River City Aquatics

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.