About
Tucked away in West Babylon, New York, Underground Aquaticz has built a devoted following among freshwater enthusiasts across the country — and for good reason. Owner Chris runs a tight operation where every tank is immaculately maintained, and the livestock selection reads like a wish list for serious hobbyists. From jewel pike cichlids and arowanas to Congo spotted pufferfish, pinktail chalceus, and an impressive roster of L-number plecos, this is the kind of store where collectors find species they've been hunting for years.
The breadth of inventory is genuinely staggering for a small independent shop. African cichlids, discus, rope fish, Oscars, angelfish, and an array of freshwater shrimp share space alongside healthy aquatic plants, hardscape rocks, and driftwood. One pleco collector with over 70 fancy L-numbers in their collection found varieties here they didn't already own — that alone speaks volumes about the depth of Chris's sourcing.
What sets Underground Aquaticz apart is the combination of rare stock with genuine accessibility. Beginner-friendly fish sit alongside advanced species, and the pricing is consistently praised as fair, especially considering the rarity of what's available. Chris and manager Chris (the team keeps it personal) are hands-on, knowledgeable, and refreshingly transparent — they'll tell you what you should and shouldn't get based on your setup.
The online and shipping operation deserves special mention. Customers from as far as Idaho report fish arriving healthy after cross-country journeys, with packaging that outperforms competitors. Chris stays in contact throughout the process, texting updates and working through any weather-related delays.
One customer noted he reached out proactively to offer adding more fish to a box to maximize shipping value — a small gesture that builds real loyalty. The store also accepts rehomed fish; one customer drove 40 minutes to surrender a foot-long common pleco after ten other stores turned them away. Underground Aquaticz is the kind of freshwater specialist that Long Island enthusiasts drive out of their way to visit, and out-of-state hobbyists bookmark for their next online order.
What they offer
Livestock, services, water
- Livestock & products
- Services
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Exceptional selection of rare freshwater species including L-number plecos, arowanas, Congo spotted pufferfish, and pike cichlids
- Reliable nationwide shipping with careful packaging and responsive communication from owner Chris
- Immaculately maintained tanks — customers consistently report zero dead fish visible in store
- Strong inventory of freshwater shrimp, aquatic plants, rocks, and driftwood
- Willing to rehome large fish that other stores won't accept
From keepers
Customer reviews
“A1 place with a great selection of quality fresh water fish.. very friendly and helpful they definitely have my business.”
— Efrain Bencosme5.0a week ago“Love this place”
— Shawn Wright5.02 weeks ago“Really cool fish store, and the staff is all super nice! 🐟 🐟 🐟”
— Erik Adamo5.02 weeks ago“I ordered a breeding pair of jewel cichlids and a wild caught ringtail pike cichlid. They all came very healthy. Shipped to my house from the other side of the country. The way the package and fish were prepped was unmatched compared to other places I’ve ordered from. I was worried about ordering during the holidays and a cold snap but they still made it from new York to my house in Idaho in about 30 hours. Hard to beat that. I will definitely be using underground aquaticz again in the future.”
— Luke Corder5.03 weeks ago“The store is so calm and nice and they got a beautiful fishes”
— Luiz Avila5.03 weeks ago“Great selection of fish/plants. Very knowledgeable. Owner is very friendly.”
— Anthony LoCicero5.0a month ago“Will go back”
— Yacaph B.5.0a month ago“Great Aquarium!!! Number of quality fish with reasonable prices. The guys that work there are knowlegable and eager to assist. I Love when I find a unique non commercial fish store. This one is a good one.”
— Charles Martone5.02 months ago“Unbelievable stock of fish. Extremely healthy and crazy variety. Owner was super informative and gave us a good deal. I wish I lived in the state, I would have gotten more.”
— Robert Mullaney5.02 months ago“Ordered a jewel pike cichlid or ringtail pike, she came belly up in the bag and I was worried but come to find out she was still alive but seemed to have a swim bladder issue. It must’ve been from the cold journey😂. Dropped and plopped her and the issue went away in minutes. Great color and already seems comfortable in the tank. Very healthy fish overall. Also got a good sized rope fish also very healthy and exploring the tank. Fast shipping. Don’t write reviews often but these guys are solid.”
— Alex Green5.02 months ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (631) 422-1470 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Underground Aquaticz.