
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
Regal Angelfish
Goldspot Blenny
White-streaked Grouper
Scribbled Angelfish
Whitecheek Tang
Lyretail Grouper
Orange-Spotted Spinefoot
French Angelfish
Overview Native to the Western Atlantic, found in coral reefs from Florida, the Caribbean, and Brazil. Recognized for its dark body with golden-yellow scale edges, giving it a distinctive net-like appearance. Juveniles exhibit black bodies with vibrant yellow vertical...
Blue Ring Angelfish
Overview Native to the Indo-Pacific region, commonly found around coral-rich reefs and rocky structures. Identifiable by its beautiful blue-ringed pattern on a tan or yellowish body, with vibrant blue highlights around the fins and face. Adults and juveniles differ...
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...
Masked Bannerfish
Leopard Blenny
Humpback Grouper
Bluelined Hind
Keyhole Angelfish
Lemonpeel Angelfish
Golden Angelfish
Three-spot Angelfish
Mimic Tang
Powder Brown Surgeonfish
Yellow Tang
Yellowbar Angelfish
Overview Native to the Red Sea, Persian Gulf, and northwestern Indian Ocean, typically found around coral reefs and rocky outcrops. Distinguished by its deep blue body, vibrant yellow vertical bar in the center, and blue-margined fins and tail. Juveniles display black...
Rock Beauty
Speckled Blue Grouper
Whitetail Pygmy Angelfish
Purple Tang
Foxface Rabbitfish
Coral Rabbitfish
Majestic Angelfish
Overview Native to the Indo-Pacific region, commonly inhabiting coral reefs, lagoons, and reef slopes. Known as the Majestic Angelfish, recognized for its striking blue and yellow-orange coloration with intricate patterns. Juveniles have distinct black bodies with...
Multi-barred Angelfish
King Angelfish
Longfin Bannerfish
Midas Blenny
Pineapplefish
Coral Grouper
Potter’s Angelfish
Eibli Angelfish
Cherub Angelfish
Porkfish
Orange Shoulder Tang
Atlantic Blue Tang
Barhead Spinefoot
Shortnose Unicornfish
Queen Angelfish
Red Sea Mimic Blenny
Rusty Angelfish
Brown Tang
One Spot Foxface Rabbitfish
Lawnmower Blenny
Emperor Angelfish
Overview Native to the Indo-Pacific region, commonly found in coral-rich lagoons and seaward reefs. Famous for its striking coloration; juveniles have distinct blue, white, and black circular patterns, adults develop vivid yellow and blue stripes with a distinctive...
Blue Tang
Blue Angelfish
Swallowtail Angelfish
Bicolor Blenny
Black Velvet Angelfish
Peacock Grouper
Flame Angelfish
Coral Beauty Angelfish
African Flameback Angelfish
Indian Ocean Mimic Tang
Lined Surgeonfish
Achilles Tang
Tobacco Basslet
Smith’s Fangblenny
Watanabe’s Angelfish
Vermiculated Angelfish
Sohal Tang
Indian Ocean Sailfin Tang
Magnificent Rabbitfish
Koran Angelfish
Overview Native to the Indo-Pacific region, commonly found around coral reefs and lagoon environments. Known for its vibrant blue-green body with distinctive semicircular patterns and intricate blue markings on the fins. Juveniles have bold blue, black, and white...
Arabian Angelfish
Overview Native to the Red Sea and western Indian Ocean, commonly inhabiting coral reefs and rocky reef slopes. Recognizable by its striking coloration: a deep blue-black body with a bold vertical yellow band and yellow tail fin. Juveniles display a unique coloration...
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....