About
7-star aquarium store that pulls hobbyists from Staten Island, Brooklyn, and across the tri-state area, some driving an hour or more past closer shops just to get here. Walk in and you'll find both freshwater and saltwater under one roof, with a depth that's hard to match. The African cichlid wall is a standout: regulars come specifically for OB peacocks, red empress, and exotic strains you won't see at the chains, alongside South American apistogrammas, cardinal tetras, false julii cory catfish, angelfish, bettas, chili rasboras, and the occasional rhino pleco.
If you're hunting African cichlids for sale in Clifton, NJ, this is the room people drive to. The saltwater side runs just as deep. Reef corals and frags, blood red and sexy shrimp, clownfish, a checkerboard wrasse, and even a peacock mantis shrimp have all gone home with happy customers here.
A koi pond inside the store keeps kids entertained while parents browse, and the live plants are famously healthy, with customers reporting them thriving weeks after purchase. What people rave about most is the staff. Eric and Henry patiently walk saltwater beginners through equipment and livestock; Robert, Brendan, Robb, Brandon, and Krystian get named again and again for honest, no-pressure guidance even on the busiest weekends.
Managers Mike and Glen run a tight, spotless shop, and the team holds back any fish under treatment rather than selling compromised stock. Beyond the livestock for sale near me, Absolutely Fish handles full tank setups and in-home swaps, install tech Chris recently moved one customer from a 55-gallon to a 75-gallon, transferring every fish safely. From 12-gallon bookshelf tanks to 120-gallon reef systems, the clean, organized dry-goods shelves and house-made cichlid foods make this aquarium store the standard for the hobby in northern New Jersey.
What they offer
Fish & livestock for sale at Absolutely Fish in Clifton, NJ
Absolutely Fish stocks corals, reef fish, cichlids, African cichlids, shrimp, betta fish, koi, rare and hard-to-find species, aquarium plants and freshwater & saltwater fish for sale in Clifton, NJ. As an aquarium store serving Clifton, NJ, it also carries dry goods, aquarium equipment and fish food and offers tank maintenance, aquarium setup, aquarium consultations, fish quarantine and water testing.
- Livestock & products
- CoralsReefCichlidsAfrican CichlidsLive PlantsPlanted TanksShrimpBettasKoiRare SpeciesInvertebratesDry GoodsAquarium EquipmentAngelfishPlecosTetrasCatfishClownfishFish Food
- Services
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Tri-state draw: customers drive from Staten Island, Brooklyn, and NYC, often an hour or more, for the livestock quality
- Standout African cichlid selection including OB peacocks, red empress, and exotic strains rarely seen at chain stores
- Deep saltwater and reef section with corals, frags, blood red and sexy shrimp, a checkerboard wrasse, and a peacock mantis shrimp
- Staff named by name (Eric, Robert, Brendan, Robb, Brandon, Krystian) plus managers Mike and Glen, known for patient, no-pressure expertise
- Full tank setups and in-home tank swaps, plus a fish-health policy that holds back any livestock under treatment
From keepers
Customer reviews
“This place never disappoints. Great staff!”
— Adarsh Singh5.02 days ago“Missy knowledgeable staff around. Don't bother with Petco etc. These people know what they're doing.”
— Nancy Settembrino5.02 days ago“I came here from Staten Island looking specifically for African Cichlids. That had a decent selection and some different types I haven't seen before. I got a cool Nbochrimis Linni, an OB Peacock and a very distinct OB Red Empress. I can't wait to see how these turn out when they get older.”
— Joseph Correa5.03 days ago“All the workers were super helpful and all the fish i got were healthy and super active”
— Matias Cabral5.02 weeks ago“Great selection, but expensive.”
— Jim Coughlin4.02 weeks ago“This message is to the owner. This store is absolutely amazing. I drive 1.5 hours to get here. However regarding you social media, just a tip of advice, I come to your social media to see what fish you have in stock before driving 1.5 hours. Please post way more videos of your fish stock than the silly employee videos.”
— Kristen Larson5.03 weeks ago“One of the best fish retail stores I’ve been to. Amazing fresh and saltwater section with plenty of fish that were new to me! Many fish that I had seen online but never in person just so happened to appear in one of their tanks. The fish and creatures themselves are very well taken care of, and the staff is very knowledgeable and come to aid you as quick as possible despite the (deservingly) large crowd. I will definitely be visiting again- Thanks for the Rhino Pleco!”
— Alexander Cardinale (BullTerrierChild)5.0Edited 3 weeks ago“My second home”
— Edwin Taveras5.03 weeks ago“Absolutely right place to go! Krystian helped me choose the right angelfish for me. I appreciate his patience, politeness, and professionalism.”
— BluewhaleIsland5.0a month ago“Updating my previous 2- star review to a well-deserved 5 stars. Deleted and now adding this one . I don’t normally rewrite reviews, but the customer service I experienced today completely changed my perspective on Absolutely Fish. About a month ago, I left a highly negative review after a horrible experience. I was mis-sold a tank setup by a person who gave me inaccurate information, which ultimately led to a massive headache because of the store's strict return policy. There was a disconnect somewere and I left feeling incredibly frustrated and felt like I would never walk back through their doors again. However, I am currently stocking my tank and they were the only local shop that had the healthy, specific fish I was looking for (Cardinal Tetras and False Julii Corys). I was hesitant, but I decided to go back in today and give them a second chance. I am so incredibly glad I did. The young gentleman who helped me out today was absolutely stellar. Unlike my previous visit, he actually knew his stuff, listened to what I needed, and went above and beyond to make sure I was taken care of EVEN WITH A STORE FULL OF PEOPLE, it was incredibly busy. He was attentive, knowledgeable, and had a great attitude. It takes a lot for a business to completely turn around a customer's terrible first impression, but this employee did exactly that single-handedly. Because of him, a store I swore I would avoid is now a place I feel completely confident shopping at, and I plan on making it my regular go-to spot for my aquarium needs. Shoutout to the kid who helped me today (didnt get his name, tall skinny dude) management needs to give this guy some serious recognition for his top-tier customer service!”
— Josue Cepeda5.0a month ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call +1 973-365-0200 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Absolutely Fish.