For Buyers

Buy direct from fellow reefers

Buy from UK hobbyists and businesses with buyer protection, public DOA rates, and reviews.

Why buy here?

Buy direct from experienced hobbyists

You're buying from UK reefers who grow their own frags, raise their own fish, and actually care about what they're selling. Not a warehouse. Not a random listing. Someone who knows their stock.

Every review is from someone who actually bought something

No fake testimonials, no mates leaving five stars. Every review is tied to a completed purchase. You see what actually happened.

See every seller's track record before you buy

DOA claim rate, transaction history, verification status — it's all public. You can see exactly who you're buying from before you spend a penny.

Choose captive-bred and tank-raised livestock

Filter for captive-bred, tank-raised, and aquacultured livestock. Support reefers who breed responsibly — better for the hobby, better for the ocean.

Find local sellers and plan collection trips

Search by distance, find sellers near you, and pick up from multiple sellers in one go. No more messaging five people asking "where are you based?" before you know if collection is even possible.

No more sending money to strangers and hoping

We've all done it — sent money to a PayPal and just hoped they'd post the thing. No more. Payments go through Stripe, sellers have public track records, and you have actual recourse if something goes wrong.

Your money back if it arrives dead

Nobody wants to open a box and find a dead coral. Here's how we've got your back.

Important: Shipping is arranged and fulfilled by individual sellers, not Reefsy. We are a marketplace connecting buyers and sellers.

What it costs

5%(min £1.50)

Added at checkout, optional but recommended for shipped livestock.

What you get

  • Full refund if DOA within 2 hours of delivery
  • Photo/video evidence required (quick and easy)
  • Admin review within 48 hours
  • Refund straight to your payment method
  • No chasing sellers for your money back

How it works

1

Purchase with protection

Select buyer protection at checkout for shipped livestock.

2

Receive your order

Inspect on arrival. Most livestock arrives healthy.

3

If DOA, file a claim

Upload photo/video within 2 hours of delivery. Submit your claim.

4

Get your refund

Admin reviews and refunds within 48 hours if approved.

What if seller doesn't ship?

If a seller doesn't fulfill your order, you can open a dispute. We'll mediate and issue refunds for non-delivery. Sellers who fail to ship twice face account suspension.

Worth a couple of quid for peace of mind?

The average DOA claim is worth over £50. A couple of quid gets you a full refund if anything goes wrong. Most buyers add it for shipped livestock - it's a no-brainer.

"My torch coral arrived damaged. Reefsy resolved it within 48 hours and I received a full refund."

— Verified Buyer

Know who you're buying from

Every seller's profile tells you everything you need to know before you spend a penny.

Seller ratings

Star rating from completed transactions, right there on every listing. No hiding behind a blank profile.

Verification badges

Business sellers can earn verified status. Look for the badge on their profile.

DOA rate visibility

Every seller's DOA claim history is public. Good sellers have nothing to hide - and you'll know the dodgy ones.

Transaction count

See how many sales a seller has completed. More transactions means more data on their track record, so you can buy with confidence.

WYSIWYG photos

Multiple photos required. What you see is what gets posted to you.

Response time

See how quickly sellers typically reply to messages. No more wondering if they've ghosted you.

For Buyers

1

Search by species, location, or provenance

Find coral, fish, inverts, and equipment. Filter by distance to discover local breeders, or browse captive-bred and tank-raised livestock nationwide.

2

Check seller DOA rates, reviews, and verification

Every seller has a public DOA rate and verified purchase reviews. Message sellers directly to ask questions, negotiate, or arrange collection.

3

Checkout with optional DOA protection

Secure checkout via Stripe. Add buyer protection for 5% (min £1.50) and get a full refund if livestock arrives dead within 2 hours of delivery.

Support responsible reef keeping

Every listing on Reefsy can be tagged with its provenance. Filter for captive-bred, tank-raised, or aquacultured livestock — and choose sellers who breed responsibly. The reef hobby has a role to play in protecting wild reefs, and your buying choices matter.

Captive-bred

Bred in captivity, not taken from the ocean.

Tank-raised

Raised in aquarium conditions from wild-caught parents.

Aquacultured

Grown from coral fragments in controlled environments.

Maricultured

Grown in ocean-based farms rather than the wild reef.

Filter listings by provenance to find livestock that matches your values.

Ready to browse?

Buy direct from UK hobbyists. Every seller's reviews are from real purchases. Buyer protection if anything arrives DOA.

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