Tucked into a strip in East Meadow, Reef Shark Aquarium Inc. is the kind of saltwater-only shop that Long Island reefers talk about in hushed, possessive tones — the sort of place people don't want to share because they'd rather keep the deals for themselves. Owner Jay and his wife run this family operation with genuine passion, and it shows in every immaculate tank and hand-selected specimen.
The coral inventory is the main draw. Frag racks overflow with $10 and $20 pieces — zoas, blastos, acans, hammers, montis, and digis — making it one of the most accessible entry points for new reef keepers on the island. But Reef Shark isn't just a budget play.
Larger LPS and SPS colonies are priced competitively, and the quality of the specimens consistently impresses repeat visitors. Soft corals, stony corals, and everything in between fill the tanks with color. The fish selection, while more modest, punches above its weight.
Reviewers have walked out with wild Hawaiian True Percula clownfish, eight-line wrasses, Tamarin wrasses, powder blue tangs, yellow tangs, and even showpieces like Gem Tangs and Borbonius Anthias at prices that undercut bigger competitors. Invertebrates round out the livestock offerings. What truly sets Reef Shark apart is Jay himself.
Multiple reviewers describe spending time in the shop just talking reefing — troubleshooting problems, discussing successes, getting advice on beginner corals or stocking decisions. He's a hobbyist first, and that one-on-one consultation style makes the small footprint feel like an advantage rather than a limitation. The store may look modest from the outside, but once you step in and see the rows of clean, well-lit tanks, the scope of what they carry becomes clear.
For saltwater hobbyists across Long Island, Reef Shark has quickly established itself as a go-to destination — a place where the livestock is healthy, the prices are honest, and the owner actually wants to talk fish.
MrNikon20
3 reviews
Best place to shop.
Dani Mooti
30 reviews
My hubby and I were looking for a new tropical fish store and started googling, we notice they were very close to us. At first we thought it was very small until we walked in and saw all the tanks and corals. We strolled around and settled on Sunshine(yellow tang). It was such a peaceful experience, and before walking in, I saw the care the young lady was putting into the marine life. Even sunshine had a low stress experience as well. See We are super happy with our new scales baby💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛!
Andre Mangano
19 reviews
Nice place
Jason A
34 reviews
They have a lot of really rare stuff here with good prices
Jonathan Briones
17 reviews
Jay is the best! Great prices and great inventory.
Steve S
35 reviews
Great place for a really nice selection of corals that are reasonably priced. I'm not very knowledgeable at this point but the woman who helped me got me started with some beginner corals and they're doing very well in my tank. I actually came here because the "coral guy" at a shop nearby was nasty to me. I'm happy he was. I wouldn't have found Reef Shark if it wasn't for him.
Oneil Foster
94 reviews
Family own business small friendly help but could not do busines because they only cater to saltwater
Sean Craine
Good selection of coral and decent selection of fish, but they sold me a powder blue tang that they said was quarantined looked good in the store took it home next day noticed it had ick, removed it and within a week my tank was infected with ick and within a week all my fish were dead. (1500+ of fish bought from them over the course of 2 months)
DRIFTER
175 reviews
Nice little store with some good deals, I will be returning to buy more stuff.
Anderson Rampersad
12 reviews
I've been to this store a few times and have had nothing but good experiences. Their selection of affordable corals, inverts, and fish make them a must visit to any reefer. As a novice reefer myself, their selection of inexpensive frags ($10 & $20) which include zoas, blastos, acans, hammers and even montis and digis helps keep things affordable. They also have a wider selection of soft corals, lps and sps that are priced reasonably for larger pieces and colonies. Their fish selection i would say is average. Assorted tangs, angels and damsels that are priced averagely. The staff seem very knowledgeable and are definitely willing to help or answer questions.
Note: Store information and services may change. Always call (516) 750-5011 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Reef Shark Aquarium Inc.
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2083 Hempstead Tpke, East Meadow, NY 11554
February 7, 2026
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