
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.
Sailfin Tang
Tobacco Basslet
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...
Fourline Wrasse
Queen Angelfish
Pyramid Butterflyfish
Watanabe’s Angelfish
Yellowtail Coris Wrasse
Vermiculated Angelfish
Teardrop Butterflyfish
Spotband Butterflyfish
Whitetail Pygmy Angelfish
Queen Triggerfish
Spotted Wrasse
Brown Tang
Lyretail Grouper
Belted Wrasse
One Spot Foxface Rabbitfish
Blackbelly Triggerfish
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...
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...
Blue Tang
Allen’s Wrasse
King Angelfish
Blackeye Thicklip Wrasse
Yellow Coris Wrasse
Lamarck’s Angelfish
Lubbock’s Fairy Wrasse
Black Velvet Angelfish
Golden Butterflyfish
Eightband Butterflyfish
Oval Butterflyfish
Saddleback Butterflyfish
Bennett’s Butterflyfish
Coral Grouper
Potter’s Angelfish
Eibli Angelfish
Cherub Angelfish
Diana’s Hogfish
Three-spot Angelfish
Orange Skunk Clownfish
Maldives Clownfish
Mimic Tang
Powder Brown Surgeonfish
Yellow Tang
Rectangle Triggerfish
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,...
Purple Tilefish
Singular Bannerfish
Zigzag Wrasse
Yellow Longnose Butterflyfish
Clown Wrasse
Scribbled Angelfish
Tinker’s Butterflyfish
Raccoon Butterflyfish
Rusty Angelfish
Seale’s Cardinalfish
Sohal Tang
Indian Ocean Sailfin Tang
Moon Wrasse
Orbiculate Cardinalfish
Magnificent Rabbitfish
Arabian Picasso Triggerfish
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...
Bluespine Unicorn Tang
Overview Found in the Indo-Pacific region. Known for their distinctive long horn-like protrusion on their forehead, which develops with age. They have a laterally compressed body and a lunate tail. Unicorn tangs are active swimmers and often seen grazing on algae....
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
Dusky Wrasse
Pastel Green Wrasse
Big Longnose Butterflyfish
Harlequin Tuskfish
Blue-spotted Angelfish
Latticed Butterflyfish
Meyer’s Butterflyfish
Lined Butterflyfish
Collare Butterflyfish
Eastern Triangle Butterflyfish
Peacock Grouper
Flame Angelfish
Coral Beauty Angelfish
African Flameback Angelfish
Axilspot Hogfish
Orange-Lined Cardinalfish
Pink Skunk Clownfish
Clarkii Clownfish
Orange Shoulder Tang
Atlantic Blue Tang
Sargassum Triggerfish
Regal Angelfish
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...
Marcos’ Wrasse
Red Sea bannerfish
Tail-spot wrasse
White-streaked Grouper
Solar Fairy Wrasse
Pearlscale Butterflyfish
Mirror Butterflyfish
Saddleback Butterflyfish
Spanish Hogfish
Twospot Cardinalfish
Whitecheek Tang
Peacock Wrasse
Sixbar Wrasse
Pajama Cardinalfish
Orange-Spotted Spinefoot
Picasso Triggerfish
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...
Naso Tang
Overview Found in the Indo-Pacific region. Known for their distinctive appearance, including a prominent nose horn (more developed in males) and vibrant coloration. They have a laterally compressed body and a lunate tail. Naso tangs are active swimmers and often seen...
Cleaner Wrasse
Horned Bannerfish
Radiant Wrasse
Bird Wrasse
Kole Tang
Copperband Butterflyfish
Pacific Double-Saddle Butterflyfish
Fourspot Butterflyfish
Merten’s Butterflyfish
Orangeface Butterflyfish
Four-Eyed Butterflyfish
Blacktail Butterflyfish
Half Black Angelfish
Herald’s Angelfish
Bicolor Angelfish
Split-Level Hogfish
Clown Triggerfish
Ochre-striped Cardinalfish
Percula Clownfish
Indian Ocean Mimic Tang
Lined Surgeonfish
Achilles Tang
Barhead Spinefoot
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...
Shortnose Unicornfish
Rock Beauty
Schooling Bannerfish
Sixline Soapfish
Speckled Blue Grouper
Redfin Fairy Wrasse
Vagabond Butterflyfish
Rainford’s Butterflyfish
Threadfin Butterflyfish
Spotfin Hogfish
Threadfin Cardinalfish
Purple Tang
Blue Throat Triggerfish
Halfmoon Triggerfish
Foxface Rabbitfish
Coral Rabbitfish
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...
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...