Popular Saltwater Fish Species for your Aquarium

Here are some of the most popular saltwater fish species that are commonly kept in aquariums, each with unique characteristics and care requirements.

A common rule of thumb for how many marine fish you can keep in an aquarium is to allow 1 inch of fish per gallon of water; however, this can vary depending on the specific fish species and their size, with reef tanks generally requiring even more space per fish due to their larger waste output and need for swimming room.

Yellow Tang

Sixline Wrasse

Overview Native to the Indo-Pacific, commonly found in coral reefs and rocky lagoons. Distinctive appearance with vibrant purple-blue body marked by six horizontal orange-red lines. Popular in aquariums for its active behavior and pest control, known to feed on small...

Goldspot Blenny

Purple Tilefish

Red Sea Mimic Blenny

Clown Wrasse

Solar Fairy Wrasse

Redfin Fairy Wrasse

Queen Triggerfish

Seale’s Cardinalfish

Twospot Cardinalfish

Threadfin Cardinalfish

Spotted Wrasse

Sohal Tang

Whitecheek Tang

Orbiculate Cardinalfish

Pajama Cardinalfish

Lawnmower Blenny

Banggai Cardinalfish

Overview Endemic to the Banggai Islands of Indonesia, typically inhabiting shallow reefs and seagrass beds. Recognizable for its distinctive silver body, bold black vertical stripes, and white spots. Calm and peaceful nature, making it suitable for community reef...

Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse

Overview Found in the Indo-Pacific region. Known for their role in cleaning other fish by removing parasites. They have a slender body and a distinctive swimming pattern. Cleaner wrasses establish cleaning stations on the reef. Feeding They are primarily carnivores....