About
Ely's Tropical Fish in Florham Park, New Jersey has been a family-run institution for over 35 years, drawing loyal customers from across northern and central New Jersey — some driving all the way from Sussex County just to browse the aisles. Don't let the modest storefront fool you: inside, the inventory is stacked deep with freshwater and saltwater livestock, live plants, aquarium hardware, and pond supplies that rival shops twice its size. Owner Steve and his son run the operation with hands-on expertise that customers consistently praise.
This isn't a place where you'll get a shrug when you ask about cycling a shrimp tank — one reviewer recounted how staff walked them through their options and even sent them home with a bag of cycled aquarium water to rescue struggling shrimp. That kind of triage-level care is hard to find. The freshwater selection is the real draw.
Ely's stocks everything from specialty guppies and pagoda snails to koi for backyard ponds, and the livestock is reliably healthy. Multiple long-time customers note the quality of the fish is consistently high, attributing it to Steve's careful sourcing. If something isn't in stock, he'll order it — though reviewers say that's a rare occurrence.
Rare species pop up regularly enough that seasoned hobbyists make repeat visits just to see what's new. Pricing runs a bit above big-box stores, and customers acknowledge that openly. But the consensus is clear: you're paying for healthy animals and genuine expertise, not just a bag of water with a fish in it.
For a 35-year-old family business that still has customers raving about individual snail purchases, that premium seems well-earned. Ely's is one of those stores where a quick trip for fish food turns into an hour-long conversation about water chemistry and tank design. If you keep aquariums or a koi pond anywhere in northern New Jersey, it's worth the drive.
What they offer
Livestock, services, water
- Livestock & products
- Services
- ConsultationWater Testing
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Family-run for over 35 years by owner Steve and his son
- Exceptional freshwater selection including rare guppies, pagoda snails, and koi
- Staff provides hands-on consultation, including cycled water for struggling tanks
- Draws customers from across northern and central New Jersey
- Carries freshwater, saltwater, and pond livestock plus plants and supplies
From keepers
Customer reviews
“Very knowledgeable and very helpful staff. Definitely a great place to pick up a new fish and a little aquatic education.”
— Keith Curran4.0a month ago“We drove all the way from Sussex County, Not sure what to expect but we were not disappointed. Huge selection!! The owner and his son were both knowledgeable and informative. My husband and I got all we went for and then some I highly recommend Ely’s!!”
— Cheryl Bulman5.0a month ago“Great place , not to big but don't let that fool you , Steve for the most part always has exactly what I'm looking for and very healthy fish which is the most important , highly recommended place to go check out , and if he doesn't have what you want which is rarely he will get it for you , go check him out!!!”
— Rashid Saadiq5.02 months ago“They are great! We get our fish from them! They are super friendly and informative”
— Khusbu Parikh5.02 months ago“Ely’s is a gem with very healthy livestock and large inventory. Owner is very knowledgeable and helpful.”
— Vincent Ziccardi5.02 months ago“This is one of the two best freshwater aquarium stores in Central and Northern New Jersey. Owner really knows his stuff and is quite helpful.”
— Frank Greenagel II5.03 months ago“Really fantastic place with incredibly knowledgeable staff. Great selection of livestock and aquarium hardware/supplies. I came in asking about a shrimp tank that I got bad advice from another shop about. The staff were really wonderful explaining my options, and they even gave me a big bag of cycled aquarium water to take with me so I could triage my struggling shrimp.”
— Ali Tango5.04 months ago“A wonderful experience for tropical and salt water fish. The owner is the best, check it out.”
— Bill B5.05 months ago“The worst service ever he is a very disrespectful guy and talks to people with attitude. Deff not recommended only go there if you want to ruin your day.”
— haneen ali1.06 months ago“They are soooooo expensive like great selection but everything here is expensive I bought a tank separately for 75$.Go here to look not buy anything.”
— Rasheed Morris1.06 months ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (973) 377-0570 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Ely's Tropical Fish.