Reef-Safe Fish Species
Building a reef aquarium means choosing fish that coexist peacefully with corals, anemones, and invertebrates. These species have been classified as “reef safe” -- they won't nip at coral polyps or prey on your cleanup crew.
486 species in this collection are safe for mixed reef tanks.

Achilles Tang
Acanthurus achilles

Adorned Wrasse
Halichoeres cosmetus

African Lionfish
Pterois mombasae

African Rabbitfish
Siganus luridus

Agile Chromis
Chromis agilis

Allard's Clownfish
Amphiprion allardi

Allen's Damselfish
Pomacentrus alleni

Arabian Damselfish
Neopomacentrus xanthurus

Arrow Blenny
Lucayablennius zingaro

Atlantic Blue Tang
Acanthurus coeruleus

Atlantic Stingray
Hypanus sabinus

Aurora Goby
Amblyeleotris aurora

Australian Clownfish
Amphiprion rubrocinctus

Axilspot Hogfish
Bodianus axillaris

Azure Damselfish
Chrysiptera hemicyanea

Banded Damselfish
Dascyllus abudafur

Banded Jawfish
Opistognathus macrognathus

Banggai Cardinalfish
Pterapogon kauderni

Barber Goby
Elacatinus figaro

Barbour's Seahorse
Hippocampus barbouri

Barnacle Blenny
Acanthemblemaria spinosa

Barred Grunt
Conodon nobilis

Barred Hogfish
Bodianus scrofa

Barrier Reef Chromis
Chromis nitida

Barrier Reef Clownfish
Amphiprion akindynos

Barspot Cardinalfish
Apogon retrosella

Bartlett's Anthias
Pseudanthias bartlettorum

Bella Goby
Valenciennea bella

Bellus Angelfish
Genicanthus bellus

Bicolor Anthias
Pseudanthias bicolor

Bicolor Basslet
Lipogramma klayi

Bicolor Blenny
Ecsenius bicolor

Bicolor Damselfish
Stegastes partitus

Bicolor Dottyback
Pictichromis paccagnellae

Bicolor Foxface
Siganus uspi

Big Eye Soldierfish
Myripristis berndti

Bimaculatus Anthias
Pseudanthias bimaculatus

Biocellate Wrasse
Halichoeres biocellatus

Black Axil Chromis
Chromis atripectoralis

Black Cap Jawfish
Opistognathus randalli

Black Chromis
Chromis xanthura

Black Clown Goby
Gobiodon atrangulatus

Black Combtooth Blenny
Ecsenius namiyei

Black Damselfish
Neoglyphidodon melas

Black Diamond Stingray
Himantura jenkinsii

Black Durgeon
Melichthys niger

Black Leopard Wrasse
Macropharyngodon negrosensis

Black Margate
Anisotremus surinamensis

Black Ray Goby
Stonogobiops xanthorhinica

Black Ray Shrimp Goby
Stonogobiops nematodes

Black Tang
Zebrasoma rostratum

Black-Bar Chromis
Chromis retrofasciata

Blackbar Soldierfish
Myripristis jacobus

Blackbelt Cardinalfish
Apogon nigrofasciatus

Blackcap Basslet
Gramma melacara

Blackline Fang Blenny
Meiacanthus nigrolineatus

Blackspot Blenny
Ecsenius stictus

Blackstripe Cardinalfish
Ostorhinchus nigrofasciatus

Blacktail Wrasse
Anampses meleagrides

Blotchy Anthias
Odontanthias borbonius

Blue Assessor
Assessor macneilli

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 Jawfish
Opistognathus rosenblatti

Blue Spotted Stingray
Neotrygon kuhlii

Blue Star Leopard Wrasse
Macropharyngodon bipartitus

Blue Stripe Pipefish
Doryrhamphus excisus

Blue Tang
Paracanthurus hepatus

Blue-eyed Cardinalfish
Apogon compressus

Blue-Head Tilefish
Hoplolatilus starcki

Blue-lined Rabbitfish
Siganus doliatus

Bluehead Fairy Wrasse
Cirrhilabrus cyanopleura

Bluelined Dottyback
Cypho purpurascens

Bluespotted Watchman Goby
Cryptocentrus pavoninoides

Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasse
Labroides dimidiatus

Bluntnose Stingray
Himantura granulata

Bodianus Hogfish
Bodianus bimaculatus

Brahm Eviota
Eviota brahmi

Brazilian Basslet
Gramma brasiliensis
Bridle Cardinalfish
Ostorhinchus semicinctus

Broadstripe Cardinalfish
Ostorhinchus angustatus

Broadstripe Goby
Elacatinus prochilos

Browncheek Blenny
Acanthemblemaria crockeri

Buan Sand Goby
Amblygobius buanensis
Bundoon Blenny
Ecsenius bundoon

Canary Fang Blenny
Meiacanthus oualanensis

Candy Basslet
Liopropoma carmabi

Carberryi Anthias
Nemanthias carberryi

Carlsons Anthias
Pseudanthias carlsoni

Carpenter's Flasher Wrasse
Paracheilinus carpenteri

Catalina Goby
Lythrypnus dalli

Chagos Clownfish
Amphiprion chagosensis

Chalk Bass Goby
Serranus tortugarum

Chevron Tang
Ctenochaetus hawaiiensis

Choat Leopard Wrasse
Macropharyngodon choati

Christmas Wrasse
Halichoeres claudia

Cinnamon Clownfish
Amphiprion melanopus

Clark's Clownfish
Amphiprion clarkii

Cloudy Damselfish
Dascyllus carneus

Clown Goby (Citrinus)
Gobiodon citrinus

Clown Tang
Acanthurus lineatus

Clown Wrasse
Halichoeres maculipinna

Cocoa Damselfish
Stegastes variabilis

Condei Fairy Wrasse
Cirrhilabrus condei

Convict Tang
Acanthurus triostegus

Cooktown Cardinalfish
Ostorhinchus cookii

Copper Cardinalfish
Apogon aureus

Cortez Round Stingray
Urobatis maculatus

Court Jester Goby
Koumansetta rainfordi

Crown Squirrelfish
Sargocentron diadema

Diadem Dottyback
Pictichromis diadema

Diadema Dottyback
Pseudochromis diadema

Diamond Goby
Valenciennea puellaris

Disco Blenny
Meiacanthus smithi

Dispar Anthias
Pseudanthias dispar

Divided Wrasse
Pseudocheilinus evanidus

Doederlein Cardinalfish
Ostorhinchus doederleini

Domino Damsel
Dascyllus trimaculatus

Dottyback Hogfish
Bodianus neilli

Doublebar Cardinalfish
Apogon taeniophorus

Dracula Goby
Stonogobiops dracula

Dragon Goby
Amblygobius phalaena

Dragon Pipefish
Doryrhamphus dactyliophorus

Dragon-faced Pipefish
Corythoichthys haematopterus

Dusky Cardinalfish
Phaeoptyx pigmentaria

Dusky Damselfish
Stegastes nigricans

Dusky Jawfish
Opistognathus whitehursti

Dwarf Seahorse
Hippocampus zosterae

Earmuff Wrasse
Halichoeres melasmapomus

Eight-Line Wrasse
Pseudocheilinus octotaenia

Eightline Wrasse
Paracheilinus octotaenia

Elongate Dottyback
Pseudochromis elongatus

Elongate Surgeonfish
Acanthurus mata
Ember Blenny
Ecsenius ember

Engineer Goby
Pholidichthys leucotaenia

Evansi Anthias
Pseudanthias evansi

Exquisite Fairy Wrasse
Cirrhilabrus exquisitus

Eyelash Blenny
Cirripectes chelomatus

Eyeshadow Cardinalfish
Apogon perlitus

Eyestripe Surgeonfish
Acanthurus dussumieri

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

Fiji Blue Devil Damselfish
Chrysiptera taupou

Fingered Dragonet
Dactylopus dactylopus

Firecracker Goby
Trimma cana

Firefish Goby
Nemateleotris magnifica

Five Lined Cardinalfish
Cheilodipterus quinquelineatus

Flame Cardinalfish
Apogon maculatus

Flaming Blenny
Cirripectes castaneus

Flashing Tilefish
Hoplolatilus chlupatyi

Four Stripe Damsel
Dascyllus melanurus

Four-Line Wrasse
Pseudocheilinus tetrataenia

Fowleria Cardinalfish
Fowleria isostigma

Foxface Rabbitfish
Siganus vulpinus

Frostfin Cardinalfish
Ostorhinchus hoevenii

Garibaldi Damsel
Hypsypops rubicundus

Gem Tang
Zebrasoma gemmatum
Gilded Triggerfish
Xanthichthys chrysopterus

Gold-specs Jawfish
Opistognathus sp.

Gold-spotted Rabbitfish
Siganus punctatus

Goldbelly Cardinalfish
Ostorhinchus apogonides

Golden Domino Damselfish
Dascyllus auripinnis

Golden Foxface
Siganus guttatus

Golden Hawkfish
Cirrhitichthys aureus

Golden Head Sleeper Goby
Valenciennea strigata

Green Clown Goby
Gobiodon histrio

Green Silk Gudgeon Dartfish
Ptereleotris microlepis

Greenband Wrasse
Halichoeres bathyphilus

Half & Half Chromis
Chromis dimidiata

Half-and-Half Chromis
Chromis iomelas

Halimeda Ghost Pipefish
Solenostomus halimeda

Hawaiian Dascyllus
Dascyllus albisella

Hawaiian Lionfish
Pterois sphex

Hawaiian Longfin Anthias
Pseudanthias hawaiiensis

Hawaiian Squirrelfish
Sargocentron xantherythrum

Hector's Goby
Koumansetta hectori

Helfrichi Firefish
Nemateleotris helfrichi

Heniochus Butterflyfish
Heniochus acuminatus

Highfin Blenny
Atrosalarias fuscus

Honeycomb Stingray
Himantura uarnak

Hooded Fairy Wrasse
Cirrhilabrus bathyphilus

Horned Blenny
Parablennius intermedius

Horned Rockskipper
Andamia tetradactyla

Hutomo's Anthias
Pseudanthias hutomoi

Ignitus Anthias
Pseudanthias ignitus

Indian Mimic Surgeonfish
Acanthurus tristis

Indigo Dottyback
Pseudochromis cyanotaenia

Iridescent Cardinalfish
Siphamia versicolor

Janss' Pipefish
Doryrhamphus janssi

Japan Surgeonfish
Acanthurus japonicus

Japanese Swallowtail Angelfish
Genicanthus semifasciatus

Kamohara Blenny
Meiacanthus kamoharai

Katherine Fairy Wrasse
Cirrhilabrus katherinae

Koi Fairy Wrasse
Cirrhilabrus sp.

Kole Tang
Ctenochaetus strigosus

Kuda Seahorse
Hippocampus kuda

Kuiteri Leopard Wrasse
Macropharyngodon kuiteri

Labouti Fairy Wrasse
Cirrhilabrus laboutei

Lachdebere Eviota
Eviota lachdeberei

Lagoon Shrimp Goby
Cryptocentrus cyanotaenia

Lamarck's Angelfish
Genicanthus lamarck

Lawnmower Blenny
Salarias fasciatus

Lemon Damsel
Pomacentrus moluccensis

Leopard Wrasse
Macropharyngodon meleagris

Linear Blenny
Ecsenius lineatus

Lined Seahorse
Hippocampus erectus

Lined Sweetlips
Plectorhinchus lineatus

Linespot Flasher Wrasse
Paracheilinus lineopunctatus

Link Goby
Amblygobius linki

Longnose Hawkfish
Oxycirrhites typus

Longspine Cardinalfish
Zoramia leptacantha

Lori's Anthias
Pseudanthias lori

LSD Mandarin
Synchiropus morrisoni

Luther Prawn Goby
Cryptocentrus lutheri

Lyretail Anthias
Pseudanthias squamipinnis

Madagascar Clownfish
Amphiprion latifasciatus

Magnificent Foxface
Siganus magnificus
Magnificent Snake Eel
Ophichthus magnificus

Magnus Goby
Amblyeleotris sungami

Maldive Clownfish
Amphiprion nigripes

Mandarin Dragonet
Synchiropus splendidus

Manylined Sweetlips
Plectorhinchus multivittatus

Marbled Stingray
Himantura oxyrhyncha

Margate
Haemulon album

Marginate Damselfish
Dascyllus marginatus

Marjorie Fairy Wrasse
Cirrhilabrus marjorie

Maroon Clownfish
Premnas biaculeatus

Masked Rabbitfish
Siganus puellus

McCosker's Flasher Wrasse
Paracheilinus mccoskeri

McCulloch's Clownfish
Amphiprion mccullochi

Melanurus Dottyback
Pseudochromis melanurus

Melanurus Wrasse
Halichoeres melanurus

Meteor Cardinalfish
Archamia zosterophora

Midas Blenny
Ecsenius midas

Miles Lionfish
Pterois miles

Mimic Tang
Acanthurus pyroferus

Molly Miller Blenny
Scartella cristata

Moluccan Cardinalfish
Ostorhinchus moluccensis

Mottled Jawfish
Opistognathus maxillosus

Multibanded Pipefish
Dunckerocampus multiannulatus

Mystery Wrasse
Pseudocheilinus ocellatus

Naoko's Fairy Wrasse
Cirrhilabrus naokoae

Narrowbar Damselfish
Plectroglyphidodon dickii

Naso Tang
Naso lituratus

Naso Tang (Blonde)
Naso elegans

Nebulous Wrasse
Halichoeres nebulosus

Neon Damsel
Pomacentrus coelestis

Neon Dottyback
Pseudochromis aldabraensis

Neon Goby
Elacatinus oceanops

Neon Pygmy Goby
Eviota pellucida

New Guinea Wrasse
Anampses neoguinaicus

Oblique-banded Cardinalfish
Archamia bleekeri

Ocellaris Clownfish
Amphiprion ocellaris

Ocellate Cardinalfish
Apogon notatus

Ocellated Damselfish
Pomacentrus vaiuli

Oman Clownfish
Amphiprion omanensis

One Spot Blenny
Crossosalarias macrospilus

One Spot Foxface
Siganus unimaculatus

Orange Shoulder Tang
Acanthurus olivaceus

Orange Skunk Clownfish
Amphiprion sandaracinos

Orangefin Anthias
Pseudanthias heemstrai

Orangespotted Blenny
Blenniella chrysospilos

Orangethroat Cardinalfish
Apogon cyanosoma

Orbiculate Cardinalfish
Sphaeramia orbicularis

Orchid Dottyback
Pseudochromis fridmani

Ornate Ghost Pipefish
Solenostomus paradoxus

Ornate Wrasse
Macropharyngodon ornatus

Painted Anthias
Pseudanthias pictilis

Pajama Cardinalfish
Sphaeramia nematoptera

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

Pinecone Soldierfish
Myripristis murdjan
Pink Cardinalfish
Apogon porphyreus

Pink Margin Wrasse
Cirrhilabrus rubrimarginatus

Pink Skunk Clownfish
Amphiprion perideraion

Pink Whipray
Pateobatis fai

Pink-Speckled Shrimp Goby
Cryptocentrus leptocephalus

Pintail Fairy Wrasse
Cirrhilabrus lanceolatus

Pixy Hawkfish
Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus

Possum Wrasse
Wetmorella nigropinnata

Pot Belly Seahorse
Hippocampus abdominalis

Powder Blue Tang
Acanthurus leucosternon

Pretty-Fin Cardinalfish
Pristiapogon kallopterus

Princess Anthias
Pseudanthias smithvanizi

Pudding Wife Wrasse
Halichoeres radiatus

Purple Chromis
Chromis scotti

Purple Firefish
Nemateleotris decora

Purple Queen Anthias
Pseudanthias tuka

Purple Tang
Zebrasoma xanthurum

Purple Tilefish
Hoplolatilus purpureus

Pyramid Butterflyfish
Hemitaurichthys polylepis

Radiant Wrasse
Halichoeres iridis

Rainford's Basslet
Liopropoma mitratum

Randall's Anthias
Pseudanthias randalli

Randall's Goby
Amblyeleotris randalli

Red Belted Cardinalfish
Apogon townsendi

Red Cheek Anthias
Pseudanthias huchtii

Red Margin Shrimp Goby
Amblyeleotris rubrimarginata

Red Neon Eviota
Eviota nigriventris

Red Saddleback Clownfish
Amphiprion ephippium

Red Saddled Anthias
Pseudanthias flavoguttatus

Red Scooter Blenny
Synchiropus moyeri

Red Sea Mimic Blenny
Ecsenius gravieri

Red Stop Light Cardinalfish
Apogonichthys hyalinus

Red Velvet Wrasse
Cirrhilabrus rubriventralis

Redbar Anthias
Pseudanthias cooperi

Redbar Hawkfish
Cirrhitops hubbardi

Redbreasted Wrasse
Cheilinus fasciatus

Redfin Fairy Wrasse
Cirrhilabrus rubripinnis

Redhead Wrasse
Halichoeres rubricephalus

Redlip Blenny
Ophioblennius atlanticus

Reidi Seahorse
Hippocampus reidi

Resplendent Anthias
Pseudanthias pulcherrimus

Reticulated Dascyllus
Dascyllus reticulatus

Ring-tailed Cardinalfish
Ostorhinchus aureus

Ringed Pipefish
Doryrhamphus melanopleura

Robust Ghost Pipefish
Solenostomus cyanopterus

Rolland's Damsel
Chrysiptera rollandi

Rose-band Fairy Wrasse
Cirrhilabrus roseafascia

Roughsnout Ghost Pipefish
Solenostomus paegnius
Royal Basslet
Lipogramma regium

Royal Gramma
Gramma loreto

Ruby Red Dragonet
Synchiropus sycorax

Russell Lionfish
Pterois russelli

Saddleback Clownfish
Amphiprion polymnus

Saddleback Hogfish
Bodianus bilunulatus

Sailfin Blenny
Emblemaria pandionis

Sailfin Tang
Zebrasoma veliferum

Sailors Choice
Haemulon parra

Sammara Squirrelfish
Neoniphon sammara

Sand Tilefish
Hoplolatilus fronticinctus

Sankey Dottyback
Pseudochromis sankeyi

Sawcheek Cardinalfish
Apogon quadrisquamatus

Scarface Blenny
Cirripectes stigmaticus

Schooling Bannerfish
Heniochus diphreutes

Scissortail Dartfish
Ptereleotris evides

Scooter Dragonet
Synchiropus ocellatus

Scopas Tang
Zebrasoma scopas

Scott's Fairy Wrasse
Cirrhilabrus scottorum

Scribbled Boxfish
Ostracion solorensis

Scribbled Pipefish
Corythoichthys intestinalis
Seale's Cardinalfish
Apogonichthyoides sealei

Seaweed Blenny
Parablennius marmoreus

Sebae Clownfish
Amphiprion sebae

Secretary Blenny
Acanthemblemaria maria

Segmented Sailfin Blenny
Salarias segmentatus

Sergeant Major
Abudefduf saxatilis

Sharknose Goby
Elacatinus evelynae

Sharptail Eel
Myrichthys breviceps

Shortstripe Goby
Elacatinus chancei

Six Line Wrasse
Pseudocheilinus hexataenia

Skunk Clownfish
Amphiprion akallopisos

Sleek Unicornfish
Naso hexacanthus

Sleeper Blue Dot Goby
Valenciennea sexguttata

Slingjaw Wrasse
Epibulus insidiator

Slippery Dick
Halichoeres bivittatus

Smallmouth Grunt
Haemulon chrysargyreum

Sohal Tang
Acanthurus sohal

Solar Fairy Wrasse
Cirrhilabrus solorensis

Southern Stingray
Hypanus americanus

Spanish Grunt
Haemulon macrostomum

Speckled Squirrelfish
Sargocentron cornutum

Splendid Dottyback
Manonichthys splendens

Splendid Garden Eel
Gorgasia preclara

Splendid Pintail Wrasse
Anampses femininus

Spot-tail Dartfish
Ptereleotris uroditaenia

Spotfin Cardinalfish
Jaydia striata

Spotfin Dottyback
Pseudochromis jamesi

Spotfin Jawfish
Opistognathus punctatus

Spotlight Goby
Elacatinus louisae

Spotted Garden Eel
Heteroconger hassi

Spotted Mandarin Dragonet
Synchiropus picturatus

Spotted Prawn Goby
Amblyeleotris guttata

Spotted Sweetlips
Plectorhinchus picus

Spotted Unicornfish
Naso brevirostris

Springer's Damselfish
Chrysiptera springeri

Springeri Dottyback
Pseudochromis springeri

Squarespot Anthias
Pseudanthias pleurotaenia

Staghorn Damselfish
Amblyglyphidodon curacao

Starcki Damsel
Chrysiptera starcki

Starry Blenny
Salarias ramosus

Starry Dragonet
Synchiropus stellatus

Starry Goby
Asterropteryx semipunctata

Steene's Dottyback
Pseudochromis steenei

Steinitz Goby
Amblyeleotris steinitzi

Stocky Anthias
Pseudanthias hypselosoma

Storthynx Eviota
Eviota storthynx

Strawberry Dottyback
Pseudochromis porphyreus

Striped Cardinalfish
Ostorhinchus fasciatus

Striped Fang Blenny
Meiacanthus grammistes

Sulfur Damselfish
Pomacentrus sulfureus

Sunburst Anthias
Serranocirrhitus latus

Sunrise Dottyback
Pseudochromis flavivertex

Sunset Fairy Wrasse
Cirrhilabrus rubrisquamis

Sunshine Chromis
Chromis insolata

Surge Damselfish
Chrysiptera brownriggii

Swallowtail Hawkfish
Cyprinocirrhites polyactis

Sweetlips
Plectorhinchus chaetodonoides

Swissguard Basslet
Liopropoma rubre

Tailspot Blenny
Ecsenius stigmatura

Tailspot Squirrelfish
Sargocentron caudimaculatum

Talbot's Damselfish
Chrysiptera talboti

Tangaroa Goby
Ctenogobiops tangaroai

Thompson's Tang
Acanthurus thompsoni

Threadfin Cardinalfish
Apogon leptacanthus

Three Stripe Damsel
Dascyllus aruanus

Three-band Clownfish
Amphiprion tricinctus

Tiger Cardinalfish
Cheilodipterus macrodon

Tiger Goby
Valenciennea wardii

Tiger Snake Eel
Myrichthys maculosus

Tiger Tail Seahorse
Hippocampus comes

Timor Wrasse
Halichoeres timorensis

Tomato Clownfish
Amphiprion frenatus

Tomini Tang
Ctenochaetus tominiensis

Tonozukai Fairy Wrasse
Cirrhilabrus tonozukai

Transparent Cardinalfish
Rhabdamia gracilis

Tubelip Wrasse
Labropsis australis

Two Band Clownfish
Amphiprion bicinctus

Two Spot Hawkfish
Amblycirrhitus bimacula

Two-barred Rabbitfish
Siganus virgatus

Two-Spot Bristletooth Tang
Ctenochaetus binotatus

Two-Spot Goby
Signigobius biocellatus

Two-tone Wrasse
Halichoeres prosopeion

Twobelt Cardinalfish
Archamia fucata

Twospot Cardinalfish
Archamia biguttata

Twotone Chromis
Chromis margaritifer

Unicorn Tang
Naso unicornis

Vanderbilt's Chromis
Chromis vanderbilti

Ventralis Anthias
Pseudanthias ventralis

Violet Squirrelfish
Sargocentron violaceum

Violetfin Squirrelfish
Sargocentron spiniferum

Vlamingi Tang
Naso vlamingii

Walindi Fairy Wrasse
Cirrhilabrus walindi

Watanabei Angelfish
Genicanthus watanabei

Wheeler's Goby
Amblyeleotris wheeleri

White Bonnet Clownfish
Amphiprion leucokranos

White Grunt
Haemulon plumierii

White-Tail Bristletooth Tang
Ctenochaetus flavicauda

Whitecap Goby
Lotilia klausewitzi

Whitecheek Tang
Acanthurus nigricans

Whitemargin Unicornfish
Naso annulatus

Whitespotted Surgeonfish
Acanthurus guttatus

Whitestar Cardinalfish
Apogon lachneri

Wide-band Clownfish
Amphiprion latezonatus

Y-Bar Watchman Goby
Cryptocentrus fasciatus

Yasha Goby
Stonogobiops yasha

Yellow and Purple Wrasse
Halichoeres leucoxanthus

Yellow Assessor
Assessor flavissimus
Yellow Basslet
Lipogramma flavescens
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 Goatfish
Mulloidichthys martinicus

Yellow Lined Sweetlips
Plectorhinchus albovittatus

Yellow Stingray
Urobatis jamaicensis

Yellow Tang
Zebrasoma flavescens

Yellow Watchman Goby
Cryptocentrus cinctus

Yellow-Axil Chromis
Chromis xanthochira

Yellow-banded Pipefish
Dunckerocampus pessuliferus

Yellow-striped Cardinalfish
Ostorhinchus cyanosoma

Yellowbelly Damselfish
Pomacentrus auriventris

Yellowbreasted Wrasse
Anampses twistii

Yellowcheek Wrasse
Halichoeres cyanocephalus

Yellowface Pikeblenny
Chaenopsis limbaughi

Yellowfin Cardinalfish
Ostorhinchus chrysopomus

Yellowfin Damselfish
Chrysiptera flavipinnis

Yellowfin Fairy Wrasse
Cirrhilabrus flavidorsalis

Yellowhead Jawfish
Opistognathus aurifrons

Yellowhead Wrasse
Halichoeres garnoti

Yellowtail Damselfish
Chrysiptera parasema

Zebra Dartfish
Ptereleotris zebra

Zigzag Wrasse
Halichoeres scapularis
Understanding Reef Compatibility
Reef safety is not always black and white. While the species above are generally considered safe, individual fish can sometimes behave unpredictably. Factors like tank size, feeding schedule, and tankmate selection all influence behavior.
Species rated “Caution” may be suitable for reef tanks under specific conditions, while “Not Safe” species are known to damage corals or eat invertebrates. Always research individual species thoroughly before adding them to a reef system.