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.

Ward’s Sleeper Goby

The Golden Head Sleeper Goby

Twin-Spot Goby

Sharknose Goby

Yellow Clown Goby

Yellow Watchman Goby

Seale’s Cardinalfish

Twospot Cardinalfish

Threadfin Cardinalfish

Rainford’s Goby

Wheeler’s Shrimp Goby

Steinitz’s Shrimp Goby

Randall’s Shrimp Goby

Wide-Banded Shrimp Goby

Diamond Goby

Blackray Shrimp Goby

Orbiculate Cardinalfish

Pajama Cardinalfish

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...

Blue Tang

Longnose Filefish

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....

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...