
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.
Barhead Spinefoot
Antennata Lionfish
Striated Wrasse
Overview Native to the Indo-Pacific region, typically inhabiting coral-rich reefs and rocky areas. Characterized by its slender, reddish body with horizontal white stripes and iridescent blue markings on the face and fins. Known for being shy and secretive, often seen...
Zigzag Wrasse
Speckled Blue Grouper
Fu Manchu Lionfish
Redfin Fairy Wrasse
Spanish Hogfish
Seale’s Cardinalfish
Peacock Wrasse
Belted Wrasse
One Spot Foxface Rabbitfish
Princess Parrotfish
Banggai Cardinalfish
Overview Endemic to the Banggai Islands of Indonesia, typically inhabiting shallow reefs and seagrass beds. Recognizable for its distinctive silver body, bold black vertical stripes, and white spots. Calm and peaceful nature, making it suitable for community reef...
Decorated Dartfish
Overview Found in the Indo-Pacific region. Known for their elegant appearance with elongated dorsal fin rays and vibrant coloration, often including shades of purple, red, and white. They have a slender body and a peaceful demeanor. Decorated dartfish are often seen...
Cleaner Wrasse
Radiant Wrasse
Bird Wrasse
Five-lined Cardinalfish
Peacock Grouper
Crowned Toby
Split-Level Hogfish
Black-Spotted Pufferfish
Narrow-Lined Pufferfish
Blue-Spotted Wrasse
Tobacco Basslet
Zebra Dartfish
Fourline Wrasse
Tail-spot wrasse
Long-Spined Pufferfish
Yellowtail Coris Wrasse
Valentini Puffer
Spotfin Hogfish
Twospot Cardinalfish
Lyretail Grouper
Orbiculate Cardinalfish
Magnificent Rabbitfish
Radiata Lionfish
Filamented Flasher Wrasse
Overview Native to the Western Pacific Ocean. Known for the elongated filaments on the dorsal fin of males, used in their flashing displays. Small and slender-bodied, with vibrant coloration that intensifies during courtship. Peaceful and active, preferring reef...
Peacock Wrasse
Bicolor Cleaner Wrasse
Checkerboard Wrasse
Humpback Grouper
Bluelined Hind
Half Black Angelfish
Compressed Toby
Blackfin Hogfish
Guineafowl Pufferfish
Masked Pufferfish
Red Lionfish
Scissortail Dartfish
Overview Native to the Indo-Pacific, commonly inhabiting reef slopes, lagoons, and sandy rubble areas. Recognizable by its slender body, pale bluish-grey coloration, and distinct black fins. Peaceful and shy nature, often observed hovering in open water above reefs or...
Purple Tilefish
Sixline Soapfish
Zebra Lionfish
Clown Wrasse
Caribbean Sharpnose Puffer
Starry Pufferfish
Threadfin Cardinalfish
Moon Wrasse
Pajama Cardinalfish
Orange-Spotted Spinefoot
Mombasa Lionfish
Firefish Goby
Overview Found in the Indo-Pacific region. Known for their striking appearance with elongated dorsal and caudal fin rays, and vibrant coloration, typically red, white, and yellow. They have a slender body and a peaceful demeanor. Magnificent dartfish are often seen...
Allen’s Wrasse
Blackeye Thicklip Wrasse
Yellow Coris Wrasse
Lubbock’s Fairy Wrasse
Bicolor Parrotfish
Herald’s Angelfish
Ambon Puffer
Diana’s Hogfish
Map Pufferfish
Orange-Lined Cardinalfish
Russell’s Lionfish
Sixline Wrasse
Overview Native to the Indo-Pacific, commonly found in coral reefs and rocky lagoons. Distinctive appearance with vibrant purple-blue body marked by six horizontal orange-red lines. Popular in aquariums for its active behavior and pest control, known to feed on small...
Marcos’ Wrasse
White-streaked Grouper
Dwarf Lionfish
Solar Fairy Wrasse
Hawaiian Whitespotted Toby
White-Spotted Pufferfish
Spotted Wrasse
Sixbar Wrasse
Foxface Rabbitfish
Coral Rabbitfish
Blue Gudgeon
Overview Native to the Indo-Pacific region, frequently found over sand and rubble substrates near reefs. Distinctive slender body with a pale blue-green coloration and iridescent blue highlights along its sides. Known for peaceful and timid behavior, typically...
Helfrich’s Firefish
Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse
Overview Found in the Indo-Pacific region. Known for their role in cleaning other fish by removing parasites. They have a slender body and a distinctive swimming pattern. Cleaner wrasses establish cleaning stations on the reef. Feeding They are primarily carnivores....