You want to add some vibrant colors of saltwater fish to your new aquarium, but are not sure where to start or what fish to get. And, before buying saltwater fish for aquariums online or anywhere, learn and review some of the saltwater fish below to make an informed decision.
In this post, we’ll explain the best saltwater aquarium fish that you can start.
Choosing Saltwater Fish for Aquariums
Captive Bred Saltwater Fish
Captive-bred saltwater fish, also known as tank-raised or aquacultured, provide a sustainable option over wild-caught fish, eliminating uncertainties associated with capture and transport. Thriving in controlled environments, these fish, raised from birth, exhibit exceptional resilience and vibrant colors, sustained by a specialized diet. Their vitality and vivid hues make captive-bred fish an unparalleled choice in the aquarium hobby.
Captive Bred Saltwater Fish
- Tank Raised Ocellaris Clownfish (Ocellaris or Percula Species)
Quick Info: Very hardy, easy to keep.
Care Level: Easy
Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons
Diet: Omnivore
Temperament: Peaceful fish
Captive-bred Clownfish, renowned for their vibrant colors and popularized by animated films, are both hardy and sociable, making them ideal for beginners and perfect companions for other tank mates. This breeding method has led to cross-breeding, producing unique and stunning patterns in these iconic saltwater fish.
2. Midas Blenny (Ecsenius midas)
Quick Info: Hardy
Care Level: Easy
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Diet: Omnivore
Temperament: Peaceful
The Blue-Eyed Golden Midas Blenny, renowned for its golden body and vibrant neon blue eyes, stands out as the most aesthetically pleasing among its counterparts.
Suitable for reef tanks of 30 gallons or larger, these captivating creatures exhibit unique movements and ever-changing coloration, making them an excellent choice for both novice marine aquarists and experienced hobbyists.
- Blue Tang (Paracanthurus hepatus)
Quick Info: Easy
Care Level: Moderate
Minimum Tank Size: 100 gallons
Diet: Herbivore
Temperament: Peaceful
Among the most popular saltwater fish in the trade, these Blue Tangs, though initially shy, thrive with coral, live rock, or other suitable shelter sites in the aquarium, exhibiting unique behaviors like lying on their side if lacking a proper hiding place.
- Yellow Watchman Goby (Cryptocentrus cinctus)
Quick Info: Hardy and adaptable
Care Level: Easy
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Diet: Carnivore
Temperament: Peaceful
The Yellow Watchman Goby, playfully dubbed “the grumpy man” for its constant frown, is an ideal choice for beginners, showcasing a lively personality by creating burrows in aquarium sediment and perching on rocks. This small, yellowish goby, known for its symbiotic relationship with pistol shrimp, may exhibit jumping behavior, so a secure lid is recommended.
- Orchid Dottyback (Pseudochromis fridmani)
Quick Info: Hardy
Care Level: Easy
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Diet: Carnivore
Temperament: Territorial
The Captive-Bred Orchid Dottyback is a peaceful option for aquariums, even suitable for mated pairs or small groups, provided fish the tank is sufficiently large with ample live rock for territorial choices. Ideal for reef systems, this species proves harmless to corals and other sessile invertebrates, contributing by preying on pests like small mantis shrimp and bristle worms, when keeping multiple Dottybacks, ensure they are introduced to the aquarium simultaneously.
Reef Safe Saltwater Fish
Not all saltwater fish are reef-safe; many can harm live coral and small invertebrates. Reef Safe fish are considered safe for both, making them ideal for reef aquariums.
Reef Safe Saltwater Fish
- Bartlett’s Anthias (Pseudanthias bartlettorum)
Quick Info: Easy
Care Level: Moderate
Minimum Tank Size: 75 gallons for a group.
Diet: Carnivore
Temperament: Peaceful
The Bartlett Anthias is relatively easy to keep marine fish, being peaceful and suitable for community tanks, with males displaying brighter coloration. Found in the middle of the tank, it values hiding spots, and in Anthias species, the largest female can morph into a dominant male if needed.
2. Lawnmower Blenny (Salarias fasciatus)
Quick Info: Eats algae, inexpensive, hardy
Care Level: Easy to Moderate
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Diet: Herbivore
Temperament: Peaceful
The Lawnmower Blenny is a peaceful, inexpensive, and hardy choice for beginners, adding visual appeal to a saltwater aquarium. It helps maintain cleanliness by eating algae and prefers a solitary or mated pair arrangement in a larger fish tank. Exercise caution when placing it with coral, as it may nip at small-polyped stony coral and clam mantles.
- Banggai Cardinal fish (Pterapogon kauderni)
Quick Info: Hardy and captivating
Care Level: Easy
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Diet: Carnivore
Temperament: Peaceful
The Kaudern’s Cardinalfish, also known as the Banggai or Longfin Cardinalfish, features silver hues, black striping, and white dots. This mouthbrooding species, lacking a planktonic larval stage, is easily bred in captivity.
- Pajama Cardinalfish (Sphaeramia nematoptera)
Quick Info: Very hardy
Care Level: Easy
Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons
Diet: Carnivore
Temperament: Peaceful
The Captive Bred Pajama Cardinalfish is a small fish, hardy, and peaceful marine species with distinctive ‘pajama’ stripes and red eyes. It is considered reef-safe, often kept in social groups, and can breed in captivity, although captive-bred specimens are rare.
5. Green Chromis (Chromis viridis)
Quick Info: Inexpensive, hardy, colorful
Care Level: Easy
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Diet: Omnivore
Temperament: Peaceful
The Green Chromis, a mellow and colorful schooling fish, thrives in well-lit aquariums with live rock, making it an excellent choice for beginner saltwater fish keepers.
6. Royal Gramma (Gramma loreto)
Quick Info: Inexpensive, hardy
Care Level: Easy
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Diet: Carnivore
Temperament: Peaceful
Inexpensive and vibrant, the Royal Gramma is an ideal beginner fish for nano reef systems, favoring rockwork and subdued lighting. While compatible with various tank mates, it’s advisable to keep only one due to territorial behavior among its kind.
FOWLR Aquariums (Fish Only With Live Rock)
A Fish Only With Live Rock (FOWLR) aquarium is a vibrant display of saltwater fish with live rock providing natural structures. This saltwater aquarium setup (interlink to our previous blog “Saltwater Tank Fish 101: Tips for Setup and Maintenance”) is advantageous for its ease of maintenance and cost-effectiveness compared to soft coral reef aquariums.
Aggressive FOWLR Aquarium or Peaceful Community Fish FOWLR Aquarium?
Enjoy colorful, aggressive saltwater fish in a FOWLR aquarium without harming a coral reef tank. Decide between aggressive or peaceful community FOWLR when setting up a Saltwater Fish FOWLR Aquarium.
Saltwater Fish For Aggressive Fowlr Tank
- Coral Beauty Angelfish (Entropyge bispinosa)
Quick Info: Hardy, colorful
Care Level: Easy
Minimum Tank Size: 70 gallons
Diet: Omnivore
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
The Coral Beauty Angelfish is an excellent choice for larger saltwater aquariums, being hardy and colorful, and suitable for individual or small school setups. While they don’t need coral, providing hiding spots and live rock is crucial. However, be cautious in reef aquariums due to potential coral nipping.
- Captive Bred Epaulette Shark, Hemiscyllium sp.
Quick Info: Unique shark species suitable for large aquariums.
Care Level: Moderate
Minimum Tank Size: 180 gallons or more.
Diet: Carnivore
Temperament: Peaceful
The Captive-Bred Epaulette Shark, reaching around 30″ in home aquariums, is an excellent choice for advanced aquarists seeking a unique shark. Originating from Northern Australia and New Guinea, this species evolved to thrive in tide pools, using them as easy hunting grounds.
- Grouper Fish such as the Panther Grouper, Cromileptes altivelis
Quick Info: Large
Care Level: Challenging
Minimum Tank Size: 200 gallons or more.
Diet: Carnivore
Temperament: Aggressive
This grouper, a popular choice for saltwater aquariums, is remarkably easy to care for and grows rapidly, requiring ample food. Typically non-aggressive, it remains passive towards tankmates, except for smaller fish, which it may consider as prey.
- Large Lionfish such as the Volitan Lionfish, Pterois volitans
Quick Info: Majestic lionfish with flowing fins
Care Level: Moderate
Minimum Tank Size: 120 gallons
Diet: Carnivore
Temperament: Aggressive
The Colored Volitan Lionfish, also called Lionfish or Turkeyfish, boasts striking coloration and banded spines on its fins. Adapt well in captivity with proper care, including hiding spots.
- Golden Arothron Puffer, Arothron meleagris
Quick Info: Hardy
Care Level: Moderate
Minimum Tank Size: 180 gallons
Diet: Carnivore
Temperament: Aggressive
The Golden Male Arothron Puffer, also known as the Guinea Fowl Puffer, features a golden body and is agile despite lacking pelvic fins. Preferring larger tanks, it becomes hardy and adaptable with time, coexisting well with bold tankmates.
- Porcupine Puffer, Diodon holocanthus
Quick Info: Large pufferfish
Care Level: Easy
Minimum Tank Size: 150 gallons
Diet: Carnivore
Temperament: Aggressive
Porcupine puffers, with engaging personalities and cute features, are intelligent saltwater fish that interact with caregivers and even beg for food. Their adorable traits make them charming pets.
7. Tessalata Eel, Gymnothorax favagineus
Quick Info: Long, snake-like eel
Care Level: Challenging
Minimum Tank Size: 180 gallons
Diet: Carnivore
Temperament: Aggressive
The Tesselata Eel, also known as the Lace or Honeycomb Moray Eel, is visually striking, but it grows large and is predatory. Caution is needed to prevent it from ingesting tankmates, including morays smaller than itself.
- Niger Trigger Fish, Odonus niger
Quick Info: Striking triggerfish with a predominantly black coloration.
Care Level: Moderate
Minimum Tank Size: 120 gallons
Diet: Carnivore
Temperament: Aggressive
The Niger Trigger, also known as the Redtooth Trigger, is the sole triggerfish suitable for a reef aquarium. They are popular in aquariums, unique for being one of the few triggers that can be kept in schools and together in the same fish tank.
- Harlequin Tusk Wrasse, Lienardella fasciata
Quick Info: Striking wrasse with colorful patterns
Care Level: Moderate
Minimum Tank Size: 120 gallons
Diet: Carnivore
Temperament: Aggressive
The Harlequin Tusk, originating from the Indian Ocean and Australian reefs, showcases distinct color patterns with orange stripes and vibrant blue margins. Both variations boast bright blue tusks for crunching invertebrates.
- Blue Spotted Stingray, Taenuria lymma
Quick Info: Elegant stingray with blue spots on a disc-shaped body.
Care Level: Challenging
Minimum Tank Size: 300 gallons or more.
Diet: Carnivore
Temperament: Peaceful
Always exercise caution when housing aggressive fish, ensuring compatibility and a suitable tank environment. Regular observation and monitoring are essential for their well-being and that of potential tankmates.
Saltwater Fish For Peaceful Fowler Tank
- Dwarf Angelfish, Lemon Peel Angelfish (Centropyge Flavissimus)
Quick Info: Vibrant angelfish with a lemon-yellow coloration and blue accents.
Care Level: Moderate
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Diet: Omnivore
Temperament: Peaceful
The Yellow Tang, a favorite of the Reefco Team, stands out for its adorable appearance. They need ample space and open aquascapes but can display aggression toward same-colored fish, requiring careful planning.
- Fathead Sunburst Anthias (Serranocirrhitus latus)
Quick Info: Small fish
Care Level: Moderate
Minimum Tank Size: 100 gallons
Diet: Carnivore
Temperament: Peaceful
The Fathead Sunburst Anthias, also known as the Fathead Anthias, needs caves to rest and avoids intense reef lighting. Being hermaphroditic, they can change gender if a dominant male dies, making them completely reef-safe. Feed them frozen preparations with mysid shrimp, brine shrimp, and other finely chopped marine meats twice a day.
3. Swalesi Basslet (Liopropoma swalesi)
Quick Info: Striking basslet
Care Level: Moderate
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Diet: Carnivore
Temperament: Peaceful
The Liopropoma Swalesi, commonly known as the Pacific Candy or Swalesi Basslet, is a small, deep-water basslet found in Indonesian waters. With a sleek, streamlined body resembling an arrowhead, it typically stays under 3 inches, making it an excellent reef fish that may pose a threat to smaller crustaceans.
4. Golden Midas Blennie (Ecsenius midas)
Quick Info: Small blenny with a striking golden-yellow coloration.
Care Level: Easy
Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons
Diet: Omnivore
Temperament: Peaceful
The Blue-Eyed Golden Midas Blenny, with a stunning golden body and bright neon blue eyes, is an excellent reef tank species. Entertaining and adaptable, it suits both beginner and advanced marine aquarium enthusiasts, showcasing undulating motions and alert, active behavior.
When choosing calm saltwater fish for a FOWLR tank, one needs to think about whether they get along and if the tank is big enough. Keep an eye on how the fish behave together and make sure to give them a healthy diet.
Incorporating aquarium fish into your reef tank not only enhances its aesthetic appeal but also introduces captivating movement. As you navigate the challenges of the aquarium hobby, selecting easy-to-care-for and enjoyable fish is essential.
If you find yourself unsure about the best choices of saltwater fish for an aquarium, read our related blog posts for more insights and guidance. Expand your knowledge and make the most out of your aquarium experience – explore our additional resources today!
Additional Resources
- ReefCo Aquariums – FOOLPROOF GUIDE TO SALTWATER AQUARIUM INSTALLATIONS
ReefCo Aquariums offers a foolproof guide to saltwater aquarium installations, ensuring a seamless setup for beginners and providing step-by-step instructions for a successful and thriving aquatic environment.
