Beital's Aquariums: Pearl River's Underwater World of Rare Fish and Custom Tanks

Walk into Beital's Exotic Aquariums on South Pearl Street in Pearl River and the room hums. The shop at 73 South Pearl Street sells saltwater fish, corals, and invertebrates alongside freshwater fish, koi, and live plants — and for hobbyists who have admired someone else's aquarium and wanted one of their own, the team will design a custom tank, install it, and keep it thriving afterward.

The business describes its custom aquariums as showpieces for a home or office space, the kind of installation that impresses anyone who walks through the door. If this is your first tank, you can set up a private appointment to talk through pricing and design before committing — the shop's pitch is that it's more than just a retailer, aiming to pair products with the services and expert advice a living ecosystem requires.

The inventory runs deep on both sides of the hobby. Freshwater shoppers find the familiar staples, while the saltwater side carries the exotics people usually associate with reef diving — clownfish and corals among them — plus rarities like arowanas and discus that are hard to source anywhere. Koi round out the pond connection, and the shop handles seasonal pond openings, closings, and liners alongside its tank work.

That range is why regulars keep driving in from beyond Rockland. One Westchester customer wrote that when no upscale shop in Westchester had the tank he wanted, even the manufacturer told him to call Beital's. Another regular, a five-year customer with kids, calls it the family's go-to spot and praises owner Craig and his wife Debbie for taking real time with questions. A 120-gallon saltwater setup stocked with exotic fish gets singled out as stunning.

For the bargain-minded, the shop sells used aquariums at big discounts with a one-year warranty — a practical way into the hobby. Store hours run Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM, and Saturday and Sunday, 9:30 AM to 4 PM, with evening hours by appointment. And if you want a preview before you go, the shop notes that The Cichlid Bros came by and filmed a store tour for their YouTube channel.

It's a small, specialized slice of Pearl River — part pet shop, part design studio for underwater worlds, all run by people who have been in the trade for decades. If your idea of a good afternoon is rows of glass and a question answered by someone who actually keeps fish, South Pearl Street is worth the trip.