About
River City Aquatics has quietly built a devoted following among Austin's saltwater community, and it's easy to see why. Owned and operated by Jake, who reviewers describe with near-universal affection, this clean, well-organized shop on the city's aquatics scene is primarily a reef store — and a seriously good one. Coral inventory ranges from beginner-friendly frags under $20 to premium pieces north of $300, with pulsing Xenia, green star polyps, and an ever-rotating selection that keeps regulars coming back weekly.
The saltwater fish lineup is robust, and the invertebrate section rivals shops twice its size, stocked with cleanup crews and more exotic offerings like seahorses and octopuses. What sets River City apart is the depth of care behind the counter. Multiple reviewers mention Jake and his team walking them through their first saltwater tank setup from scratch — explaining equipment, answering follow-up calls about brackish water parameters, and genuinely investing in hobbyists' success.
One customer credits the staff with helping transition their seahorses from live to frozen food. Another called repeatedly for advice on converting a freshwater setup to brackish for eels and found the team endlessly patient. The shop also stocks freshwater and saltwater feeder shrimp — a surprisingly rare combo in Austin — along with live rock, dry goods, and fish food.
They even ship livestock nationally; one reviewer ordered an axolotl through their website and received it in a cooler with a cold pack and a preview photo of the animal before it shipped. Tanks throughout the store are visibly well-maintained, with healthy, eating-ready livestock that multiple long-term customers (some shopping here for over a decade) vouch for. Fair pricing on both coral and fish is a recurring theme.
For Austin reef keepers looking for quality coral, trustworthy livestock, and a staff that remembers your name and your tank's history, River City Aquatics delivers consistently.
What they offer
Livestock, services, water
- Livestock & products
- Services
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Extensive coral selection ranging from under $20 to over $300 with constantly rotating inventory
- Owner Jake and staff provide personalized saltwater tank setup guidance and ongoing support
- Ships livestock nationally — axolotls and other species available through their online store
- One of few Austin stores stocking both saltwater and freshwater feeder shrimp
- Exotic livestock including seahorses, octopuses, and invertebrates beyond typical reef store fare
From keepers
Customer reviews
“This place is great. The staff has been kind, and they've provided good information that was often from their own experience. Thus, they directly had some advice to tack on, too, and that's always helpful.”
— Dudimus Prime5.0Edited 3 weeks ago“I'm a new fish owner, met a gentleman by the name of Jake, nothing but kindness and help. If you have saltwater fish and need supplies. I highly recommend them.”
— Josh Villa (cool36775)5.04 weeks ago“Great selection, friendly staff. Jake had me in and out with everything I needed quickly and was very helpful. This is now my favorite aquarium shop in town!”
— Matthew Rossetti5.0a month ago“Hands down the best aquarium store in Austin - great selection of healthy fish and corals”
— AJ Forsythe5.0a month ago“Very cool store. Huge selection. This is a hidden gem of a fish supply store.”
— Jacob Aud5.04 months ago“Another fantastic trip to the local reef store and found a beautiful fish that is a new addition to my reef Tank! Thank you”
— Derrick L Nairn5.0Edited 4 months ago“Great selection. Jake and his crew know their stuff!”
— Joseph Diesing5.0Edited 4 months ago“just started a brackish water tank for some eels that were sold to me as freshwater. I have called River city quite a few times and they have given me amazing information. They have been extremely helpful and kind over the phone. I have a freshwater aquarium cleaning business so saltwater is fairly new to me and these guys have been awesome with the information they have given me!”
— Laura Smith5.04 months ago“The staff are friendly and knowledgeable. They showed my 6yo some really cool fish, octopus and sea horses. They encouraged his curiosity and we left exited and ready to start a new tank.”
— Michael L5.04 months ago“This place rules.”
— Justin Schieffer5.05 months ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (512) 219-7200 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting River City Aquatics.