How much does our hobby need local fish stores?

revhtree · May 13, 2026

How much does our hobby need local fish
stores?

I think it’s a tremendous amount for the longevity of the hobby. But that’s my opinion. What do you think?

MegabiteOG · May 13, 2026

Essential!

I'd say without them, this hobby/ lifestyle would absolutely shrink because of the reduction of new reefers. I would say that the number one reason on how people get into this hobby is by visiting an LFS (on purpose or by chance) and falling in love with they're display along with all the coral and fish. This is entirely a guess but I bet I'm pretty right.

Good topic!

AlyciaMarie · May 13, 2026

Although I think the hobby could manage to get by for a while, I think its popularity would diminish over time and probably disappear altogether. Not to mention, it would exclude a whole group of reefers who neither shop online nor trust online shopping.

BriDroid · May 13, 2026

I think in the old days it was very important. Now that we have online and local people selling corals and fish, I don't shop at the LFS as much.

Hunna’s Stunnas · May 13, 2026

The biggest problem with most LFS’s in my area, is that they are all absurdly overpriced. I worked at one of them and know how much they mark things up. It’s honestly criminal. If they weren’t so greedy I’d try and support them more often with my limited income. I’ve given up on buying coral from any unless I won a gift card to one of them from a club meeting. The hobbyists here have a better and healthier collection for a fraction of the cost. A few LFS are still reasonable with their fish/CuC pricing, and carry some of the better food products and pods/phyto so that’s what I stop by for.

JumboShrimp · May 13, 2026

I answered "essential", 'not' because a person couldn't survive by going the online-route alone (everything from tank, to fish, sand/rocks, even water!), but I just have this lingering feeling that when you need an LFS, you need an LFS. Maybe I'm wrong.

maroun.c · May 13, 2026

LFS add a unique flavour to the hobby. Before Internet and social media was this active they were the basis for reefing and good lfs not only offered equipment and livestock but also coaching and guidance to new reefers. As old hobbyist we had great time at the shops where we used to hangout every friday evening and most of Saturday. Everyweek that would endup in a 10-15 reefers meet up and we would follow it up with tank tours and hanging out around tanks and talking reefs. That somehow fed the addiction and kept us excited about the hobby.
Online orders are of course easy and exciting yet nothing beats a shipment arrival in a LFS and a group of reefers helping open up the boxes :)

landlubber · May 13, 2026

truthfully if my LFS closed i'd shut my tank down and move back over to freshwater as i'm just not interested in having to order every little thing.

mmorrison55 · May 13, 2026

Those of us already with a tank would be ok without the LFS, but I prefer to buy locally if I can.

Where I think it would really hurt is with new people coming into the hobby. I would wager that 1/2 the number of new people wouldn’t start a tank if they didn’t have a LFS that they had visited 1st.

MegabiteOG · May 13, 2026

maroun.c said:
LFS add a unique flavour to the hobby. Before Internet and social media was this active they were the basis for reefing and good lfs not only offered equipment and livestock but also coaching and guidance to new reefers. As old hobbyist we had great time at the shops where we used to hangout every friday evening and most of Saturday. Everyweek that would endup in a 10-15 reefers meet up and we would follow it up with tank tours and hanging out around tanks and talking reefs. That somehow fed the addiction and kept us excited about the hobby.
Online orders are of course easy and exciting yet nothing beats a shipment arrival in a LFS and a group of reefers helping open up the boxes :)

I use to do that (opening boxes of new arrivals) at my LFS when I lived in Orlando. That was some EXCITING times for anyone that's a reef nerd like me.

hart24601 · May 13, 2026

Man of us in rural areas have never really had a LFS, and some even larger cities the LFS around here are terrible, so pretty much for the past 20 years I have not had a LFS and I don't see them as being important. There are some decent FW shops that I used in the past. It was much harder in the early days of the internet with no LFS. Now I don't see them being needed.

iParadoxus · May 13, 2026

Somewhat Important.
As others have said, I think local fish stores play a significant role in getting people into the hobby. Personally, I love dropping by fish stores and just window shopping. Even in dealer tanks, watching fish swim around stimulates my imagination and helps sustain my passion for fishkeeping. Also a plus is that you can visually verify - at least to the best of your ability - the health of fish/coral, which can be worth a higher price than ordering online (and also not having to pay shipping!!)
However, in my experience, a big downside is that an LFS that has the magic combo of knowledgeable employees and reasonable prices for quality livestock is fairly rare.

BryanM · May 13, 2026

Maybe not a popular opinion, but I said none.

I have bought very little from LFSes, and the information I've received has mostly been rubbish at best.

If one has a GOOD LFS with knowledgable staff, right on, you're winning. But do we need them, absolutely not... and I would argue a large number of people on this site don't have access to one within a 2 hour drive of their house.

smitten with ocean life · May 13, 2026

i voted essential. unfortunately the one close to me doesnt have much to offer. but when you are in a pinch and need something now ive been so grateful for them. i try my best to give them my business when i can

Freenow54 · May 13, 2026

revhtree said:
How much does our hobby need local fish
stores?

I think it’s a tremendous amount for the longevity of the hobby. But that’s my opinion. What do you think?

Its especially valuable so that young children and parents can see things live not like finding Nemo . Also to get hopefully straight answers from knowledgeable staff. See the equipment with their own eyes and find out what they really need. Especially now with Nano Tanks

Freenow54 · May 13, 2026

Myself I have a very good repour with mine . Straight up guys

Double monti 61 · May 13, 2026

One thing I do know I can see what size coral I can fit in my system and how large it really is and I have paid much less for coral from not so local lfs and a couple local shops.

FernBluffReef · May 13, 2026

Essential. If not for my LFS’s, I would not have a reef. I come old days, remote where I had to fly everything in vs having LFS as available. I can now get supplies when I need them adhoc, I can see things I may not have been willing to blindly order and I can trade. I’ve not paid my LFS for critters over a year as I have way too much livestock credits and I have local reps I can chat with

Nor'easter Reefer · May 13, 2026

I don't really have a good LFS near me, but I do have a couple. I can get fish but coral is basically online or other local hobbyists. Where there aren't a lot of hobbyists near me, noisy all of my corals have come from online besides a chunk from Cultivated Reef whom I have been able to go to in person a few times.

Back story aside, I think maine is a prime example of what it's like with no good LFS around. There's a few of us reefers around but we are few and far in between.