About
House of Fins in Greenwich, Connecticut has been a fixture of the Fairfield County aquarium scene for decades, and stepping inside makes it immediately clear why. The tanks are immaculate — reviewers consistently call them the cleanest they've ever seen in any fish store — and the livestock reflects that level of care. Saltwater enthusiasts will find a large coral selection alongside carefully conditioned fish like Achilles tangs that arrive eating from day one, a testament to the store's rigorous quarantine and conditioning practices.
One customer described purchasing the most promising Achilles tang he'd seen across a dozen shops, noting the staff's transparency about the fish's health history. The freshwater side holds its own with well-stocked planted display tanks and healthy fish and plants that draw hobbyists from as far as New York City. Staff members like Casey, Kevin, Daniel, and John are frequently called out by name — Casey for remembering customers' kids' names, Kevin for designing custom filtration systems tailored to individual needs, John for walking newcomers through their first setup step by step.
The store carries a solid inventory of equipment, lights, and pumps from brands like Red Sea, Hikari, and Seachem, plus live rock for reef builds. Beyond retail, House of Fins offers aquarium setup and ongoing tank maintenance services, and their consultation expertise is a genuine draw. Staff will walk through stocking plans, filtration design, and compatibility concerns with real depth.
The store clearly invests in its people — the team's collective knowledge spans both freshwater and saltwater systems with a level of specificity that's hard to find at big-box retailers. The trade-off is price. Nearly every reviewer acknowledges that dry goods, frozen foods, and even replacement parts carry a significant premium over online retailers.
This is a store that prioritizes livestock quality and expertise over competing on commodity pricing. For hobbyists who value pristine fish health, transparent advice, and the ability to hand-select corals and marine fish in person, House of Fins delivers an experience that justifies the drive from across the tri-state area.
What they offer
Livestock, services, water
- Livestock & products
- Services
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Immaculately maintained tanks consistently praised as the cleanest in any fish store
- Carefully conditioned saltwater fish including hard-to-keep species like Achilles tangs
- Large coral selection alongside healthy freshwater plants and planted display tanks
- Staff members remembered by name for personalized, in-depth consultations
- Full aquarium setup and ongoing maintenance services available
From keepers
Customer reviews
“The best”
— Adam R5.03 weeks ago“Very knowledgeable staff who care A LOT about their craft and the coolest fish you'll ever see.”
— Luke Tsai5.0a month ago“Title: Overpriced Fish Food and Dismissive Service – Steer Clear! I recently purchased three items for my aquarium: Hikari Mysis & Brine Shrimp (3.5 oz) Hikari Baby Brine Shrimp (1.75 oz) Aquastik (2 oz) The total came to a staggering $92.49 – nearly triple what I've seen at other reputable suppliers like Amazon or local competitors. Feeling this was excessive, I called back to politely inquire about the pricing. The response? "People come here for advice, not the price." While I appreciate expertise, that doesn't justify gouging customers on basics. If value and fairness matter to you, skip this spot and shop elsewhere – there are plenty of options with better deals and friendlier attitudes.”
— OneReefer1.03 months ago“Awesome shop; I purchased an Achilles from them, which is probably the most promising Achilles tang I've ever seen in any shop. It's in great health, with no issues, and has been eating since day one. Everyone was super forthcoming with the health and history of every fish they had up for sale. I've been on the hunt for this tang and can say that out of a dozen or so that I have seen this is the only one i felt comfortable purchasing and taking a chance on. This shop knows what they need to put into these fish and executes it perfectly.”
— Jonathan Briones5.05 months ago“We visited for the first time last week and were helped by Daniel. He was very knowledgeable and took his time answering all of our questions and helping us select the right fish for our aquarium setup. We're looking forward to visiting again soon!”
— Jacqui Knight5.05 months ago“Clean place, display tanks and fish looked amazing, but the customer service was awful. Felt super unwelcoming. No one greeted or talked to us until we asked for help and during check out it felt like we were given the silent treatment. Kind of a bummer”
— Raquel1.0Edited 6 months ago“My son was buying products from House of Fins. He always said they were the best by far. Unfortunately my son Michael passed away in March he was only 20. My family decided to dedicate a larger tank to him. The members at House of Fins couldn’t have been more cooperative and compassionate towards us. There are so many I couldn’t possibly add everyone, but here is just a few Jason, Ryan, Pete, Dan, Frank, John, Joe, Kevin F. And many others has helped us tremendously. We had no knowledge of how Michael was running his systems so a big thank you to all of the HoF staff”
— Robert Blair5.07 months ago“House of Fins is a unique aquarium store with a well informed personable staff who are genuinely helpful. Their aquariums are pristine and obviously well-cared for. The entire staff is extremely knowledgeable about every aspect of both fresh and salt water aquariums. Even though I am a total novice, I never felt that I was being talked down to. I highly recommend this one-of-a-kind store whether you're interested in tropical fish, coral, water plants, water filtration, or tank maintenance. You will not be disappointed.”
— Paul Rathe5.07 months ago“John was very knowledgeable and walked me through different setups, showing me around the store and explaining the things I needed to start a successful tank.”
— Zachary Lopez5.08 months ago“Great store for all fish needs! Helpful staff and, it's just awesome!!!”
— Ekaterina Borisenko5.09 months ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (203) 661-8131 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting House of Fins.