About
Tucked just five minutes from Los Angeles International Airport, LAX Aquarium is the rare aquarium store in Los Angeles, CA that doubles as a destination. The back room holds a public-aquarium-scale display tank — sharks, stingrays, octopi, lionfish, and moray eels — the kind of spectacle that keeps regulars like Liam stopping in just to look at the fish. The main retail floor is kept deliberately dim to hold back algae, giving the coral systems an almost nightclub glow that long-time customers have come to love.
This is first and foremost a reef shop, and the coral selection is what people drive across Southern California for. Armando came down from Sacramento and walked out with five healthy frags, while longtime hobbyists call the variety and quality simply unmatched. Frags line a dedicated floor where walk-in shoppers scan a QR code to claim a piece, and turnover is fast enough that there's something new on every visit.
Saltwater livestock for sale in Los Angeles, CA rotates through clean, well-kept tanks — clownfish, regal and chocolate tangs, magnificent foxface, dwarf angels, mandarin gobies, dottybacks, and damsels — alongside anemones, invertebrates, live rock, and a deep wall of aquarium equipment. Freshwater fish are available in Los Angeles, CA too, in a smaller but genuine selection for hobbyists who keep both. Owner Kris (also spelled Chris), with Jesus and Jasmine, anchors the store's reputation.
Reviewers repeatedly describe being talked out of incompatible buys and told to slow down rather than upsold — one built a thriving 65-gallon reef without being pushed toward an over-the-top Neptune Apex controller, and watched a sick fish get properly quarantined before sale. Beyond livestock, the shop handles tank setup with at-home installation, equipment repair, and patient, hands-on consultation. Prices run a little high, but regular sales, buy-two-get-two specials, and big Black Friday deals soften the blow, and a free arcade with claw machines keeps kids busy while you shop.
Searching for a saltwater store near me with serious coral and a genuine shark tank? LAX Aquarium is worth the drive for any Los Angeles reef keeper.
What they offer
Fish & livestock for sale at LAX Aquarium in Los Angeles, CA
LAX Aquarium stocks corals, reef fish, anemones, clownfish, tangs, invertebrates, live rock and saltwater & freshwater fish for sale in Los Angeles, CA. As an aquarium store serving Los Angeles, CA, it also carries aquarium equipment and offers aquarium setup, tank maintenance, equipment repair, aquarium consultations and fish quarantine.
- Livestock & products
- Services
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Public-aquarium-scale back-room display tank with sharks, stingrays, octopi, lionfish, and moray eels
- Standout saltwater coral frag floor where you scan a QR code to buy in-store
- Fast-rotating reef fish: clownfish, tangs, foxfaces, dwarf angels, mandarin gobies, dottybacks
- Owner Kris and staff (Jesus, Jasmine) known for steering customers away from incompatible fish
- Free in-store arcade and claw machines, plus famously clean, odor-free tanks
From keepers
Customer reviews
“Staff is very nice and helpful. Good variety of fresh water fish. Appears to have substantially salt water stuff”
— Bonnie Paryani5.04 weeks ago“Im from Sacramento and had a family trip to so cal. On the last day we went to lax to check it out. I was not disappointed!! This place was NIIIICE! I got to meet the owner, took a selfie with him. Bought 5 healthy coral frags and even won some stuff from the claw machines in the back room. Definitely worth a trip.”
— Armando Almaraz5.0a month ago“Update:This past Year I seen how Lax Aquarium grew and man its so amazing pretty crazy deals you can't miss and man I loved black friday came out of there with my hands full you walk in and walk out happy like you just had vacation at the Bahamas if you haven't been there you really missing out.”
— Humberto Ibarra5.0Edited a month ago“Are you a woman who needs some mansplaining? Belittling? Insults? Maybe some help with body dysmorphia? Or maybe you just want to feel invisible? Don’t try to reign in a male dominated hobby. Come here just for a reminder of your lack of value! One star is too generous. This is coming from a loyal customer who over the last several months probably spent over $5000 in this store . The owner does not care or appreciate customer loyalty. He’ll even tell your double x’s that he does not need or want your money. This happened during a heavily advertised anniversary event and it was a complete failure in both planning and basic customer treatment. I spent approximately four hours in the store selecting livestock and merchandise, including time sensitive flash sale items. I was also waiting at the counter to receive over $1,000 in coral I had already paid for during the live auction. Despite repeated attempts, I was completely ignored. Sales staff who appeared to be family were preoccupied socializing and flirting with people they clearly knew instead of assisting paying customers (read female customers). Throughout that time, I observed staff promptly helping certain customers while continuing to ignore me and others who had been waiting. The service was selective and inconsistent. There was also a clear aggression to and preference for certain ethnicities. Mine was clearly on the do not approve list. First I was unable to get assistance at any point in the first four hours of attending this event. Then after placing multiple wining bids on auctioned corals, and after waiting at the counter for over an hour with no help, the situation escalated. Instead of assisting me, I was told to leave. While leaving, this complying, security was called and I was followed and threatened with being put in handcuffs. As awoman in a man’s world, I guess i should expect to be belittled, ignored, and discounted. I was a paying customer trying to complete purchases and retrieve items I had already paid for. I was also subjected to personal and appearance based insults by staff, including comments about my body, age, and finances. That goes far beyond poor service. It is abusive and is completely unacceptable. The owner acknowledged the situation and stated a refund would be issued. However, he then reported that I was the one refusing the purchased goods, thereby jeopardizing my standing on a known auction site. This was not just a busy event. It was selective service, unprofessional conduct, and escalation that never should have occurred. If you value being treated with basic respect, take your business elsewhere. Ellis aquarium is close by, has better prices, and much better quality. They also treat you with some humanity (even if you are a woman). Guess I’ll go back to shopping at LV, which is where us women belong (corals and fish are above our pay grade). At least there you’re shown gratitude.”
— Erica Cohn1.0a month ago“Great place. They have everything you could ever need for a reef tank”
— Derek Valencia5.02 months ago“If you are looking for the absolute best in the hobby, look no further than Lax Aquariums. Whether you’re a freshwater enthusiast or a saltwater pro, Kris has built a shop that truly has everything you need to succeed. Why LAX Aquarium Stands Out: The Coral Selection: It is simply unmatched. The variety and quality are incredible; it’s a must-visit destination for anyone looking to level up their reef tank. Expert Knowledge: Kris is a total professional who clearly cares about his customers and their livestock. Top-Tier Customer Service: This is what makes buying here a "no-brainer." If you ever have a question or run into a problem, all you have to do is reach out. Kris provides a level of personal support that you just won't find at big-box retailers. Value: You get a winning combination of great selection and great prices. The Bottom Line: If you want a stress-free experience backed by unmatched customer service, put LAX Aquarium at the very top of your list. I can't recommend Kris and his shop enough!”
— Thomas Pendola5.03 months ago“Greatest fish and aquarium store I’ve ever been to. I’ve been coming here for over 20 years and the place keeps getting better and better. Kris and his staff are super friendly and beyond helpful! We don’t live close anymore but lax is always worth the drive!!”
— Matthew Garbe5.03 months ago“Love the store but everytime i go staff interaction is minimal , i wanna ask questions but there's an intruding vibe.never told about giveaways, and went 2hrs just to find out 90%of the coral is online only. Very awesome salwater selection though!”
— 4banger boi3.04 months ago“Despite all of the touristy places I could take family to when they visit, I strangely find myself wanting to bring them here. Sharks, stingrays, octopi, lionfish, eels, this place is comparable to a public aquarium, and it’s probably why I find myself there frequently just to look at the fish. Nobody says no to a saltwater tank store with a restaurant + game room 5 minutes from the airport. This was the 9th place I’d been to around LA looking for a tank. One month later and I have a thriving 65 gallon saltwater tank filled with fish and invertebrates. It takes a certain level of restraint for a business to tell me to slow down and be patient on buying up their fish too quickly. I also don’t feel pressured into buying an Apex system or other over-the-top equipment for a tank my size. I respect their knowledge of my setup and compatible fish species, and have been stopped from buying certain fish before by Chris and one other employee because they were incompatible with my inhabitants or size. I’m confident enough with this store to hold off on getting a quarantine tank, since I’ve seen firsthand how a sick fish was quarantined and cared for. The fish turnover rate here is incredible, every time I visit there are new options. Another underrated thing that took me a while to realize is how unbelievable sanitary and smell-free the place is (other aquatic stores in LA PLEASE take note).”
— Liam Gersten5.0Edited 16 hours ago“Despite all of the touristy places I could take family to when they visit, I strangely find myself wanting to bring them here. Sharks, stingrays, octopi, lionfish, eels, this place is comparable to a public aquarium, and it’s probably why I find myself there frequently just to look at the fish. Nobody says no to a saltwater tank store with a restaurant + game room 5 minutes from the airport. This was the 9th place I’d been to around LA looking for a tank. One month later and I have a thriving 65 gallon saltwater tank filled with fish and invertebrates. It takes a certain level of restraint for a business to tell me to slow down and be patient on buying up their fish too quickly. I also don’t feel pressured into buying an Apex system or other over-the-top equipment for a tank my size. I respect their knowledge of my setup and compatible fish species, and have been stopped from buying certain fish before by Chris and one other employee because they were incompatible with my inhabitants or size. I’m confident enough with this store to hold off on getting a quarantine tank, since I’ve seen firsthand how a sick fish was quarantined and cared for. The fish turnover rate here is incredible, every time I visit there are new options. Another underrated thing that took me a while to realize is how unbelievable sanitary and smell-free the place is (other aquatic stores in LA PLEASE take note).”
— Brad Sherman5.0Edited 4 months ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (310) 641-4664 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting LAX Aquarium.