tropical fish and goldfish. Different sizes, breeds, types and colors available! The owner takes good care of this stock and the fishes are swimming lively in each tank. His prices are pretty reasonable as I've compared them to other places like Petco, Petland Discounts and other local independent pet stores in the neighborhood. He also sells turtles, crickets, beta fish and the famous Parrot fish from Hong Kong! Aqua Star also has a variety of water filters, air pumps, chemicals, medicines, accessories, rocks, coral pieces, gravel, tank decorations, fish bowls and different types of fish foods at the counter. When purchasing fish, Sam puts them in a double plastic bag and fills it with pure oxygen from a cylinder tank rather than just grabbing it and create a pocket of air like other fish stores do. Your newly purchased fish will last a while inside the bag until you get home! Please support your local independent businesses and visit often!

not a bad location has a parking lot there were no fish but they have a wide selection of frags &…read morecorals different sizes very nice corals & frags but very high on the pricey end compared to other local shops they do not provide tank maintenance services. if you got $$$$$ then this is the place to go!

Hello. These folks are the real deal. Top quality corals. Top quality customer service. Best…read moreprices. Best guarantee in the hobby. Active ownership. Everything exactly as advertised and pictured. Awesome weekly (most of the time anyway...) auctions. This is a local fish store with an international reach. Super knowledgeable staff. I cannot say enough good things about pieces of the ocean.