Best Beginner Saltwater Fish
Starting a marine aquarium is an exciting journey. These beginner-friendly species are hardy, forgiving of minor water quality fluctuations, and easy to feed -- making them the perfect foundation for your first saltwater tank.
All 289 species below are rated “Beginner” care level, meaning they require no specialized equipment or advanced husbandry techniques.
Adorned Wrasse
Halichoeres cosmetus
African Rabbitfish
Siganus luridus
Agile Chromis
Chromis agilis
Allard's Clownfish
Amphiprion allardi
Allen's Damselfish
Pomacentrus alleni
Arabian Damselfish
Neopomacentrus xanthurus
Arc-Eye Hawkfish
Paracirrhites arcatus
Assasi Triggerfish
Rhinecanthus assasi
Australian Clownfish
Amphiprion rubrocinctus
Axilspot Hogfish
Bodianus axillaris
Azure Damselfish
Chrysiptera hemicyanea
Banana Wrasse
Thalassoma lutescens
Banded Damselfish
Dascyllus abudafur
Banggai Cardinalfish
Pterapogon kauderni
Barber Goby
Elacatinus figaro
Barred Grunt
Conodon nobilis
Barrier Reef Chromis
Chromis nitida
Barrier Reef Clownfish
Amphiprion akindynos
Barspot Cardinalfish
Apogon retrosella
Bennett Toby
Canthigaster bennetti
Bicolor Blenny
Ecsenius bicolor
Bicolor Damselfish
Stegastes partitus
Bicolor Dottyback
Pictichromis paccagnellae
Bicolor Foxface
Siganus uspi
Big Eye Soldierfish
Myripristis berndti
Black Axil Chromis
Chromis atripectoralis
Black Chromis
Chromis xanthura
Black Clown Goby
Gobiodon atrangulatus
Black Combtooth Blenny
Ecsenius namiyei
Black Damselfish
Neoglyphidodon melas
Black Durgeon
Melichthys niger
Black Ray Goby
Stonogobiops xanthorhinica
Black-Bar Chromis
Chromis retrofasciata
Blackbelt Cardinalfish
Apogon nigrofasciatus
Blackcap Basslet
Gramma melacara
Blackline Fang Blenny
Meiacanthus nigrolineatus
Blackspot Blenny
Ecsenius stictus
Blackstripe Cardinalfish
Ostorhinchus nigrofasciatus
Blue Axil Chromis
Chromis caudalis
Blue Chromis
Chromis cyanea
Blue Devil Damsel
Chrysiptera cyanea
Blue Green Chromis
Chromis viridis
Blue Gudgeon Dartfish
Ptereleotris heteroptera
Blue Spotted Puffer
Canthigaster solandri
Blue Striped Grunt
Haemulon sciurus
Blue-eyed Cardinalfish
Apogon compressus
Blue-green Damsel
Neoglyphidodon oxyodon
Blue-lined Rabbitfish
Siganus doliatus
Bluelined Dottyback
Cypho purpurascens
Bluespotted Watchman Goby
Cryptocentrus pavoninoides
Bodianus Hogfish
Bodianus bimaculatus
Bridle Cardinalfish
Ostorhinchus semicinctus
Broadstripe Cardinalfish
Ostorhinchus angustatus
Broadstripe Goby
Elacatinus prochilos
Buan Sand Goby
Amblygobius buanensis
Bundoon Blenny
Ecsenius bundoon
Bursa Triggerfish
Rhinecanthus verrucosus
Canary Fang Blenny
Meiacanthus oualanensis
Chagos Clownfish
Amphiprion chagosensis
Chalk Bass Goby
Serranus tortugarum
Cherub Angelfish
Centropyge argi
Cinnamon Clownfish
Amphiprion melanopus
Clark's Clownfish
Amphiprion clarkii
Cloudy Damselfish
Dascyllus carneus
Clown Goby (Citrinus)
Gobiodon citrinus
Clown Wrasse
Halichoeres maculipinna
Cocoa Damselfish
Stegastes variabilis
Convict Tang
Acanthurus triostegus
Cooktown Cardinalfish
Ostorhinchus cookii
Copper Cardinalfish
Apogon aureus
Coral Rabbitfish
Siganus corallinus
Crown Squirrelfish
Sargocentron diadema
Diadem Dottyback
Pictichromis diadema
Diadema Dottyback
Pseudochromis diadema
Diana's Hogfish
Bodianus diana
Disco Blenny
Meiacanthus smithi
Doederlein Cardinalfish
Ostorhinchus doederleini
Domino Damsel
Dascyllus trimaculatus
Dottyback Hogfish
Bodianus neilli
Doublebar Cardinalfish
Apogon taeniophorus
Dragon Goby
Amblygobius phalaena
Dusky Cardinalfish
Phaeoptyx pigmentaria
Dusky Damselfish
Stegastes nigricans
Dusky Wrasse
Halichoeres marginatus
Eight-Line Wrasse
Pseudocheilinus octotaenia
Ember Blenny
Ecsenius ember
Eyelash Blenny
Cirripectes chelomatus
Eyeshadow Cardinalfish
Apogon perlitus
Fairy Wrasse (Filamented)
Paracheilinus filamentosus
Fairy Wrasse (Flame)
Cirrhilabrus jordani
Fairy Wrasse (Lineatus)
Cirrhilabrus lineatus
Fairy Wrasse (Lubbock's)
Cirrhilabrus lubbocki
Fairy Wrasse (Rhomboid)
Cirrhilabrus rhomboidalis
Falco Hawkfish
Cirrhitichthys falco
Figure Eight Puffer
Dichotomyctere ocellatus
Fiji Blue Devil Damselfish
Chrysiptera taupou
Firefish Goby
Nemateleotris magnifica
Five Lined Cardinalfish
Cheilodipterus quinquelineatus
Flame Cardinalfish
Apogon maculatus
Flame Hawkfish
Neocirrhites armatus
Flameback Angelfish
Centropyge acanthops
Flaming Blenny
Cirripectes castaneus
Four Stripe Damsel
Dascyllus melanurus
Fowleria Cardinalfish
Fowleria isostigma
Foxface Rabbitfish
Siganus vulpinus
Freckled Hawkfish
Paracirrhites forsteri
French Grunt
Haemulon flavolineatum
Frostfin Cardinalfish
Ostorhinchus hoevenii
Gold-spotted Rabbitfish
Siganus punctatus
Goldbar Wrasse
Thalassoma hebraicum
Goldbelly Cardinalfish
Ostorhinchus apogonides
Golden Domino Damselfish
Dascyllus auripinnis
Golden Foxface
Siganus guttatus
Golden Stripe Grouper
Grammistes sexlineatus
Green Clown Goby
Gobiodon histrio
Greenband Wrasse
Halichoeres bathyphilus
Half & Half Chromis
Chromis dimidiata
Half-and-Half Chromis
Chromis iomelas
Half-Black Angelfish
Centropyge vroliki
Hardwick Wrasse
Thalassoma hardwicke
Harlequin Bass
Serranus tigrinus
Hawaiian Dascyllus
Dascyllus albisella
Hawaiian Whitespotted Toby
Canthigaster jactator
Hector's Goby
Koumansetta hectori
Highfin Blenny
Atrosalarias fuscus
Horned Blenny
Parablennius intermedius
Horned Rockskipper
Andamia tetradactyla
Immaculatus Puffer
Arothron immaculatus
Jewel Damsel
Microspathodon chrysurus
Kamohara Blenny
Meiacanthus kamoharai
Klein's Butterflyfish
Chaetodon kleinii
Klunzinger Wrasse
Thalassoma rueppellii
Lagoon Shrimp Goby
Cryptocentrus cyanotaenia
Lawnmower Blenny
Salarias fasciatus
Lemon Damsel
Pomacentrus moluccensis
Leopard Puffer
Canthigaster leoparda
Linear Blenny
Ecsenius lineatus
Link Goby
Amblygobius linki
Longnose Hawkfish
Oxycirrhites typus
Longspine Cardinalfish
Zoramia leptacantha
Luther Prawn Goby
Cryptocentrus lutheri
Lyretail Wrasse
Thalassoma lunare
Madagascar Clownfish
Amphiprion latifasciatus
Magnus Goby
Amblyeleotris sungami
Maldive Clownfish
Amphiprion nigripes
Map Puffer
Arothron mappa
Marble Wrasse
Halichoeres hortulanus
Marginate Damselfish
Dascyllus marginatus
Masked Rabbitfish
Siganus puellus
Melanurus Dottyback
Pseudochromis melanurus
Melanurus Wrasse
Halichoeres melanurus
Meteor Cardinalfish
Archamia zosterophora
Midas Blenny
Ecsenius midas
Molly Miller Blenny
Scartella cristata
Moluccan Cardinalfish
Ostorhinchus moluccensis
Narrowbar Damselfish
Plectroglyphidodon dickii
Nebulous Wrasse
Halichoeres nebulosus
Neon Damsel
Pomacentrus coelestis
Neon Goby
Elacatinus oceanops
Oblique-banded Cardinalfish
Archamia bleekeri
Ocellaris Clownfish
Amphiprion ocellaris
Ocellate Cardinalfish
Apogon notatus
Ocellated Damselfish
Pomacentrus vaiuli
One Spot Blenny
Crossosalarias macrospilus
One Spot Foxface
Siganus unimaculatus
Orange Skunk Clownfish
Amphiprion sandaracinos
Orangespotted Blenny
Blenniella chrysospilos
Orangethroat Cardinalfish
Apogon cyanosoma
Orbiculate Cardinalfish
Sphaeramia orbicularis
Orchid Dottyback
Pseudochromis fridmani
Pajama Cardinalfish
Sphaeramia nematoptera
Papuan Toby
Canthigaster papua
Pastel Green Wrasse
Halichoeres chloropterus
Peacock Blenny
Salarias pavo
Pearly Cardinalfish
Ostorhinchus fleurieu
Peppered Squirrelfish
Sargocentron punctatissimum
Percula Clownfish
Amphiprion percula
Pictilis Dottyback
Pseudochromis pictilis
Pink Cardinalfish
Apogon porphyreus
Pink Skunk Clownfish
Amphiprion perideraion
Pink-Speckled Shrimp Goby
Cryptocentrus leptocephalus
Pixy Hawkfish
Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus
Possum Wrasse
Wetmorella nigropinnata
Pretty-Fin Cardinalfish
Pristiapogon kallopterus
Purple Chromis
Chromis scotti
Purple Firefish
Nemateleotris decora
Randall's Goby
Amblyeleotris randalli
Red Belted Cardinalfish
Apogon townsendi
Red Margin Shrimp Goby
Amblyeleotris rubrimarginata
Red Saddleback Clownfish
Amphiprion ephippium
Red Sea Mimic Blenny
Ecsenius gravieri
Red Stop Light Cardinalfish
Apogonichthys hyalinus
Redhead Wrasse
Halichoeres rubricephalus
Redlip Blenny
Ophioblennius atlanticus
Redspotted Hawkfish
Amblycirrhitus pinos
Reticulated Dascyllus
Dascyllus reticulatus
Ring-tailed Cardinalfish
Ostorhinchus aureus
Rolland's Damsel
Chrysiptera rollandi
Royal Gramma
Gramma loreto
Rusty Angelfish
Centropyge ferrugata
Saddle Wrasse
Thalassoma duperrey
Saddleback Clownfish
Amphiprion polymnus
Sailors Choice
Haemulon parra
Sankey Dottyback
Pseudochromis sankeyi
Sargassum Triggerfish
Xanthichthys ringens
Sawcheek Cardinalfish
Apogon quadrisquamatus
Scarface Blenny
Cirripectes stigmaticus
Schooling Bannerfish
Heniochus diphreutes
Scissortail Dartfish
Ptereleotris evides
Scopas Tang
Zebrasoma scopas
Seale's Cardinalfish
Apogonichthyoides sealei
Seaweed Blenny
Parablennius marmoreus
Segmented Sailfin Blenny
Salarias segmentatus
Sergeant Major
Abudefduf saxatilis
Sharknose Goby
Elacatinus evelynae
Sharpnose Puffer
Canthigaster rostrata
Sharptail Eel
Myrichthys breviceps
Shortstripe Goby
Elacatinus chancei
Six Line Wrasse
Pseudocheilinus hexataenia
Skunk Clownfish
Amphiprion akallopisos
Slippery Dick
Halichoeres bivittatus
Smallmouth Grunt
Haemulon chrysargyreum
Spanish Grunt
Haemulon macrostomum
Speckled Squirrelfish
Sargocentron cornutum
Spiny Box Puffer
Chilomycterus schoepfi
Spot-tail Dartfish
Ptereleotris uroditaenia
Spotfin Cardinalfish
Jaydia striata
Spotlight Goby
Elacatinus louisae
Spotted Hawkfish
Cirrhitichthys aprinus
Springer's Damselfish
Chrysiptera springeri
Springeri Dottyback
Pseudochromis springeri
Staghorn Damselfish
Amblyglyphidodon curacao
Starcki Damsel
Chrysiptera starcki
Starry Blenny
Salarias ramosus
Starry Goby
Asterropteryx semipunctata
Steinitz Goby
Amblyeleotris steinitzi
Strawberry Dottyback
Pseudochromis porphyreus
Striped Cardinalfish
Ostorhinchus fasciatus
Striped Fang Blenny
Meiacanthus grammistes
Sulfur Damselfish
Pomacentrus sulfureus
Sunrise Dottyback
Pseudochromis flavivertex
Surge Damselfish
Chrysiptera brownriggii
Tailspot Blenny
Ecsenius stigmatura
Tailspot Squirrelfish
Sargocentron caudimaculatum
Talbot's Damselfish
Chrysiptera talboti
Threadfin Cardinalfish
Apogon leptacanthus
Three Stripe Damsel
Dascyllus aruanus
Three-band Clownfish
Amphiprion tricinctus
Tiger Snake Eel
Myrichthys maculosus
Timor Wrasse
Halichoeres timorensis
Tobacco Basslet
Serranus tabacarius
Tomato Clownfish
Amphiprion frenatus
Tomini Tang
Ctenochaetus tominiensis
Two Band Clownfish
Amphiprion bicinctus
Two Spot Hawkfish
Amblycirrhitus bimacula
Two-barred Rabbitfish
Siganus virgatus
Two-Spot Bristletooth Tang
Ctenochaetus binotatus
Two-tone Wrasse
Halichoeres prosopeion
Twobelt Cardinalfish
Archamia fucata
Twospot Cardinalfish
Archamia biguttata
Twotone Chromis
Chromis margaritifer
Undulated Triggerfish
Balistapus undulatus
Vagabond Butterflyfish
Chaetodon vagabundus
Vanderbilt's Chromis
Chromis vanderbilti
Violet Squirrelfish
Sargocentron violaceum
White Bonnet Clownfish
Amphiprion leucokranos
White Grunt
Haemulon plumierii
White-Tail Bristletooth Tang
Ctenochaetus flavicauda
Whitestar Cardinalfish
Apogon lachneri
Y-Bar Watchman Goby
Cryptocentrus fasciatus
Yellow and Purple Wrasse
Halichoeres leucoxanthus
Yellow Blenny
Ecsenius flavipes
Yellow Cardinalfish
Ostorhinchus luteus
Yellow Chromis
Chromis analis
Yellow Clown Goby
Gobiodon okinawae
Yellow Coris Blenny
Ecsenius ops
Yellow Coris Wrasse
Halichoeres chrysus
Yellow Damsel
Amblyglyphidodon aureus
Yellow Watchman Goby
Cryptocentrus cinctus
Yellow-Axil Chromis
Chromis xanthochira
Yellow-striped Cardinalfish
Ostorhinchus cyanosoma
Yellowbelly Damselfish
Pomacentrus auriventris
Yellowcheek Wrasse
Halichoeres cyanocephalus
Yellowfin Cardinalfish
Ostorhinchus chrysopomus
Yellowfin Damselfish
Chrysiptera flavipinnis
Yellowhead Wrasse
Halichoeres garnoti
Yellowtail Damselfish
Chrysiptera parasema
Zebra Dartfish
Ptereleotris zebra
Zigzag Wrasse
Halichoeres scapularis
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