
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
Twin-Spot Goby
Singular Bannerfish
Sharknose Goby
Speckled Blue Grouper
Teardrop Butterflyfish
Spotband Butterflyfish
Rainford’s Goby
Wide-Banded Shrimp Goby
Brown Tang
Blackray Shrimp Goby
Orange-Spotted Spinefoot
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...
Horned Bannerfish
Big Longnose Butterflyfish
Copperband Butterflyfish
Latticed Butterflyfish
Meyer’s Butterflyfish
Lined Butterflyfish
Collare Butterflyfish
Eastern Triangle Butterflyfish
Peacock Grouper
Marine Betta
Spotted shrimp goby
Mimic Tang
Powder Brown Surgeonfish
Yellow Tang
Barhead Spinefoot
Red Sea bannerfish
Yellow Clown Goby
Yellow Watchman Goby
Tinker’s Butterflyfish
Raccoon Butterflyfish
Wheeler’s Shrimp Goby
Sohal Tang
Indian Ocean Sailfin Tang
Foxface Rabbitfish
Coral Rabbitfish
Decorated Goby
Pennant Bannerfish
Kole Tang
Pacific Double-Saddle Butterflyfish
Fourspot Butterflyfish
Merten’s Butterflyfish
Orangeface Butterflyfish
Four-Eyed Butterflyfish
Blacktail Butterflyfish
Half Black Angelfish
Lyretail Hogfish
Diagonal Shrimp Goby
Orange Shoulder Tang
Atlantic Blue Tang
Ward’s Sleeper Goby
Tobacco Basslet
Schooling Bannerfish
Yellow Longnose Butterflyfish
Pearlscale Butterflyfish
Mirror Butterflyfish
Saddleback Butterflyfish
Steinitz’s Shrimp Goby
Whitecheek Tang
Lyretail Grouper
One Spot Foxface Rabbitfish
Blue Tang
Stark’s Tilefish
Curious Wormfish
Pink Speckled Shrimp Goby
Melon Butterflyfish
Ornate Butterflyfish
Blackback Butterflyfish
Klein’s Butterflyfish
Burgess’ Butterflyfish
Bluelined Hind
Herald’s Angelfish
Sleeper Banded Goby
Indian Ocean Mimic Tang
Lined Surgeonfish
Achilles Tang
The Golden Head Sleeper Goby
Shortnose Unicornfish
Pyramid Butterflyfish
White-streaked Grouper
Vagabond Butterflyfish
Rainford’s Butterflyfish
Threadfin Butterflyfish
Randall’s Shrimp Goby
Purple Tang
Diamond Goby
Magnificent Rabbitfish
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....