Online Fish Shopping vs In Store

[saltwaterfish.com]

I can remember starting my very first salt water aquariums and going to the local fish store to see and pick out my new additions. In fact, it was almost akin to "date night". I'd save a huge chunk of my paycheck and already have a "once a week", usually a Saturday planned specifically around going to the fish store.

Now, I've been to dozens and dozens of fish stores just to see the animals and honestly I learned a lot just seeing set ups, equipment, and what went with what... I've even gone into fish shops on more than one vacation with no intention of buying anything obviously, but it just became part of me, it was/is a true hobby, I enjoyed seeing the fish. I actually looked for aquarium shops drove there, and cruised the aisles like it was the event of the day.

Ok. Fast forward to now, 2026, many decades later I haven't set foot in a physical fish store in a very long time. I buy everything online. Obviously I get my stuff from https://www.saltwaterfish.com/ I've worked here for 15+ years, so I know what to expect, how it all works, etc etc.

I think a lot of us would shop in store assuming shops had a wide variety and great prices, mainly because you get to physically see the animals. After all that is why we have aquariums; to see and watch them forever! Sometimes though, the online prices are unbeatable, and have unmatched guarantees that in store shops just don't usually offer. Our online store for example has an 8 day live guarantee, and our prices and promotions are generally unbeatable.

This brings me to my final point. Our online stores are a visual purchase. We rely heavily on photos to convey the same excitement of picking out that new addition. We've recently launched upgraded and incredibly detailed photos of our fish, some showing variations of stages such as juvenile/changing/adult etc.

Please, if you haven't been to our online store in a while, check out our fish section. We are very proud of what we offer from the moment you access our store until years later when you tell your friends you've had that fish for 8 years and you got it from saltwaterfish.com

**I'd love to know if there are others like me that have had a life long appreciation for this hobby and probably had a start similar to mine perusing the in store shops but now have adapted to online shopping. How'd you get your start in the hobby?

Anyhow...Thank you for reading my story. Mary Reed - Director of Customer Service @ saltwaterfish.com

 

[Tahoe61]

Enjoyed your story Mary.

While growing up in a isolated location such as Lake Tahoe there were no LFS.
Going to the fish store in the 70s meant going to Reno or San Francisco.
I treasured the family field trips to Fish Store. Laying eyes on a tank with schooling Neon Tetras was all it took.

Now 40 plus miles from the LFS that I have not visited in 5 yrs, I order everything on line.

As a customer of many yrs I have never been disappointed.

 

[exnisstech]

I started the hobby ordering all of my fish online but that was back whenever Foster and Smith owned LA and they stood behind their 14 day arrive alive stay alive guarantee and divers den was awesome. I haven't bought fish online since they sold the business. TBH with all the shipping fiascos I've experience post covid I probably won't. Its risky enough with coral but most stand a better chance if surviving a delay than fish. I also won't buy fish from tanks that run low slightly and or low level copper because it suppresses disease that can become active after the fish is acclimated to normal salinty. I have no way to verify those requirements buying online. Shopping at a LFS allows me to test the water or I only buy fish from tanks also housing coral and inverts.
Fortunately I have a few lfs less than and hour away. One is saltwater only and a very good store with knowledgeable reefers as staff and owner. I can request fish and if the owner can locate them from a wholesaler he will do so and I can pick them up still bagged or let him add them to his tanks and I can pick them up later. Unfortunately for some online ordering is their only option.

 

[saltwaterfish.com]

Enjoyed your story Mary.

While growing up in a isolated location such as Lake Tahoe there were no LFS.
Going to the fish store in the 70s meant going to Reno or San Francisco.
I treasured the family field trips to Fish Store. Laying eyes on a tank with schooling Neon Tetras was all it took.

Now 40 plus miles from the LFS that I have not visited in 5 yrs, I order everything on line.

As a customer of many yrs I have never been disappointed.

Aww! Thank you for the feedback and sharing your memory as well! Of all the things I can't remember, I'm glad some of my reefing moments made the cut. LOL

 

[saltwaterfish.com]

I started the hobby ordering all of my fish online but that was back whenever Foster and Smith owned LA and they stood behind their 14 day arrive alive stay alive guarantee and divers den was awesome. I haven't bought fish online since they sold the business. TBH with all the shipping fiascos I've experience post covid I probably won't. Its risky enough with coral but most stand a better chance if surviving a delay than fish. I also won't buy fish from tanks that run low slightly and or low level copper because it suppresses disease that can become active after the fish is acclimated to normal salinty. I have no way to verify those requirements buying online. Shopping at a LFS allows me to test the water or I only buy fish from tanks also housing coral and inverts.
Fortunately I have a few lfs less than and hour away. One is saltwater only and a very good store with knowledgeable reefers as staff and owner. I can request fish and if the owner can locate them from a wholesaler he will do so and I can pick them up still bagged or let him add them to his tanks and I can pick them up later. Unfortunately for some online ordering is their only option.

I appreciate your position! Wow that also brings back memories. Waiting for the mail and getting my Foster and Smith magazine and circling all the fish I wanted on my wish list!!

 

[KrisReef]

Well Mary,
You have struck a nerve here.

The move from Brick and Mortar to Amazon warehouse fulfillment centers may be great for a business model but as you have described the thrill of the in personal shopping experience is getting thrown under the wheels of the freight truck or train.

On line shopping seems to be the future for the customers of all kinds of merchandise. So glad that there are people who are filling in the supply line for our reefing hobby.

I still grow frags and fruits (avocado, apple, oranges, limes, lemons, plums, peaches etc) because I like to get things I picked fresh. I suspect that my children will shop online for groceries sooner or later, I think that they are going to miss out on learning how to select a healthy, ripe melon for themselves. But that seems to be the future according to the captains of commerce.
Still have to be glad someone is willing to import wildlife.

 

[saltwaterfish.com]

Well Mary,
You have struck a nerve here.

The move from Brick and Mortar to Amazon warehouse fulfillment centers may be great for a business model but as you have described the thrill of the in personal shopping experience is getting thrown under the wheels of the freight truck or train.

On line shopping seems to be the future for the customers of all kinds of merchandise. So glad that there are people who are filling in the supply line for our reefing hobby.

I still grow frags and fruits (avocado, apple, oranges, limes, lemons, plums, peaches etc) because I like to get things I picked fresh. I suspect that my children will shop online for groceries sooner or later, I think that they are going to miss out on learning how to select a healthy, ripe melon for themselves. But that seems to be the future according to the captains of commerce.
Still have to be glad someone is willing to import wildlife.

 

[saltwaterfish.com]

I completely understand, agree, and feel this greatly!! I guess I live somewhere in the middle of convenience and homegrown. My husband and I pick berries every year and make about 20 or so varieties of jam, jelly, sauces, etc and mostly gift them.
We actually enjoy going to the local farms, getting fresh sunshine, and picking and chatting for hours! We are also avid gardeners (well I am lol) but my husband has a thing for growing Carolina Reaper peppers (not for me ouch!! ) Anyhow, If I'm not working, I'm out in the yard doing anything I can with my hands in the dirt, so I totally get it.

 

[Kooma]

I can remember starting my very first salt water aquariums and going to the local fish store to see and pick out my new additions. In fact, it was almost akin to "date night". I'd save a huge chunk of my paycheck and already have a "once a week", usually a Saturday planned specifically around going to the fish store.

Now, I've been to dozens and dozens of fish stores just to see the animals and honestly I learned a lot just seeing set ups, equipment, and what went with what... I've even gone into fish shops on more than one vacation with no intention of buying anything obviously, but it just became part of me, it was/is a true hobby, I enjoyed seeing the fish. I actually looked for aquarium shops drove there, and cruised the aisles like it was the event of the day.

Ok. Fast forward to now, 2026, many decades later I haven't set foot in a physical fish store in a very long time. I buy everything online. Obviously I get my stuff from https://www.saltwaterfish.com/ I've worked here for 15+ years, so I know what to expect, how it all works, etc etc.

I think a lot of us would shop in store assuming shops had a wide variety and great prices, mainly because you get to physically see the animals. After all that is why we have aquariums; to see and watch them forever! Sometimes though, the online prices are unbeatable, and have unmatched guarantees that in store shops just don't usually offer. Our online store for example has an 8 day live guarantee, and our prices and promotions are generally unbeatable.

This brings me to my final point. Our online stores are a visual purchase. We rely heavily on photos to convey the same excitement of picking out that new addition. We've recently launched upgraded and incredibly detailed photos of our fish, some showing variations of stages such as juvenile/changing/adult etc.

Please, if you haven't been to our online store in a while, check out our fish section. We are very proud of what we offer from the moment you access our store until years later when you tell your friends you've had that fish for 8 years and you got it from saltwaterfish.com

**I'd love to know if there are others like me that have had a life long appreciation for this hobby and probably had a start similar to mine perusing the in store shops but now have adapted to online shopping. How'd you get your start in the hobby?

Anyhow...Thank you for reading my story. Mary Reed - Director of Customer Service @ saltwaterfish.com

I buy hard goods online.

Livestock, always in person.

 

[me & my baby]

Mine is similar to yours . Back in the late 80s early 90s I got the aquarium bug . Started with a 10g freshwater which turned into a 55 less then 2 months later . I would always walk over to the saltwater section and the guy would always tell me how hard saltwater was . Well fresh water last about 8 months then I went salt and never went back . I worked part time at several local fish stores mostly to get discounts but I also learned a lot . Before I left Florida in 2003 I can honestly say that there was probably not to manly fish stores in the state that I had not been to . My job always had me traveling all over Florida so I would find stores in my way there and stop and check things out . If I liked something I would buy it and pick it up on my way back through going home . Same thing in the town I was working in . I would put a post up coming to what ever city I was going to and asked about what stores were around . Then I started traveling across the USA and did the same thing . I did that for almost 18years . I meet a lot of really nice people and saw ALOT of stores . Now I do really miss the local fish stores and unfortunately now the closest one is and hour and a half away . They never have anything new it’s always the same fish and corals . So I now mostly order all my stuff online . I have shopped many times with Saltwaterfish.com especially when lived in Florida . I can honestly say I never had a bad experience with the fish I have gotten from there .