
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
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...
Purple Tilefish
Singular Bannerfish
Zigzag Wrasse
Yellow Longnose Butterflyfish
Clown Wrasse
Scribbled Angelfish
Tinker’s Butterflyfish
Raccoon Butterflyfish
Rusty Angelfish
Twospot Cardinalfish
Lyretail Grouper
Orbiculate Cardinalfish
Magnificent Rabbitfish
Cortez Angelfish
Overview Native to the Eastern Pacific, primarily found along rocky reefs from the Gulf of California to Peru. Notable for its striking coloration, including a dark blue body with vertical yellow stripes and blue highlights on fins. Known for its bold and inquisitive...
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...
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...
Allen’s Wrasse
Stark’s Tilefish
Horned Bannerfish
Radiant Wrasse
Bird Wrasse
Humpback Grouper
Copperband Butterflyfish
Pacific Double-Saddle Butterflyfish
Fourspot Butterflyfish
Merten’s Butterflyfish
Orangeface Butterflyfish
Four-Eyed Butterflyfish
Blacktail Butterflyfish
Keyhole Angelfish
Eibli Angelfish
African Flameback Angelfish
Diana’s Hogfish
Three-spot Angelfish
Tobacco Basslet
Sixbar Angelfish
Overview Native to the Indo-West Pacific, commonly found around coral-rich reefs and lagoons. Recognizable by its distinctive body marked with vertical black bars over a pale background, and vibrant blue highlights on fins. Known for a bold, territorial personality,...
Marcos’ Wrasse
Red Sea bannerfish
Tail-spot wrasse
White-streaked Grouper
Solar Fairy Wrasse
Pearlscale Butterflyfish
Mirror Butterflyfish
Saddleback Butterflyfish
Spanish Hogfish
Threadfin Cardinalfish
Moon Wrasse
Pajama Cardinalfish
Orange-Spotted Spinefoot
Blueface Angelfish
Overview Native to the Indo-Pacific region, typically found in coral-rich lagoons and reef slopes. Distinctive appearance featuring a yellow face with a vibrant blue mask, a pale body with blue scales, and blue highlights on fins and tail. Known for its bold,...
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...
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...
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....
Flashing Tilefish
Pennant Bannerfish
Checkerboard Wrasse
Swallowtail Angelfish
Pineapplefish
Five-lined Cardinalfish
Melon Butterflyfish
Ornate Butterflyfish
Blackback Butterflyfish
Klein’s Butterflyfish
Burgess’ Butterflyfish
Bluelined Hind
Potter’s Angelfish
Bicolor Angelfish
Marine Betta
Axilspot Hogfish
Orange-Lined Cardinalfish
Regal Angelfish
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
Schooling Bannerfish
Sixline Soapfish
Speckled Blue Grouper
Redfin Fairy Wrasse
Vagabond Butterflyfish
Rainford’s Butterflyfish
Threadfin Butterflyfish
Spotfin Hogfish
Spotted Wrasse
Sixbar Wrasse
Foxface Rabbitfish
Coral 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...
Multi-barred Angelfish
Cleaner Wrasse
King Angelfish
Blackeye Thicklip Wrasse
Yellow Coris Wrasse
Lamarck’s Angelfish
Lubbock’s Fairy Wrasse
Black Velvet Angelfish
Golden Butterflyfish
Eightband Butterflyfish
Oval Butterflyfish
Saddleback Butterflyfish
Bennett’s Butterflyfish
Coral Grouper
Flame Angelfish
Golden Angelfish
Split-Level Hogfish
Lyretail Hogfish
Ochre-striped Cardinalfish
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...
Fourline Wrasse
Queen Angelfish
Pyramid Butterflyfish
Watanabe’s Angelfish
Yellowtail Coris Wrasse
Vermiculated Angelfish
Teardrop Butterflyfish
Spotband Butterflyfish
Whitetail Pygmy Angelfish
Seale’s Cardinalfish
Peacock Wrasse
Belted Wrasse
One Spot Foxface Rabbitfish
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...
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...
Gray Angelfish
Overview Native to the Western Atlantic, commonly found near coral reefs and rocky outcroppings in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. Large angelfish with a dark gray body covered in lighter scale markings and a broad, crescent-shaped tail fin. Juveniles feature a...