About
Tucked into Hawley, Pennsylvania, Riverside Reef Aquatics LLC is a passion project run by owners Rob and Leslie that has built a loyal following among freshwater and saltwater hobbyists across the Poconos and greater Pike County. The shop's calling card is its tanks — reviewers repeatedly describe them as the cleanest they've ever seen, crystal clear and meticulously maintained, stocked with vibrant, healthy fish that rotate often enough that regulars find something new on nearly every visit. The saltwater room is a genuine draw for reef keepers.
Corals, invertebrates, and marine fish are kept in excellent condition, and more than one customer built an entire reef setup here with the owner's hands-on guidance. On the freshwater side, you'll find bettas and catfish for sale in Hawley, PA — bettas housed in proper tanks rather than cups — alongside community species, a strong selection of mini and pygmy fish suited to smaller tanks, and the live plants one devoted regular refuses to buy anywhere else. Aquascaping decor like rocks and driftwood, plus accessories and dry goods, rounds out the inventory.
Beyond retail, Rob brings decades of experience and a consultative streak that sets the shop apart. He handles custom tank setups, including a 75-gallon build one customer called outstanding, and offers in-home tank maintenance with water changes and cleaning at rates clients describe as extremely reasonable. He'll special-order specific livestock and equipment to fit a tank's needs, take real time answering questions — even patiently fielding curious kids' — and is known for steering customers toward saving money, particularly on fish food.
For aquarists around Hawley and the wider Pike County area, Riverside Reef Aquatics is the kind of local fish store that makes the hobby more accessible: variety, clean livestock, and real expertise available right in town.
What they offer
Fish & livestock for sale at Riverside Reef Aquatics LLC in Hawley, PA
Riverside Reef Aquatics LLC stocks corals, reef fish, invertebrates, betta fish, catfish, aquarium plants and freshwater & saltwater fish for sale in Hawley, PA. As an aquarium store serving Hawley, PA, it also offers tank maintenance, aquarium setup, tank cleaning and aquarium consultations.
- Livestock & products
- Services
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Pristine saltwater section with healthy corals, invertebrates, and reef fish
- Constantly rotating freshwater and saltwater fish selection with new species regularly
- In-home tank maintenance and water change services at competitive rates
- Custom tank setup service including large builds like 75-gallon systems
- Popular live plant selection praised by dedicated repeat customers
From keepers
Customer reviews
“i cannot give enough praise to this local shop. one of my little guy’s favorite spots coming in close second to the actual aquarium. very knowledgeable and friendly owner. awesome variety at fair prices”
— Nina E5.0a day ago“A gorgeous selection of fish, fresh and saltwater. Plenty if aquascaping decor (rocks, wood, etc) and bettas are kept in tanks here! No cups! Will regularly be going here for my aquarium needs.”
— Hailey Boehmer5.06 days ago“The owner is extremely knowledgeable with decades of experience. I walked into riverside knowing nothing about marine aquariums. The store was kept nice, the tanks were all clean, and all the livestock was healthy. I left there with a complete setup to get started reefing and have been a regular ever since. The owner has been by my side the whole time, answering all my questions, giving me great suggestions, and ordering me specific items that fit my tanks needs. My tank has came an incredibly long way since starting it and its all with the help of riverside guiding me”
— Kyle Penwarden5.03 weeks ago“We stopped in here completely by accident while we were in the area, and I’m so glad we did. The owner (Rob) was incredibly knowledgeable and genuinely enthusiastic about what he does. What started as a quick look turned into about an hour of great conversation about our current tank, stocking ideas, and general fishkeeping. All of the shop's tanks were in excellent condition- clean, well-maintained, and full of healthy, active fish. Rob even mentioned it was an “off week” and that things weren’t at their best, which honestly says a lot about his standards because everything looked great to us. We didn’t see a single sick or dead fish. One thing I really appreciated was the variety- he had a great selection of mini/pygmy fish, which is perfect for smaller tanks like mine. He also had some really unique and interesting species, and what stood out even more was how excited he was to show them to us. It made the whole experience feel personal and fun, not just transactional. He also told us he can special order pretty much anything we’re looking for. It’s clear he cares about both the animals and helping customers succeed. If you’re into aquariums, this place is absolutely worth a stop- we’ll definitely be back.”
— Katherine Grindle5.02 months ago“Very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about fish. Cleanest tanks I've ever seen. Our little one had a great time and we got some nice fish.”
— Kate L5.03 months ago“Shop elsewhere. You are kind of correct. I WAS a customer.”
— John Lehr1.0Edited 3 months ago“Seems the owner of this page likes to publicly harass others online and accuse people of serious claims over simply sharing political differences, which I'm not sure that is part of selling reef aquatic supplies anyways. It wasn't even towards me but watching a business conduct themselves so poorly, hateful and violently, towards a person who didn't even be rude, just share a funny meme, is not one I support and maybe many of you shouldn't either.”
— Mekalah DiBlasi1.04 months ago“Edit: it's a shame that a business owner will publicly show their hatred towards patrons of their establishment solely based on political views. My political alignment is in no way on display. However this owner is doubling down on their divisive opinions. And then assumes my political alignment calling me politically biased derogatory names. Shameful. I will never again step foot in this establishment. And regardless of political affiliation, you shouldn't spend your money here either. And the term "snowflake" was a derogatory name that was originally used by the right towards the left. It's interesting this person is now using it As a term against what he perceives as a "right wing" motivated review. Immature, unprofessional, unhinged and terribly shameful.”
— Robert Eade1.04 months ago“The owner and operator of this establishment posts nasty, hateful and condescending remarks on their Facebook page. They have made personal attacks via Facebook messenger to myself and others. Completely unprofessional and disgusting. I would never do business with someone who can't remain professional and courteous to all individuals. Do not use this business.”
— thomas bubar1.04 months ago“Very clean tanks, very healthy fish, nice passionate shop owner.”
— Angel5.0a week ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (272) 336-0688 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Riverside Reef Aquatics LLC.