About
Cali Kid Corals is a saltwater aquarium shop in La Habra, CA that aquacultures and sells premium, high-end corals. Ben Shapiro founded the business in 2015, and the company says it runs a 2,000-square-foot retail and coral farm facility. If you are hunting for rare corals for sale in La Habra, CA, this is a specialist stop rather than a general fish store.
The focus is coral, and the company says it sources some of the rarest pieces from around the world. The inventory is organized into SPS, LPS, mushrooms, Euphyllia, and zoas and palys, along with a curated Signature Collection. A recent reviewer singles out high-end Acans, vivid Torches and designer Chalices, and another praises the WYSIWYG selection, so the coral you pick is the one you get.
Earlier customers mention OG Bounce mushrooms, gonis, leathers, and a Torch of the Gods that became the centerpiece of their tank. Regular coral auctions are a big part of the business, and local buyers have picked up auction pieces at the shop. Customers repeatedly credit Ben and his team for their service.
One recent reviewer says Ben asked about their parameters, lighting and flow before selling them a coral. Longtime customers say he would rather help you dial in your system than sell you something you are not ready to keep. Others describe the team as quick to answer coral and order questions, and showroom visitors comment on how healthy the corals and water look.
Prices sit at the premium end. A few reviewers call them steep, while others say the quality justifies the cost. Plan your visit before you go, because in-store hours are limited.
Several past visitors arrived during the hours shown on Google and found nobody at the door, so check the hours posted on the store's website or call (562) 315-5758 before making the drive.
What they offer
Fish & livestock for sale at Cali Kid Corals in La Habra, CA
Cali Kid Corals stocks corals, reef fish, rare and hard-to-find species and saltwater fish for sale in La Habra, CA.
- Livestock & products
- Services
- Online StoreShips Fish
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Aquacultures and sells premium, high-end corals from a 2,000 sq. ft. retail and coral farm facility
- SPS, LPS, mushrooms, Euphyllia and zoas/palys, plus a curated Signature Collection
- Reviewers praise the WYSIWYG selection, including high-end Acans, Torches and designer Chalices
- Regular coral auctions, with pickup at the La Habra shop
- Limited in-store hours, so check the website or call before you visit
From keepers
Customer reviews
“If you're looking for corals to give your collection even more pop, check out Cali Kid Corals! They have an impressive WYSIWYG selection and cool auctions, I've made many an unplanned addition because of them. Ben and his team are great and quick to respond to coral or order questions. Wish I was closer to visit their facility.”
— Adrian Saroughian5.04 weeks ago“Finding the Extraordinary in the Obscure: A Review of Calikid Corals There’s a particular kind of loneliness that comes with keeping a reef tank. You’re deep in a hobby that most people can’t quite picture — a living, breathing slice of ocean humming in your living room, demanding precise salinity, exact lighting spectrums, and a working knowledge of chemistry that would make a pharmacist nervous. You learn quickly that not everyone gets it. Most people don’t even try. That’s what makes finding someone like Ben, the owner of Calikid Corals, feel a little like finding a secret handshake. I stumbled onto Calikid the way most reefers do, chasing something specific. Something beautiful, something I couldn’t find at a big box store selling bleached frags in crowded tanks. From the first message I sent, it was clear I wasn’t dealing with a transactional vendor. Ben responded the way a fellow hobbyist responds. He asked about my system. He wanted to know my parameters, my lighting, my flow. He wasn’t just selling me a coral — he was making sure I could actually keep it alive. In a niche this demanding, that distinction matters enormously. And the selection. Let me be clear: this is not a store stocked with generic hammer corals and bubble tips. Ben curates. Walking through what Calikid offers feels less like browsing inventory and more like touring a private collection — high-end Acans with color combinations that look digitally rendered, Torches with tentacles so vivid they seem to glow from the inside, designer Chalices and statement pieces that stop you mid-scroll. These are corals for the reefer who has moved past “pretty” and arrived somewhere closer to obsessive. The reef hobby rewards that kind of obsession, and so does Ben. In a world where expertise is rare and genuine enthusiasm rarer still, Calikid Corals is the kind of vendor you don’t just recommend — you protect. You tell the right people and hope the secret stays close. Five stars. Don’t hesitate.”
— Steve Kim5.04 weeks ago“Great customer service and beautiful corals”
— Jamiles Brown5.03 months ago“I think its on line only”
— Gabe Karanopoulos2.0Edited 3 months ago“I think its on lone only”
— Gabe Karanopoulos2.02 months ago“I drove 30 minutes to come to their shop and they are not open during business hours. I would recommend not ever trying this place out. Just like the name says this place must be ran by kids.”
— Tyler Frick1.05 months ago“bought via auction on their website, i paid the next morning and the items were shipped that day and arrived well packaged and as described the following day. great experience will purchase again.”
— Chad Smith5.09 months ago“CK has some of the best corals around. I’ve ordered several times and 99% of the time everything is good. What you don’t hear a lot from is the one time a package has DOA and how the CK team handles it. I had a coral that didn’t make it in an order because of a UPS delay/weather so I reached out to Ben. Without hesitation, he said “I got you. We’ll send you a replacement.” Ben values his customer a lot and I really appreciate that.”
— Yo! Dan5.010 months ago“Fantastic selection and amazing staff. Definitely my go to shop moving forward.”
— adam p5.010 months ago“Unforgettable experience. Top shelf coral at amazing prices. Very knowledgeable and professional. You won't be disappointed.”
— Ramon Godinez5.0a year ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (562) 315-5758 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Cali Kid Corals.