
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.
Tobacco Basslet
Fourline Wrasse
Red Sea bannerfish
Tail-spot wrasse
Speckled Blue Grouper
Solar Fairy Wrasse
Teardrop Butterflyfish
Spotband Butterflyfish
Valentini Puffer
Spotfin Hogfish
Peacock Wrasse
Belted Wrasse
Goldspecs Jawfish
Overview Found in various marine environments worldwide. Known for their characteristic large mouths and burrowing behavior. They have elongated bodies and are often colorful. Jawfish are peaceful and have a distinctive behavior of building and inhabiting burrows....
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....
Pennant Bannerfish
Checkerboard Wrasse
Big Longnose Butterflyfish
Copperband Butterflyfish
Latticed Butterflyfish
Meyer’s Butterflyfish
Lined Butterflyfish
Collare Butterflyfish
Eastern Triangle Butterflyfish
Coral Grouper
Coral Beauty Angelfish
Split-Level Hogfish
Lyretail Hogfish
Immaculate Pufferfish
Orange Skunk Clownfish
Maldives Clownfish
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...
Purple Tilefish
Schooling Bannerfish
Sixline Soapfish
Long-Spined Pufferfish
Redfin Fairy Wrasse
Tinker’s Butterflyfish
Raccoon Butterflyfish
Caribbean Sharpnose Puffer
Starry Pufferfish
Lyretail Grouper
Maroon Clownfish
Overview Native to the Indo-Pacific, commonly inhabiting coral reefs and lagoon areas. Recognizable by its deep maroon coloration with distinctive white or yellowish vertical bands. Known for bold personality, territorial nature, and striking appearance. Popular among...
Rosenblatt’s Jawfish
Cleaner Wrasse
Blackeye Thicklip Wrasse
Yellow Coris Wrasse
Humpback Grouper
Pacific Double-Saddle Butterflyfish
Fourspot Butterflyfish
Merten’s Butterflyfish
Orangeface Butterflyfish
Four-Eyed Butterflyfish
Blacktail Butterflyfish
Peacock Grouper
Crowned Toby
Blackfin Hogfish
Black-Spotted Pufferfish
Narrow-Lined Pufferfish
Pink Skunk Clownfish
Clarkii Clownfish
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...
Marcos’ Wrasse
Pyramid Butterflyfish
Yellow Longnose Butterflyfish
Yellowtail Coris Wrasse
Pearlscale Butterflyfish
Mirror Butterflyfish
Saddleback Butterflyfish
Hawaiian Whitespotted Toby
White-Spotted Pufferfish
Moon Wrasse
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...
Peacock Wrasse
Bicolor Cleaner Wrasse
Dusky Wrasse
Pastel Green Wrasse
Lubbock’s Fairy Wrasse
Melon Butterflyfish
Ornate Butterflyfish
Blackback Butterflyfish
Klein’s Butterflyfish
Burgess’ Butterflyfish
Atlantic Spadefish
Half Black Angelfish
Compressed Toby
Diana’s Hogfish
Guineafowl Pufferfish
Masked Pufferfish
Percula Clownfish
Yellowhead Jawfish
Overview Found in the western Atlantic Ocean, including the Caribbean Sea. Known for their bright yellow head and elongated body. They have a large mouth and are often seen hovering near their burrows. Yellowhead jawfish are peaceful and have a distinctive behavior of...