
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
Antennata Lionfish
Marcos’ Wrasse
Pyramid Butterflyfish
Yellow Longnose Butterflyfish
Yellowtail Coris Wrasse
Pearlscale Butterflyfish
Mirror Butterflyfish
Saddleback Butterflyfish
Queen Triggerfish
Moon Wrasse
Blackbelly Triggerfish
Mombasa Lionfish
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
Horned Bannerfish
Radiant Wrasse
Bird Wrasse
Lubbock’s Fairy Wrasse
Melon Butterflyfish
Ornate Butterflyfish
Blackback Butterflyfish
Klein’s Butterflyfish
Burgess’ Butterflyfish
Split-Level Hogfish
Lyretail Hogfish
Rectangle Triggerfish
Zebra Dartfish
Singular Bannerfish
Zigzag Wrasse
Zebra Lionfish
Clown Wrasse
Vagabond Butterflyfish
Rainford’s Butterflyfish
Threadfin Butterflyfish
Spotted Wrasse
Sixbar Wrasse
Arabian Picasso Triggerfish
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
Pennant Bannerfish
Checkerboard Wrasse
Big Longnose Butterflyfish
Harlequin Tuskfish
Golden Butterflyfish
Eightband Butterflyfish
Oval Butterflyfish
Saddleback Butterflyfish
Bennett’s Butterflyfish
Blackfin Hogfish
Clown Triggerfish
Red Lionfish
Fourline Wrasse
Red Sea bannerfish
Tail-spot wrasse
Dwarf Lionfish
Solar Fairy Wrasse
Teardrop Butterflyfish
Spotband Butterflyfish
Spanish Hogfish
Peacock Wrasse
Halfmoon Triggerfish
Picasso Triggerfish
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
Stark’s Tilefish
Blackeye Thicklip Wrasse
Yellow Coris Wrasse
Banded Pipefish
Copperband Butterflyfish
Latticed Butterflyfish
Meyer’s Butterflyfish
Lined Butterflyfish
Collare Butterflyfish
Eastern Triangle Butterflyfish
Diana’s Hogfish
Blue-Spotted Wrasse
Russell’s Lionfish
Purple Tilefish
Schooling Bannerfish
Sixline Soapfish
Fu Manchu Lionfish
Redfin Fairy Wrasse
Tinker’s Butterflyfish
Raccoon Butterflyfish
Spotfin Hogfish
Blue Throat Triggerfish
Belted Wrasse
Radiata Lionfish
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....