
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
Antennata Lionfish
Schooling Bannerfish
Speckled Blue Grouper
Pearlscale Butterflyfish
Mirror Butterflyfish
Saddleback Butterflyfish
Warty Frogfish
Purple Tang
Lyretail Grouper
Magnificent Rabbitfish
Arabian Picasso Triggerfish
Blue Tang
Horned Bannerfish
Humpback Grouper
Golden Butterflyfish
Eightband Butterflyfish
Oval Butterflyfish
Saddleback Butterflyfish
Bennett’s Butterflyfish
Coral Grouper
Coral Beauty Angelfish
Mimic Tang
Powder Brown Surgeonfish
Yellow Tang
Rectangle Triggerfish
Shortnose Unicornfish
Pyramid Butterflyfish
Zebra Lionfish
Vagabond Butterflyfish
Rainford’s Butterflyfish
Threadfin Butterflyfish
Scarlet Frogfish
Brown Tang
Halfmoon Triggerfish
Orange-Spotted Spinefoot
Picasso Triggerfish
Longnose Filefish
Pennant Bannerfish
Copperband Butterflyfish
Latticed Butterflyfish
Meyer’s Butterflyfish
Lined Butterflyfish
Collare Butterflyfish
Eastern Triangle Butterflyfish
Peacock Grouper
Clown Triggerfish
Orange Shoulder Tang
Atlantic Blue Tang
Sargassum Triggerfish
Red Lionfish
Singular Bannerfish
Yellow Longnose Butterflyfish
Dwarf Lionfish
Teardrop Butterflyfish
Spotband Butterflyfish
Queen Triggerfish
Sohal Tang
Indian Ocean Sailfin Tang
Foxface Rabbitfish
Coral Rabbitfish
Radiata Lionfish
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....
Big Longnose Butterflyfish
Pacific Double-Saddle Butterflyfish
Fourspot Butterflyfish
Merten’s Butterflyfish
Orangeface Butterflyfish
Four-Eyed Butterflyfish
Blacktail Butterflyfish
Half Black Angelfish
Indian Ocean Mimic Tang
Lined Surgeonfish
Achilles Tang
Barhead Spinefoot
Russell’s Lionfish
Red Sea bannerfish
White-streaked Grouper
Fu Manchu Lionfish
Tinker’s Butterflyfish
Raccoon Butterflyfish
Striated Frogfish
Whitecheek Tang
Blue Throat Triggerfish
One Spot Foxface Rabbitfish
Blackbelly Triggerfish
Mombasa Lionfish
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...