About
Coral Reef Pet Shop has been a fixture of New Orleans' Lakeview neighborhood for close to 30 years, and despite its name, you won't find a single coral frag or saltwater tank in the building. Multiple reviewers have shown up expecting reef livestock only to discover a modest freshwater fish operation and a full-service general pet supply store — so consider yourself forewarned. What you will find is a family-run shop where the owner greets regulars by name and offers genuinely knowledgeable guidance on tropical freshwater fish keeping.
The freshwater selection is small but well-maintained, with healthy tropical fish and snails at fair prices — one customer walked out with two fish and two snails for around $15. The owner has explained that COVID forced them to scale back their tank count, though longtime patrons remember when the fish section was more robust. Koi have occasionally been advertised, though at least one visitor found the actual inventory didn't match expectations.
For pond keepers in the area, the shop does sell pond fish — one local customer stocks their backyard pond here, though they joke about competing with the water birds from Bayou St. John for their fish. Beyond fish, Coral Reef carries a wide variety of dog foods, cat supplies, hamster setups, feeder mice, and other small animal essentials.
Several reviewers praise the store as cleaner and more reasonably priced than the chain pet stores, with a loyalty rewards program for frequent buyers. The staff can special-order products they don't carry in stock. The shop also operates a grooming service — groomer Ashley gets consistent praise, though experiences have varied.
The real draw here is the personal touch. In a city dominated by big-box retailers, Coral Reef offers the kind of one-on-one consultation where the owner will walk you through fish care or help you pick the right food for your pet. It's a neighborhood shop in the truest sense — modest in size, genuine in service, and deeply rooted in the Lakeview community.
What they offer
Livestock, services, water
- Livestock & products
- Fish Food
- Services
- Consultation
- Specializes in
- FreshwaterPond
Highlights
What makes them special
- Family-owned Lakeview neighborhood institution operating for nearly 30 years
- Well-maintained freshwater tropical fish at reasonable prices
- Pond fish available for local pond keepers
- Wide selection of dog food and general pet supplies with loyalty rewards program
- Clean feeder mice at competitive prices compared to chain stores
From keepers
Customer reviews
“I'll give the benefit of the doubt maybe it's bc I'm on mobile but the website is basically useless from what i can see. No menu categories no photos of storefront products or services other than "we offer grooming". No updates on here either from what i saw. Totally willing to revise my review pending any type of modifications to this listing but as it stands, this business' online appeal is pretty much a zero maybe 1 out of 5 I guess bc it shows up on the app in the first place but without photo or video evidence to show those who've never heard of it, for all we know it could be a fake listing and I'm not about to waste a trip over there with zero confidence if that makes any sense..”
— Aeon Infinity2.03 months ago“Nice place i visit it twice”
— Mr Darrick Livas4.08 months ago“Excellent pet and fish store that established and been around since I was a young boy. Great customer service and family run business and it feels good to support local.”
— Todd Hack5.010 months ago“Their Google ad lies. It says they have snakes, but they don't sell snakes”
— Daniel Cella1.0a year ago“Cool local pet shop, with a neat assortment of tropical fish, that were well maintained. I recommend. Great fish food selection!”
— NeoVeritas75.02 years ago“No corals and no reefs. 10/10 disappointed by the name.”
— Jose1.02 years ago“Love this store amazing people .The groomer is amazing she does a fantastic job lovely girl!”
— Kelly5.02 years ago“Has everything we need for our cat,dog, and snake!”
— lyn franco5.02 years ago“Good selection and healthy animals.”
— Cloudy Snow5.02 years ago“Great people, great environment”
— Angelle Snell5.0Edited 2 years ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (504) 488-0264 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Coral Reef Pet Shop.