Seaside Tropical Fish

Tucked into Huntington Beach, Seaside Tropical Fish has been a fixture of the Southern California aquarium scene for decades — some customers claim over 30 years of loyalty to owner David and his crew. The store packs a serious inventory into a compact, intimate space, with clean, well-maintained tanks lining the aisles for both freshwater and saltwater enthusiasts. The saltwater selection is the main draw.

Reviewers consistently highlight healthy corals, frags, anemones, tangs, puffers, groupers, and angelfish like the coral beauty. David has hands-on experience helping customers build full reef tank setups from scratch, guiding them through equipment choices from brands like AI, Radion, and Bubble Magus, and stocking their tanks over time with carefully chosen livestock. If they don't have what you're looking for, they'll special order it.

Freshwater gets solid representation too. Staff member Briselda (also referred to as Briseyda or Griselda in reviews) earns particular praise for her deep knowledge of live aquarium plants — she's helped customers select species suited to specific setups like goldfish tanks, knowing exactly where everything is in the store. The shop also carries Aquatop all-in-one tank packages at competitive prices.

One unexpected touch: the store has a shark and stingray feeding experience for kids at just five dollars, making it a family-friendly destination that draws visitors from as far as Bakersfield. The bilingual staff (English and Spanish) adds to the welcoming atmosphere. A few customers have reported issues with fish health and parasites — a reminder that quarantine tanks are always good practice regardless of source.

But the overwhelming consensus across hundreds of reviews points to healthy livestock, fair pricing, and genuinely helpful staff. Santiago, Briselda, and David each get called out by name repeatedly for their patience and expertise. For Huntington Beach hobbyists building or maintaining a reef or freshwater setup, Seaside remains the local shop people keep coming back to.