
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
Yellow Tang
Sargassum Triggerfish
Ward’s Sleeper Goby
The Golden Head Sleeper Goby
Starry Dragonet
Spotted Mandarin
Twin-Spot Goby
Barhead Spinefoot
Tobacco Basslet
Spotted Scorpionfish
Two-Line Monocle Bream
Redcoat Squirrelfish
Ribbon Eel
Rectangle Triggerfish
Regal Angelfish
Red Lionfish
Russell’s Lionfish
Antennata Lionfish
Zebra Dartfish
Azure Damselfish
Carberry’s Anthias
Shortnose Unicornfish
Violet Soldierfish
Smith’s Fangblenny
Fourline Wrasse
Goldspot Blenny
Devil Scorpionfish
Saddled Basslet
Purple Tilefish
Marcos’ Wrasse
Rock Beauty
Queen Angelfish
Spiny Seahorse
Singular Bannerfish
Red Sea bannerfish
Schooling Bannerfish
Pyramid Butterflyfish
Zigzag Wrasse
Tail-spot wrasse
Spotted Moray Eel
Sixline Soapfish
Brazilian Basslet
Sharknose Goby
Yellow Clown Goby
Watanabe’s Angelfish
Yellow Longnose Butterflyfish
White-streaked Grouper
Speckled Blue Grouper
Red Sea Mimic Blenny
Barred Soapfish
Long-Spined Pufferfish
Zebra Lionfish
Dwarf Lionfish
Fu Manchu Lionfish
Three-Spot Damselfish
Reticulated Damselfish
Yellow Watchman Goby
Yellowtail Coris Wrasse
Clown Wrasse
Spotted Hawkfish
Solar Fairy Wrasse
Redfin Fairy Wrasse
Fiji Blue Devil Damselfish
Talbot’s Damselfish
Yellowtail Blue Damselfish
Vermiculated Angelfish
Scribbled Angelfish
Pearlscale Butterflyfish
Vagabond Butterflyfish
Teardrop Butterflyfish
Tinker’s Butterflyfish
Mirror Butterflyfish
Rainford’s Butterflyfish
Spotband Butterflyfish
Raccoon Butterflyfish
Saddleback Butterflyfish
Threadfin Butterflyfish
Whitetail Pygmy Angelfish
Rusty Angelfish
Valentini Puffer
Caribbean Sharpnose Puffer
Hawaiian Whitespotted Toby
Spanish Hogfish
Spotfin Hogfish
Queen Triggerfish
Starry Pufferfish
White-Spotted Pufferfish
Seale’s Cardinalfish
Twospot Cardinalfish
Threadfin Cardinalfish
Striated Frogfish
Warty Frogfish
Scarlet Frogfish
Spotted Wrasse
Saddleback Clownfish
Cinnamon Clownfish
Tomato Clownfish
Saddleback Clownfish or Fire Clownfish
Rainford’s Goby or Court Jester Goby
Wheeler’s Shrimp Goby
Steinitz’s Shrimp Goby
Randall’s Shrimp Goby
Wide-Banded Shrimp Goby
Sohal Tang
Whitecheek Tang
Sergeant Major
Purple Tang
Brown Tang
Indian Ocean Sailfin Tang
Moorish Idol
Peacock Wrasse
Blue Throat Triggerfish
Lyretail Grouper
Diamond Goby
Moon Wrasse
Sixbar Wrasse
Leaf Scorpionfish
Mandarin Dragonet
Halfmoon Triggerfish
Blackray Shrimp Goby
Belted Wrasse
Orbiculate Cardinalfish
Pajama Cardinalfish
Foxface Rabbitfish
One Spot Foxface Rabbitfish
Magnificent Rabbitfish
Orange-Spotted Spinefoot
Coral Rabbitfish
Chalk Bass
Harlequin Bass
Lantern Bass
Fathead Sunburst Anthias
Barchin Scorpionfish
Flasher Scorpionfish
Princess Parrotfish
Hawaiian Squirrelfish
Crown Squirrelfish
Lawnmower Blenny
Blackbelly Triggerfish
Arabian Picasso Triggerfish
Picasso Triggerfish
Radiata Lionfish
Mombasa Lionfish
Multi-barred Angelfish
Blue Tang
Longnose Filefish
Longnose Hawkfish
Gulf Toadfish
Rosenblatt’s Jawfish
Flame Hawkfish
Helfrich’s Firefish
Peacock Wrasse
Allen’s Wrasse
Cleaner Wrasse
Bicolor Cleaner Wrasse
Decorated Goby
Barred Hamlet
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 environments...