About
Cuttle Fish and Corals has earned the kind of devotion most saltwater shops only dream about — regulars driving in from Seattle, customers commuting an hour each way, and longtime hobbyists like Michael Burch, who has shopped here for more than a decade and now helps out on sale days because, as he puts it, the place is a home away from home. For reef keepers across the Portland, OR metro, this is widely called the best saltwater aquarium store in the city, and a steady stream of five-star reviews backs it up. The shop is known for one of the deepest, most constantly rotating coral selections around, with frags displayed in labeled tanks organized by price point — a layout reviewers call genuinely convenient for frag hunting.
The corals for sale in Portland, OR here range from budget beginner frags to high-end show pieces, and the fish and invertebrate inventory turns over often enough that regulars stop in just to see what is new. Customers consistently praise how clean and hitchhiker-free the tanks are; one noted the team dips every coral they receive before it hits the floor, which is part of why people report never bringing home a sick fish, coral, or invert. The on-the-shelf dry goods are well stocked too, with reviewers calling it some of the best product for maintaining a reef.
What truly sets the store apart is the crew. Owner Pete, along with Jeff, Bret, and Puck, brings deep saltwater expertise and obvious passion — they will spend hours walking newcomers through aquascaping and the reef-tank process from scratch, keep you in the loop when specific livestock arrives, and never make you feel rushed even on a small purchase. The atmosphere gets compared to Cheers: walk in and everybody knows your name.
If you are hunting for saltwater fish and corals near me in the Portland area, Cuttle Fish and Corals delivers pristine tanks, healthy livestock, and a team that genuinely wants your reef to thrive.
What they offer
Fish & livestock for sale at Cuttle Fish and Corals in Portland, OR
Cuttle Fish and Corals stocks corals, reef fish, invertebrates, live rock and saltwater fish for sale in Portland, OR. As an aquarium store serving Portland, OR, it also carries dry goods and aquarium equipment and offers aquarium consultations, aquarium setup, aquascaping and tank maintenance.
- Livestock & products
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Widely called the best saltwater aquarium store in Portland — draws regulars from Seattle and an hour out
- Deep, constantly rotating coral selection with frags in price-labeled tanks for easy frag hunting
- Spotless, hitchhiker-free tanks; the team dips every coral before it goes on the floor
- Owner Pete plus Jeff, Bret, and Puck spend hours on aquascaping and reef-tank guidance
- Well-stocked on-the-shelf dry goods alongside healthy fish, corals, and invertebrates
From keepers
Customer reviews
“Great selection of Inverts, Fish, Coral! Awesome on the shelf goods, some of the best product for maintaining a reef. Awesome people, super community oriented! Love this place🙌”
— Dakota Miller5.018 hours ago“This is the best saltwater fish and coral shop I have found in Portland. They have their frags in labeled tanks based on price. Very convenient for frag hunting. The employees are friendly and knowledgeable when it comes time to get something new. Their tanks are clean and free of hitchhikers. They dip all the corals they receive from supplies. Nothing short of a fantastic place to shop.”
— Martin Hehman5.0a month ago“Great customer service!! Thank you 😊”
— Renea Oravetz5.0a month ago“Blown away with the selection of corals! Genuinely some of the most beautiful tanks I've ever seen! Brett was incredibly helpful and kind. Greatly appreciated my experience an would recommend it to anyone who is interested in salt! Will be coming back again soon!”
— Avaleno Smith5.0a month ago“One of 2 favourite saltwater fish stores in Portland”
— Егор Егоров5.02 months ago“Staff is always helpful! Livestock is healthy and always have a good variety. Definitely worth a visit you wont be disappointed.”
— Matthew Nixon5.02 months ago“Love the store best staff. New owner great to see you, Pete.”
— Todd Parrish5.0Edited 3 months ago“Nice selection of fish and living reef items.”
— Kat Boynton4.04 months ago“You literally could not find a more kind and helpful crew. Been shopping here for 10+ years and now help out on their sale days because it’s such fun atmosphere to be around. It’s a home away from home.”
— Michael Burch5.0Edited 4 months ago“Great place, Great atmosphere & Great Employees!”
— Faith Rodriguez5.0a week ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (971) 302-1347 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Cuttle Fish and Corals.