
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.
Sargassum Triggerfish
Yellowhead Jawfish
Overview Found in the western Atlantic Ocean, including the Caribbean Sea. Known for their bright yellow head and elongated body. They have a large mouth and are often seen hovering near their burrows. Yellowhead jawfish are peaceful and have a distinctive behavior of...
Pyramid Butterflyfish
Spotted Hawkfish
Tinker’s Butterflyfish
Raccoon Butterflyfish
Seale’s Cardinalfish
Lyretail Grouper
Foxface Rabbitfish
Coral 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...
Flame Hawkfish
Pennant Bannerfish
Redbarred Hawkfish
Five-lined Cardinalfish
Latticed Butterflyfish
Meyer’s Butterflyfish
Lined Butterflyfish
Collare Butterflyfish
Eastern Triangle Butterflyfish
Peacock Grouper
Ochre-striped Cardinalfish
Barhead Spinefoot
Singular Bannerfish
Yellow Longnose Butterflyfish
Pearlscale Butterflyfish
Mirror Butterflyfish
Saddleback Butterflyfish
Twospot Cardinalfish
Halfmoon Triggerfish
One Spot Foxface Rabbitfish
Blackbelly Triggerfish
Longnose Hawkfish
Stark’s Tilefish
Big Longnose Butterflyfish
Coral Hawkfish
Pacific Double-Saddle Butterflyfish
Fourspot Butterflyfish
Merten’s Butterflyfish
Orangeface Butterflyfish
Four-Eyed Butterflyfish
Blacktail Butterflyfish
Marine Betta
Tobacco Basslet
Red Sea bannerfish
White-streaked Grouper
Vagabond Butterflyfish
Rainford’s Butterflyfish
Threadfin Butterflyfish
Threadfin Cardinalfish
Orbiculate Cardinalfish
Magnificent Rabbitfish
Arabian Picasso Triggerfish
Goldspecs Jawfish
Overview Found in various marine environments worldwide. Known for their characteristic large mouths and burrowing behavior. They have elongated bodies and are often colorful. Jawfish are peaceful and have a distinctive behavior of building and inhabiting burrows....