About
Fish Cave has been a fixture for Jacksonville, NC aquarium hobbyists for well over a decade, and the loyalty it inspires says everything about this mom-and-pop shop. One cherry shrimp keeper recently drove an hour each way — past several closer stores — just to have a water sample tested and walk out with honest advice instead of a sales pitch. The staff diagnoses the real problem rather than pushing product, and that trust is why people keep coming back.
This is equal parts freshwater fish store and saltwater aquarium store. Longtime reef keepers credit Fish Cave with guiding them through their very first reef tank and every build since, while Miss Angie will special-order anything she doesn't have on the shelf. Erika is known for sitting customers down on the floor with a box of live rock to plan a saltwater layout, helping pick the right canister filter and sand along the way.
For freshwater fans, you'll find tiny sharks, crabs, cichlids, goldfish, feeder shrimp, and healthy tropical fish for sale in Jacksonville, NC, plus cherry shrimp and other freshwater invertebrates. Beyond livestock, the shop stocks small complete tank kits, decorations, fish food, medications, and aquarium equipment at prices reviewers call reasonable. A recent visitor finally tracked down the correct food for their koi here, and another raved that the team set up their new tank and now handles monthly maintenance that keeps upkeep stress-free.
Newcomers get steered away from costly mistakes — one first-timer walked in ready to overstock and left with a proper plan and fish that are still thriving. The tanks themselves are a point of pride: spotlessly clean, beautifully maintained, and, as a 2026 visitor put it, a store that greets you right away and smells fresh the moment you walk in. Weekly restocks keep the selection turning over.
If you're hunting for corals or a saltwater fish store near me around Jacksonville, Fish Cave is the local pick that treats customers like friends.
What they offer
Fish & livestock for sale at Fish Cave in Jacksonville, NC
Fish Cave stocks corals, reef fish, cichlids, goldfish, shrimp, invertebrates, live rock and freshwater & saltwater fish for sale in Jacksonville, NC. As an aquarium store serving Jacksonville, NC, it also carries aquarium equipment, fish food, dry goods and fish medications and offers water testing, aquarium consultations, aquarium setup and tank maintenance.
- Livestock & products
- CoralsReefCichlidsGoldfishShrimpInvertebratesLive RockAquarium EquipmentFish FoodDry GoodsMedications
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Free water testing with honest, no-pressure troubleshooting — one cherry shrimp keeper drives an hour each way for it
- Saltwater and reef guidance: staff like Erika help plan layouts with live rock, sand, and the right canister filter
- Miss Angie will special-order any fish or coral not currently in stock
- Monthly tank-maintenance service plus full new-tank setup keeps upkeep stress-free
- Exceptionally clean display tanks and a fresh-smelling, welcoming shop
From keepers
Customer reviews
“Love going there, staff is always friendly and knowledgeable. Personally I feel like if you want to set up your aquarium right, it's a good place to go for information and supplies to get started”
— Kendall DeVaul5.0a month ago“Love this store! They have everything! They are very informative and helpful! Thanks for the help! ✨”
— Megan Montesdeoca5.02 months ago“Excellent place”
— Susan Lizak5.04 months ago“Was greeted immediately, store is very clean. Smells good too! I say this because I just visited another pet store about 1.6 miles away and it SMELLED AWFUL. Great job”
— Aquarium Adorers5.04 months ago“Team was great setting up new tank. Monthly service makes maintenance stress free.”
— Joe Blanchard5.04 months ago“Finally found the correct food for our coyfish”
— Stephanie McGrew5.04 months ago“On Monday, I drove to a fish store in Morehead City with no help in site. I drove to Havelock with minimal help and someone trying to sell me a $60 filter and minimal help. I have a Cherry Shrimp tank and they were dying. Today, we dove an hour to get to the Fish cabr. She tested my water sample and told me exactly what to do and what not to do. She never tried to sell me anything just how to safe my shrimp. It is a process but I am very thankful for the knowledge. This is the only place I will be going in the future! It doesn't matter the drive. Fish Cave employees are amazing. I'll update on the status of my little Cherry Shrimp. I am very Thankful for the help today! You all are awesome!!!!”
— Kathleen Robinson5.0a week ago“I've been going to fish cave on and off for the past 10 plus years. I only keep salt water reef tanks. They helped me through my very first reef tank, and they're helping me through my latest. They are literally the only place in the area that has tanks that look like they are actually cared for. Miss Angie, will order you anything you possibly want if they do not have it. They also sit there and answer my hundred questions every time I come in LOL. 100% 10 out of 10 Recommend Fish Cave to anyone in the area!”
— Ryan Liberty5.02 months ago“Okay, confession time — I’m a fish idiot. I don’t know a nitrate from a nibbler, but I do know one thing: Fish Cave saved me from turning my aquarium into an underwater crime scene. I walked in ready to buy an army of scaly little dudes like I was assembling an aquatic Avengers team. Thankfully, the folks at Fish Cave gently stopped me before I made 14 poor life choices and explained — in words my goldfish brain could understand — how to actually set up my tank properly. Now, instead of mourning a tank of floaters, I have swimming beauties that soothe my neurodivergent brain like a living lava lamp of serenity. I’m calm. They’re happy. Life is good. Let’s talk about the store: Cleanliness: Spotless. Not a fish flake out of place. Selection: Tiny sharks? Check. Crabs? Check. Feeder shrimp? Check. Supplies: Small complete tank kits? Check. Awesome decorations? Double check. Everything: Literally everything you could want for your aquatic empire. Did I mention tiny sharks? Because yes — tiny sharks. And I want a whole tank of them now. Thanks, Fish Cave, for turning me from a clueless fish menace into a full-blown enthusiast. I came for a goldfish, and now I’m planning for billions of fish. 10/10 — would swim again. 🐠💦”
— Alexander de la Paz5.03 months ago“Friendly people and great prices!”
— Kevin Brown5.0Edited 3 months ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (910) 455-7466 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Fish Cave.