
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.
Ward’s Sleeper Goby
Twin-Spot Goby
Goldspot Blenny
Pyramid Butterflyfish
White-streaked Grouper
Spotted Hawkfish
Tinker’s Butterflyfish
Raccoon Butterflyfish
Wheeler’s Shrimp Goby
Lyretail Grouper
Foxface Rabbitfish
Coral Rabbitfish
Longnose Hawkfish
Pennant Bannerfish
Leopard Blenny
Swallowtail Hawkfish
Coral Hawkfish
Melon Butterflyfish
Ornate Butterflyfish
Blackback Butterflyfish
Klein’s Butterflyfish
Burgess’ Butterflyfish
Bluelined Hind
Herald’s Angelfish
Spotted shrimp goby
The Golden Head Sleeper Goby
Barhead Spinefoot
Singular Bannerfish
Sharknose Goby
Speckled Blue Grouper
Pearlscale Butterflyfish
Mirror Butterflyfish
Saddleback Butterflyfish
Steinitz’s Shrimp Goby
Diamond Goby
One Spot Foxface Rabbitfish
Lawnmower Blenny
Flame Hawkfish
Curious Wormfish
Midas Blenny
Pink Speckled Shrimp Goby
Falco Hawkfish
Golden Butterflyfish
Eightband Butterflyfish
Oval Butterflyfish
Saddleback Butterflyfish
Bennett’s Butterflyfish
Coral Grouper
Coral Beauty Angelfish
Diagonal Shrimp Goby
Starry Dragonet
Tobacco Basslet
Red Sea bannerfish
Yellow Clown Goby
Red Sea Mimic Blenny
Vagabond Butterflyfish
Rainford’s Butterflyfish
Threadfin Butterflyfish
Randall’s Shrimp Goby
Mandarin Dragonet
Magnificent Rabbitfish
Bluestriped Fangblenny
Overview Native to the Indo-Pacific region, commonly found near coral reefs and lagoon habitats. Distinctive slender body with alternating bright blue and black horizontal stripes. Known for its unique behavior of mimicking cleaner wrasses to approach other fish and...
Decorated Goby
Neon Goby
Bicolor Blenny
Humpback Grouper
Copperband Butterflyfish
Latticed Butterflyfish
Meyer’s Butterflyfish
Lined Butterflyfish
Collare Butterflyfish
Eastern Triangle Butterflyfish
Peacock Grouper
Sleeper Banded Goby
Spotted Mandarin
Smith’s Fangblenny
Schooling Bannerfish
Yellow Longnose Butterflyfish
Yellow Watchman Goby
Teardrop Butterflyfish
Spotband Butterflyfish
Rainford’s Goby
Wide-Banded Shrimp Goby
Blackray Shrimp Goby
Orange-Spotted Spinefoot
Convict Blenny
Overview Native to the Indo-Pacific region, typically inhabiting coral reefs and rocky crevices. Distinctive eel-like body with striking black and white horizontal stripes, resembling a "convict" pattern. Known for its unique burrowing and schooling behavior, often...