
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
Tobacco Basslet
Schooling Bannerfish
Yellow Longnose Butterflyfish
Pearlscale Butterflyfish
Mirror Butterflyfish
Saddleback Butterflyfish
Steinitz’s Shrimp Goby
Diamond Goby
Magnificent Rabbitfish
Decorated Goby
Curious Wormfish
Pink Speckled Shrimp Goby
Pacific Double-Saddle Butterflyfish
Fourspot Butterflyfish
Merten’s Butterflyfish
Orangeface Butterflyfish
Four-Eyed Butterflyfish
Blacktail Butterflyfish
Half Black Angelfish
Sleeper Banded Goby
The Golden Head Sleeper Goby
Violet Soldierfish
Pyramid Butterflyfish
White-streaked Grouper
Vagabond Butterflyfish
Rainford’s Butterflyfish
Threadfin Butterflyfish
Randall’s Shrimp Goby
Blackray Shrimp Goby
Orange-Spotted Spinefoot
Blue Hamlet
Neon Goby
Humpback Grouper
Melon Butterflyfish
Ornate Butterflyfish
Blackback Butterflyfish
Klein’s Butterflyfish
Burgess’ Butterflyfish
Bluelined Hind
Herald’s Angelfish
Periophthalma Shrimp Goby
Twin-Spot Goby
Singular Bannerfish
Sharknose Goby
Speckled Blue Grouper
Teardrop Butterflyfish
Spotband Butterflyfish
Rainford’s Goby
Wide-Banded Shrimp Goby
Foxface Rabbitfish
Coral Rabbitfish
Horned Bannerfish
Big Longnose Butterflyfish
Messmate Pipefish
Golden Butterflyfish
Eightband Butterflyfish
Oval Butterflyfish
Saddleback Butterflyfish
Bennett’s Butterflyfish
Coral Grouper
Coral Beauty Angelfish
Spotted shrimp goby
Barhead Spinefoot
Red Sea bannerfish
Yellow Clown Goby
Yellow Watchman Goby
Tinker’s Butterflyfish
Raccoon Butterflyfish
Wheeler’s Shrimp Goby
Lyretail Grouper
One Spot Foxface Rabbitfish
Twospot Soldierfish
Overview Native to the Indo-Pacific region, often found in lagoons and seaward reefs. Recognized by its vibrant red or orange body, distinctive black tips on its dorsal fin, and large eyes. Nocturnal species, typically seeking shelter in caves or crevices during the...