
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.
Sargassum Triggerfish
Striated Wrasse
Overview Native to the Indo-Pacific region, typically inhabiting coral-rich reefs and rocky areas. Characterized by its slender, reddish body with horizontal white stripes and iridescent blue markings on the face and fins. Known for being shy and secretive, often seen...
Threadfin Anthias
Overview Native to the Western Pacific, frequently found around reef slopes and coral-rich areas. Notable for its beautiful coloration, featuring a pinkish body, vibrant red-orange dorsal fins, and elongated thread-like fin rays in males. A peaceful schooling species...
Fourline Wrasse
Zigzag Wrasse
White-streaked Grouper
Vermiculated Angelfish
Spanish Hogfish
Peacock Wrasse
Sixbar Wrasse
Blackbelly Triggerfish
Princess Anthias
Overview Native to the Indo-Pacific region, typically found in outer reef slopes and drop-offs. Distinguished by its vivid pink and purple hues with subtle yellow highlights, especially in males. A peaceful, schooling species often seen swimming in the water column...
Cooper’s Anthias
Overview Found throughout the Indo-Pacific region, particularly near coral slopes and reef drop-offs. Males display a bold reddish-pink body with a lavender hue, while females are more orange or yellow-toned. A mid-water schooling fish known for its beauty and...
Blueface Angelfish
Overview Native to the Indo-Pacific region, typically found in coral-rich lagoons and reef slopes. Distinctive appearance featuring a yellow face with a vibrant blue mask, a pale body with blue scales, and blue highlights on fins and tail. Known for its bold,...
Emperor Angelfish
Overview Native to the Indo-Pacific region, commonly found in coral-rich lagoons and seaward reefs. Famous for its striking coloration; juveniles have distinct blue, white, and black circular patterns, adults develop vivid yellow and blue stripes with a distinctive...
Filamented Flasher Wrasse
Overview Native to the Western Pacific Ocean. Known for the elongated filaments on the dorsal fin of males, used in their flashing displays. Small and slender-bodied, with vibrant coloration that intensifies during courtship. Peaceful and active, preferring reef...
Allen’s Wrasse
King Angelfish
Radiant Wrasse
Swallowtail Angelfish
Black Velvet Angelfish
Peacock Grouper
Lemonpeel Angelfish
Cherub Angelfish
Blackfin Hogfish
Indian Yellowtail Angelfish
Tobacco Basslet
Yellowstripe Anthias
Overview Native to the Indo-Pacific, commonly found on coral-rich reef slopes and drop-offs. Recognizable by its vibrant purple body with a distinctive bright yellow stripe running along its dorsal region. A schooling species admired for its striking colors and active...
Sixbar Angelfish
Overview Native to the Indo-West Pacific, commonly found around coral-rich reefs and lagoons. Recognizable by its distinctive body marked with vertical black bars over a pale background, and vibrant blue highlights on fins. Known for a bold, territorial personality,...
Marcos’ Wrasse
Tail-spot wrasse
Speckled Blue Grouper
Scribbled Angelfish
Spotfin Hogfish
Blue Throat Triggerfish
Halfmoon Triggerfish
Arabian Picasso Triggerfish
Purple Queen Anthias
Overview Native to the Indo-Pacific region, typically inhabiting outer reef slopes and deep coral reef environments. Characterized by its stunning lavender-purple coloration with subtle yellow accents on fins and face. Known for active schooling behavior and striking...
Bicolor Anthias
Overview Native to the Indo-Pacific, commonly inhabiting coral reefs and reef slopes. Known for its vibrant coloration with males showcasing a striking mix of pink and orange, while females exhibit a softer yellowish-orange color. A schooling species, prized for its...
Koran Angelfish
Overview Native to the Indo-Pacific region, commonly found around coral reefs and lagoon environments. Known for its vibrant blue-green body with distinctive semicircular patterns and intricate blue markings on the fins. Juveniles have bold blue, black, and white...
Arabian Angelfish
Overview Native to the Red Sea and western Indian Ocean, commonly inhabiting coral reefs and rocky reef slopes. Recognizable by its striking coloration: a deep blue-black body with a bold vertical yellow band and yellow tail fin. Juveniles display a unique coloration...
Multi-barred Angelfish
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....
Blue Angelfish
Checkerboard Wrasse
Lamarck’s Angelfish
Blue-spotted Angelfish
Keyhole Angelfish
Eibli Angelfish
African Flameback Angelfish
Diana’s Hogfish
Three-spot Angelfish
Rectangle Triggerfish
Redband Anthias
Overview Native to the Western Pacific, especially near coral reef drop-offs and outer reef slopes. Features a vibrant pink to reddish body with a distinct vertical red bar on the side, more prominent in males. Schooling species often seen swimming mid-water above...
Yellowbar Angelfish
Overview Native to the Red Sea, Persian Gulf, and northwestern Indian Ocean, typically found around coral reefs and rocky outcrops. Distinguished by its deep blue body, vibrant yellow vertical bar in the center, and blue-margined fins and tail. Juveniles display black...
Rock Beauty
Sixline Soapfish
Yellowtail Coris Wrasse
Whitetail Pygmy Angelfish
Queen Triggerfish
Lyretail Grouper
Belted Wrasse
Picasso Triggerfish
Lori’s Anthias
Overview Native to the Western Pacific, typically inhabiting outer reef slopes and drop-offs. Known for its vivid pink and red coloration, with males displaying a more intense hue and extended fin rays. A peaceful, active schooling species often found hovering in...
Bartlett’s Anthias
Overview Native to the Pacific Ocean, particularly common in coral reefs around the Marshall Islands and the Central Pacific. Features a striking coloration with vibrant yellow body, purplish-red upper half, and striking lavender highlights on fins. A schooling...
French Angelfish
Overview Native to the Western Atlantic, found in coral reefs from Florida, the Caribbean, and Brazil. Recognized for its dark body with golden-yellow scale edges, giving it a distinctive net-like appearance. Juveniles exhibit black bodies with vibrant yellow vertical...
Gray Angelfish
Overview Native to the Western Atlantic, commonly found near coral reefs and rocky outcroppings in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. Large angelfish with a dark gray body covered in lighter scale markings and a broad, crescent-shaped tail fin. Juveniles feature a...
Longnose Filefish
Cleaner Wrasse
Blackeye Thicklip Wrasse
Pastel Green Wrasse
Humpback Grouper
Bluelined Hind
Potter’s Angelfish
Bicolor Angelfish
Marine Betta
Axilspot Hogfish
Blue-Spotted Wrasse
Regal Angelfish
Squarespot Anthias
Overview Native to the Indo-Pacific region, commonly found on reef slopes and coral-rich lagoons. Distinctive appearance featuring a vibrant pinkish-purple body with a prominent square-shaped pink or lavender marking on its sides. A peaceful schooling species valued...
Carberry’s Anthias
Queen Angelfish
Watanabe’s Angelfish
Clown Wrasse
Rusty Angelfish
Spotted Wrasse
Moon Wrasse
Fathead Sunburst Anthias
Lyretail Anthias
Overview Native to the Indo-Pacific region, commonly found on outer reef slopes and drop-offs. Males are bright orange to reddish-orange with long trailing fin extensions; females are yellow-orange and more slender. Highly active and social schooling fish that prefer...
Dispar Anthias
Overview Native to the Indo-Pacific, especially around reef slopes and outer reef drop-offs. Displays vibrant orange to reddish coloration in males, while females are more subdued in color. A peaceful and active schooling fish, often seen mid-water in groups above...
Cortez Angelfish
Overview Native to the Eastern Pacific, primarily found along rocky reefs from the Gulf of California to Peru. Notable for its striking coloration, including a dark blue body with vertical yellow stripes and blue highlights on fins. Known for its bold and inquisitive...
Majestic Angelfish
Overview Native to the Indo-Pacific region, commonly inhabiting coral reefs, lagoons, and reef slopes. Known as the Majestic Angelfish, recognized for its striking blue and yellow-orange coloration with intricate patterns. Juveniles have distinct black bodies with...
Blue Ring Angelfish
Overview Native to the Indo-Pacific region, commonly found around coral-rich reefs and rocky structures. Identifiable by its beautiful blue-ringed pattern on a tan or yellowish body, with vibrant blue highlights around the fins and face. Adults and juveniles differ...