
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
The Golden Head Sleeper Goby
Regal Angelfish
Rock Beauty
Watanabe’s Angelfish
Vermiculated Angelfish
Queen Triggerfish
Randall’s Shrimp Goby
Purple Tang
Lyretail Grouper
Blackbelly 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....
Blue Angelfish
Lamarck’s Angelfish
Black Velvet Angelfish
Peacock Grouper
Flame Angelfish
Coral Beauty Angelfish
African Flameback Angelfish
Indian Yellowtail Angelfish
Percula Clownfish
Sleeper Banded Goby
Indian Ocean Mimic Tang
Lined Surgeonfish
Achilles Tang
Yellow Tang
Twin-Spot Goby
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,...
Queen Angelfish
White-streaked Grouper
Scribbled Angelfish
Rainford’s Goby
Wide-Banded Shrimp Goby
Brown Tang
Diamond Goby
Arabian 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...
Multi-barred Angelfish
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...
Curious Wormfish
Kole Tang
Blue-spotted Angelfish
Half Black Angelfish
Herald’s Angelfish
Bicolor Angelfish
Marine Betta
Three-spot Angelfish
Ocellaris Clownfish
Periophthalma Shrimp Goby
Convict Tang
Powder Blue Surgeonfish
Sargassum Triggerfish
Tobacco Basslet
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...
Sharknose Goby
Speckled Blue Grouper
Whitetail Pygmy Angelfish
Wheeler’s Shrimp Goby
Sohal Tang
Indian Ocean Sailfin Tang
Halfmoon Triggerfish
Picasso Triggerfish
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...
Blue Tang
Decorated Goby
Neon Goby
Pink Speckled Shrimp Goby
Bluelined Hind
Keyhole Angelfish
Lemonpeel Angelfish
Golden Angelfish
Lyretail Hogfish
Orange Skunk Clownfish
Maldives Clownfish
Spotted shrimp goby
Mimic Tang
Powder Brown Surgeonfish
Ward’s Sleeper Goby
Rectangle Triggerfish
Shortnose Unicornfish
Yellow Clown Goby
Yellow Watchman Goby
Rusty Angelfish
Steinitz’s Shrimp Goby
Whitecheek Tang
Blue Throat Triggerfish
Blackray Shrimp Goby
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...