About
Tucked away on Palmer Street in Missoula, Blue Reef is the kind of independent aquarium store that earns fierce loyalty — regulars happily drive two hours or more just to shop here in person. Owner Travis Homme runs the floor himself with a hands-on intensity you notice the moment you walk in: the tanks are immaculate, the livestock is healthy, and much of the coral is fragged and grown by Travis before it ever reaches the sales floor. The saltwater side is where the shop really shines.
Reef keepers will find corals and marine fish for sale in Missoula, MT, and Travis has walked countless first-timers through building a reef from scratch — from choosing the right sump setup to troubleshooting equipment failures. He even makes house calls, which is almost unheard of for a shop this size. Freshwater hobbyists aren't an afterthought.
Blue Reef stocks a solid range of freshwater fish and live plants, plus Amano shrimp that arrive healthy and ready to clean algae from a tank. One detail customers rave about is the in-store RO water station, which reviewers credit with turning cloudy tanks into crystal-clear showcases. Travis also makes his own frozen fish food on-site alongside commercial frozen options, and fish reportedly go wild for the homemade blends.
What sets Blue Reef apart in the Missoula aquarium scene is the free, no-gatekeeping advice that comes with every visit. Travis will pinpoint exactly what's off with your water chemistry, recommend specific fixes, and follow up — newcomers describe him as the person who finally made the hobby make sense, while longtime keepers appreciate that he stays current instead of leaning on outdated practices. Dry goods round out the inventory, and the prices stay fair.
With a near-perfect rating across 80 reviews, Blue Reef has become the serious fish store Missoula was missing.
What they offer
Fish & livestock for sale at Blue reef in Missoula, MT
Blue reef stocks corals, reef fish, shrimp, invertebrates, aquarium plants and freshwater & saltwater fish for sale in Missoula, MT. As an aquarium store serving Missoula, MT, it also carries fish food and dry goods and offers aquarium setup, aquarium consultations, water testing and tank maintenance.
- Livestock & products
- Services
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Owner Travis Homme frags and grows much of the coral he sells in-store
- Homemade frozen fish food made on-site, alongside commercial frozen options
- In-store RO water station that customers credit with dramatically improving tank clarity
- House calls available for reef and tank setup or troubleshooting
- Balanced saltwater and freshwater selection — corals, marine fish, freshwater fish, live plants, and Amano shrimp
From keepers
Customer reviews
“This is a great shop for all your aquarium needs. I'm new to the hobby and the owner took time to talk to me and answer my questions. There was a good selection of corals and fish that all looked well kept and healthy. I will definitely be making this my local shop even though I live over 2 hours away.”
— Chris Dalrymple5.06 days ago“JUSTIN RITTER, (P.O.S) (The person that left a bad review on here) i have tried to do business with this guy personally on some of the Missoula facebook pages, And he is the less than admirable, he has been removed from these groups because he has treated other people like complete garbage and was kicked out of the blue reef about 4 years ago for the same kind of stuff. that being said the BLUE REEF is amazing. Thank you for everything you guys have done to make my aquarium amazing and so unbelievably healthy.. I've been going there for 4 years And have never seen a single sign of disease or had any problems..”
— Sara5.0Edited 2 months ago“Very kind, honest people”
— Vickie Reynolds5.02 months ago“We were very impressed with Blue Reef the first times we shopped there a few years ago! When we recently needed help with our large aquarium Travis came to our home and amazed us with his knowledge, kindness and efficiency! Hubby is now getting quite handicapped from agent orange exposure and has become a bit more limited in caring for our pride and joy so with a new placement and tips for me, Travis made it possible for us to continue caring for, and enjoying our beautiful fish tank!”
— Paula Busa5.02 months ago“Cool store, tons of selection , very knowledgeable people👍”
— Kirk Sanchez5.03 months ago“This fish store is amazing, not one single fish was diseased or dead kind of mind blowing. Very knowledgeable staff, so many choices🎉”
— John Brown5.03 months ago“This place is amazing. I have never seen sick or unhealthy fish. Super friendly staff and an amazing selection”
— Derrick Smith5.03 months ago“Your "One stop shop" for marine velvet! Loves to give away free diseases for your fish that will kill your fish in less than 3 days, oh and absolutely will not guarantee his fish. Instead, he loves to point fingers at his customers. Used to be owned by a nice person, now it is owned by a previous reptile breeder, of whom used to keep overcrowded reptiles in cages that were too small for the animals. This person is a real piece of work, stop in and get to know him and you'll know exactly what I mean! Has a real big habit of talking over you because he thinks that you are inferior to him and that your knowledge of fish is meaningless. I pray no one else has to experience what I have experienced with this person and their shady deals. Beware!”
— Justin Ritter1.0Edited 4 months ago“Bought three Amano shrimp here a few months ago, they settled in immediately, and took no time to start devouring all the biofilm in my tank. It is rare to find an aquarium store owner who cares so much about the quality and long-term success of their fish! Best in the Northwest!”
— Ella Saxton5.0a day ago“I had such an amazing experience with him. He is so knowledgeable and very helpful! I will be recommending him to everyone I know!”
— Catherine Hoffman5.0a week ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (406) 541-3474 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Blue reef.