About
Walking into Caribbean Forest LLC in Rochester, New York feels more like stepping into a curated aquarium gallery than a typical fish store. Reviewers consistently remark on the beautifully laid-out space, with immaculate tanks and an atmosphere that captivates adults and children alike — one family mentioned their kids were "blown away" by the fish, coral, and the store's resident parrot. The shop's core identity is reef and saltwater, stocking a strong selection of corals, anemones, and saltwater fish.
Customers report that the livestock is notably healthy, with one reviewer pointing out that their coral and fish from Caribbean Forest are still thriving long after purchase — a contrast to less reliable shops they'd tried elsewhere around Syracuse. Quality clearly takes priority here, and while some note that prices reflect that premium positioning, the consensus is that you get what you pay for. Beyond the saltwater offerings, there's more to explore upstairs, where the store keeps a plant collection that at least one reviewer urges visitors not to miss.
The shop also carries a solid range of dry goods, equipment, and fish foods, making it a well-rounded destination for aquarists building or maintaining a reef setup. The owner is a standout presence. Multiple reviews describe her as knowledgeable, pleasant, and genuinely passionate.
She's also a skilled woodworker — all the custom woodwork in the store is her handiwork, and she takes on custom projects for customers willing to invest. That personal craftsmanship extends to the store's overall aesthetic, which feels intentional and carefully maintained. Staff across the board earn high marks for being helpful and attentive, taking time to recommend the right livestock for each customer's setup rather than pushing sales.
8-star rating across nearly 250 reviews, Caribbean Forest has clearly built deep loyalty among Rochester's reef-keeping community. If you're serious about saltwater in western New York, this is a destination worth the drive.
What they offer
Livestock, services, water
- Livestock & products
- Services
- Custom TanksConsultation
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Immaculately clean tanks with healthy saltwater fish, corals, and anemones
- Owner handcrafts all custom woodwork in the store and takes custom orders
- Upstairs plant collection adds a freshwater dimension to the shop
- Family-friendly atmosphere complete with a resident parrot
- Premium livestock quality with strong long-term survival rates reported by customers
From keepers
Customer reviews
“Amazing store. Great selection of products, livestock, and foods. Owner is amazing and super helpful with everything. Wouldn’t go anywhere else”
— Dj Steiner5.03 days ago“Wonderful place with all sorts of pretty features. All the tanks are clean and well organized, staff was very helpful to pick out what is best for our needs. Go upstairs and check out the plant 🪴 collections too”
— Adam “Adam Broz” Broz5.03 weeks ago“Almost too much to choose from 🤯”
— JamesHeick5.0a month ago“Incredibly clean and the fish are healthy. The coral and anenome look amazing. The owners are very helpful.”
— Ron Tronnes Jr5.0a month ago“The shop is beautiful! Wonderful Atmosphere and very nicely laid out. Prices are not reasonable however on most if not all live stock. But, they have existed for a long time and their quality is top notch. You get what you pay for, and I still have my coral and fish from them alive and well despite the diseased animals I have gotten from stores around Syracuse. The owner is so lovely to deal with and she is so talented!! She does all the wood work in the store and does custom work if you are willing to pay for it. I definitely recommend this place!”
— Josh Rivera4.04 months ago“Beautiful shop, well kept. Staff was very friendly, brought my two children and they were blown away by the fish, coral and the parrot! Very knowledgeable and friendly.”
— David H.5.04 months ago“Beautiful inside owner very pleasant and knowledgeable”
— Juanita Burgess5.07 months ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (585) 342-5510 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Caribbean Forest LLC.